A Parent's Guide to Getting Around San Luis Obispo, California

If your son or daughter is a first year student at Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo) you may notice that it can be a little bit tricky getting around your first couple of visits, especially knowing where to go and what to do. Please, print this guide up and bring it along.

Where to Stay

The best place to find a hotel is on Monterey Street. Everything from your standard Holiday Inn and Days Inn to your quaint boutique hotels such as the Apple Farm are here. These hotels are easy to find since they are just off the freeway. They are also a great home base for a weekend in San Luis Obispo since they are a minute from Cal Poly and about a mile from downtown SLO

Getting Around

Most of the fun stuff in SLO is downtown To get there from a hotel on Monterey Street, take Monterey until it dead ends at the Mission and turn left. Take the second left on Marsh St and park in the garage on the left for your inexpensive and safe parking.

Across the street from the garage, there is a walkway (between the Barnes and Noble and movie theater) that will take you to Higuera Street. One street north of Higuera is Monterey Street. Monterey, Higuera, and Monterey Streets, along with their cross streets make up the bulk of downtown, where a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options can be found.

Food and Fun

If you are in San Luis Obispo on a Thursday night be sure to visit the Farmer's Market which is downtown on Higuera St. In addition to a vast array of produce, there are bands and other entertainment, and lots of great food.

Mo's BBQ is near the corner of Higuera and Osos. Mo's has some of the most amazing Southern-style barbeque in California. A lot of college students hang out at the Firestone Grill and Woodstock Pizza, which are also at the corner of Higuera and Osos streets. McClintock's Saloon on Higuera Street features local Santa Maria Style BBQ and has good lunch and dinner specials. Visit the original McClintock's in Shell Beach for a great steak dinner with an appetizer, salad, dessert course, and a lot of fun included in the price.