While there isn’t a bad time of year to visit San Luis Obispo, we have to admit we love SLO during the spring. The hills are green, the wildflowers are blooming and the sun is shining. If you’re looking for a spring getaway, be sure to visit SLO! Here are few things you should plan to do while you’re in town:
ATV Adventure
Live life on the edge with an off-roading adventure in the Oceano Dunes! The Oceano Dunes SVRA is the ONLY beach in California that offers off-highway vehicle recreation. Whether you’re an experienced ATV rider or it’s your first time, you will enjoy exploring miles of coastline in a very thrilling way.
Ready to ride? Start planning with our list of ATV rental shops and dune nature tours.
Baseball
For all those sports fans out there, we know that spring means one thing… baseball season! If you’re looking to chow down on Crackerjacks or catch a fly ball, SLO is the place to sit back and enjoy America’s favorite pastime. While Cal Poly Baseball is halfway through their Division 1 season, they still have plenty of home games left that are fun for the whole family. SLO Blue’s, a summer collegiate baseball team based in San Luis Obispo, kicks off their season at the end of May.
Check out our Batter Up: SLO Blues Baseball post to read more about our experience at a Blue’s baseball game!
Beach Tasting
Enjoy the sand between your toes at one of the many beaches near San Luis Obispo. From paddle boarding and tanning to surfing and beach walks, the Central Coast offers endless beach activities and things to do in the ocean.
To get a taste of beaches nearby, check out our SLO Beach Tasting blog post!
Biking
Want to go biking in San Luis Obispo? SLO is a great bike-friendly community for everyone from recreational bike riders and cyclists to mountain bikers. With various terrains, you can explore SLO on the paved Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard or challenge yourself to mountain bike in the Eucs. Discover new bike trails in San Luis Obispo today!
Arts & Culture
This Spring, SLO is offering a plethora of arts events from Art After Dark, the first Friday of every month, to Mamma Mia! at the Performing Arts Center. The SLO Little Theatre has quite the lineup of shows including True West from April 1 – 17, Wit from April 29 – May 15 and the classic Broadway hit, Bye Bye Birdie, from June 3 – July 2. Book your tickets early before performances at the Performing Arts Center and the SLO Little Theatre sell out!
SLO Trolley
For a mere 50 cents, you can hop on the Old SLO Downtown Trolley, conveniently transporting visitors from the heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo to the surrounding hotels on the north end of Monterey Street. Find the route and schedule for the SLO Trolley and start to map out your itinerary.
San Luis Obispo Thursday Night Farmers’ Market
Whether you’re hanging with friends or need some foodie inspiration, San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market has you covered. Every Thursday from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Farmers’ Market takes over Downtown with crowds of locals and visitors enjoying fresh corn-on-the-cob and BBQ Tri-Tip sandwiches, while shopping for fresh produce or watching the live performers.
SLO Farmers’ Market Fresh Picked Concert Series kicks off this Thursday with the Truth About Seafood! Dance along to live, local music on the first Thursday of every month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Harvest Stage, located in the Union Bank Parking lot. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a group of dancers, drummers or jugglers performing on the side streets of Higuera!
Spring Events You Don’t Want to Miss Out On
Children’s Day in the Plaza with Passports to the Arts | April 9, 2016
Enjoy a day of hands-on, visual performing arts and literary activities at the 38th Annual Passports to the Arts. Kids and their families will have the opportunity to explore their individuality, creativity and the arts at San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza.
Cal Poly’s Open House | April 14-16, 2016
Catch a glimpse of Mustang lifestyle and what Cal Poly has to offer prospective students and their families. Some fun events taking place throughout Cal Poly’s Open House weekend include the Poly Royal Parade, the Poly Royal Rodeo and the Poly Royal Truck & Tractor Pull.
SLO Marathon | April 29 – May 1, 2016
SLO Marathon offers fun for the whole family from the Children’s Quarter Mile Dash on Saturday to the Marathon on Sunday. On Saturday, April 30th, SLO Marathon will be hosting Family Fitness Day, featuring free activities for children of all ages and abilities in addition to food and beverages.
Flavor of SLO | April 30, 2016
Join in the 8th annual Flavor of SLO and enjoy an afternoon of food, wine and beer tastings with live music from Rio Salinas. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
SLO Jazz Fest | May 14, 2016
Boogie down at the SLO Jazz Fest with a variety of music from high energy jazz to Afro-Caribbean dance! The SLO Jazz Fest is the perfect event for soaking up some sunshine and listening to award-winning jazz.
Now that your calendar is fully booked with fun spring activities, get out and enjoy all these seasonal things to do in San Luis Obispo. Don’t forget to #ShareSLO the fun!