About San Luis Obispo and Avila Beach
San Luis Obispo lies roughly midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and has been dubbed the “Happiest City in America.” Nearby Avila Beach is a hidden gem tucked away on San Luis Obispo Bay.
Explore Central Coast
Overview
Best known as a college town, being the location of popular California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is also home to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra. San Luis Obispo is also renowned for the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market, which occurs every Thursday on Higuera Street and boasts five blocks featuring more than 100 vendors, and Spanish architecture in its historic downtown. Avila Beach is a small and picturesque classic California beach town. Its quaint palm-lined, pedestrian-only promenade overlooks the beach and is the perfect place for dining, shopping, strolling, or just watching the waves.
What to See
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa – Established in the 18th century by Father Junipero Serra, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was the fifth of the 21 Spanish missions in California. This California Historical Landmark is still an active church and features a museum and gift shop.
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art – SLOMA, located in downtown San Luis Obispo, features art by renowned California, national, and international artists. It boasts three public galleries of fine arts and crafts.
Avila Beach – Relax on picture-postcard Avila Beach, which features a 1,685-foot-long pier. The town’s pedestrian-only promenade, which runs along the beach, features a cornucopia of restaurants and shops and is where you will find the entrance to the pier. Other must-see sights in Avila include the Central Coast Aquarium and Avila Hot Springs.
When to Go
The best time to visit San Luis Obispo is during the spring and fall months when the weather is pleasant and the crowds thinner. The best time to visit Avila Beach is from late spring to early autumn when conditions for the beach are ideal.
You will be transferred to our traditional site.
We are currently working on enhancements to this part of our website. A new version will be available soon. Don’t worry – switching over will not interrupt your booking.
Welcome to the all-new Pleasant Holidays booking experience !
You can now plan your next vacation with our exciting new booking engine. Some advanced features are still being developed, and selecting these options may require you to return to our traditional booking experience. Don’t worry – switching over will not interrupt your booking.
We've updated your online experience to make sure you can get your dream vacation. Since our makeover is still in progress, you may experience shifts from our traditional booking experience to our new one.