San Luis Obispo, USA
Member since
2014The member has not specified any exchange dates
The Scenic Central Coast of California!
My home is in the beautiful town of San Luis Obispo, California only a mile (1.6 km) from our quaint downtown area, next to a hiking trail with incredible views of the town, and a block from a city park! Our area has plenty of activities from hiking, biking, dining, surfing (the beach is 15 minutes away), kayaking, a thriving downtown with nightlife, a California Mission and thursday farmers market and live music by the Mission every Friday evening (and in Avila Beach as well). It has been labeled one of the "happiest towns" in the United States! It is centrally located, 3 hours drive south of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles. Santa Barbara is only 1 1/2 hour away! There are also plenty of wine tasting and micro-brewing beer establishments in the area. Beautiful beach towns are nearby as well including Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Morro Bay, Los Osos Montano de Oro park, Cayucos, Shell Beach-each with its own charm and activities. Hearst Castle and a visit to a beach with Elephant Seals and the town of Cambria are also a must see within an hours drive! Big sur is close as well and offers spectacular vista and nature experiences.
My home is in a single story home with plenty of light, vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, one large master bedroom and 3 smaller bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. I have wood floors and carpets, a large dining area and an ample kitchen with all amenities and a large counter space! I have 2 bicycles that could be used, boogie boards, a large surf board and 2 kayaks also. My cat is the friendliest cat ever and loves a lot of attention!
Activities in and around town
San Luis Obispo:
Thursday evening Downtown Farmer’s Market- A must do!
Higuera Street (the main downtown street)
music, food and vegetable vendors
Friday evening Avila Beach Farmer’s Market
Avila Beach (15 minutes)
live music, food right by the beach
San Luis Obispo Mission, History Museum, explore creek and downtown including Bubble Gum Alley, Children's Museum, Museum of Art, walk down Buchon Street to view historic craftsman and victorian houses
Ride bicycles around town or Bob Jones Trail to Avila Beach
Friday Evening Music in the Mission Plaza (by the Mission) -Check for free live music at other locations throughout the county and paid concerts at Vino Robles and Castoro Cellers
Wine tasting -see brochure at house(many wineries in town and also in Paso Robles/Templeton-1/2 hour and SantaYnes)
Beer tasting -see brochure (I enjoy live music and beer at Bang the Drum microbrewery (2 minutes) and Tap-It Brewery (5 minutes) and Seven Sisters (3 minutes) and Central Coast Brewery (2 minutes)
Historic Freemont Theatre for a movie or concert
Blues Baseball Games (5minutes)
Hikes (google directions): -Mt. Madonna (Cerro San Luis)
-Bishops Peak
-Johnson Ranch
-Reservoir Canyon
-South Hills (across the street from my house-great views of the city!)
-Bob Jones Trail
Night life downtown on Higuera St.
Visit Los Osos Elfin Forest (go off the boardwalk into/under an elfin grove)
Golf courses: Black Lake in Nipomo, Trilogy in Nipomo are considered world class
The Ravine, large water park in Paso Roble and Estrella Warbird Airplane Museum nearby
Dinosaur Cave kayak tours out of Shell Beach (15 minutes)
Sycamore Springs Spa hot springs and hot tubs near Avila
Avila Barn for berry picking (seasonal) and farm animals and fresh produce and pies
Beaches and beach towns:
Avila (can rent kayaks and go to lighthouse trail)
Pismo (can rent surf boards, boogie boards) visit butterfly grove in winter
Montano de Oro State Park (beautiful bluff hiking trail with dramatic cliffs, beach, and surf beach called Hazards)-must see! I love the Bluff trail
Cayucos (quaint town with nice beach)-have tacos at Rudy’s Smoke House and Cookies at Brown Butter Cookies
Morro Bay (harbor with kayak rentals, Morro Rock, beach with surfing and boogie boarding)-favorite restaurant is Taco Temple!
Rent RTVs at Oceano Dunes
Surrounding areas:
Day trip to see elephant seals at Pierdras Blancas Lighthouse, Hearst Castle, and the quaint town of Cambria (see Moonstone beach & many art galleries there also)
Santa Barbara (beautiful Mission, Natural History and Art Museum, downtown area, shopping, S.B. zoo, beach promenade…) 1 1/2 hours away. Can be reached by train also.
Solvang (Danish town)
Big Sur (dramatic drive and scenery along the coast, redwoods, camping and cabins) 2 hours
Channel Island boat trips and hiking, kayaking
Monterey and Carmel 2 1/2 hours -famous Marine Aquarium (halfway from SF)
Guadalupe dune walk and historic museum
On the way to L.A. visit the Ghetty Museum
Also the visitors link is:
sanluisobispovacations.com
enjoyslo.com -gives weekly events in the area!
Our Family
- 1 Adults
- 2 Children
- 5 Exchanges made
Occupation
- Psychologist
Our Home
- House Type: House
- Environment: By the sea
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2
- Sleeping Capacity: 6
- Living Area: -1700 sq ft
References
In my house
- Pets - Not allowed
- Small children - Allowed
Exchange Types
- Hospitality wanted
- Non-simultaneous exchange
- Home exchange
- Hospitality offered
Indoor
- Free internet access
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Clothes dryer
- Television
- Guitar
Outdoor
- Garden
- Bicycles: 2
Facilities
- Non-smoking house
- Suitable for disabled people
- Car necessary
- Use/Exchange of car
- Use of boat
Our Destination Wish List
- Open to any destination
- Portland, OR, USA
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Belize
- California, USA
- South America
- Thailand
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Albania
- Austin, TX, USA
Spoken Languages
- English
Occupation
- Psychologist
Children
- Boy - Age: 27
- Girl - Age: 31
Pets
- Cat
- Dog who stays with friends when I travel
References
This member has completed 5 home exchanges. Those referenced below may contain feedback/impression from its exchange partners:
Kukljica, Croatia
BE587San Sebastián, Spain
ES1997Our experience has been wonderful, the apartment was very nice and the family was very gentle and helpful. We highly recommend the interchange with this members of intervac.