Guidebook for Santa Margarita
Everything Else
Though the lake is at low capacity, there are great hiking trails, a play ground, a summer pool, and horseback riding.
12 locals recommend
Santa Margarita Lake Marina
4695 Santa Margarita Lake RdThough the lake is at low capacity, there are great hiking trails, a play ground, a summer pool, and horseback riding.
Margarita Adventures
22719 El Camino RealZip lines and winery tours!
This gas station is pricier than anywhere else, because it's closer than anywhere else - about 10 miles from the yurt.
Pintor's Tire & Wheel
22301 El Camino Real This gas station is pricier than anywhere else, because it's closer than anywhere else - about 10 miles from the yurt.
Lovely open space with the eerily dry lake bed. Amazing perspective on California drought. Lots of hiking trails and disc golf.
9 locals recommend
Laguna Lake Park
504 Madonna RdLovely open space with the eerily dry lake bed. Amazing perspective on California drought. Lots of hiking trails and disc golf.
SLO Yoga Center
672 Higuera StRelaxing yoga to round out your vacation :)
Resort that offers nightly stays with a full service restaurant and mineral springs hot tubs by the hour. Massage and esthetician services.
105 locals recommend
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
1215 Avila Beach DrResort that offers nightly stays with a full service restaurant and mineral springs hot tubs by the hour. Massage and esthetician services.
Local co-op climbing gym. $10 daily passes, with odd hours because it's all volunteer run, so recommend you call ahead of time but great if you want to get your indoor climb on.
The Pad Climbing
888 Ricardo CtLocal co-op climbing gym. $10 daily passes, with odd hours because it's all volunteer run, so recommend you call ahead of time but great if you want to get your indoor climb on.
Bishop's Foothill Trailhead
Foothill BoulevardLovely day hikes with great city views.
Pretty, meandering trails with coastal views and beach picnics at the end.
341 locals recommend
Montaña de Oro State Park
3550 Pecho Valley RdPretty, meandering trails with coastal views and beach picnics at the end.
Sweet downtown boardwalk area with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars, beside a gorgeous stretch of California coast. Family friendly lagoon with minimal waves, and lots of seals and pelicans.
329 locals recommend
Avila Beach
Sweet downtown boardwalk area with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars, beside a gorgeous stretch of California coast. Family friendly lagoon with minimal waves, and lots of seals and pelicans.
Shell Beach
Tide pooling at its finest.
Pismo Beach
Excellent spot to watch the surfers.
Young-child friendly playground and expansive lawn above a breathtaking view of the sea.
66 locals recommend
Dinosaur Caves Park
2701 Price StYoung-child friendly playground and expansive lawn above a breathtaking view of the sea.
The Esalen Institute is well-known for its many workshops, classes, farm, school, spa services, and natural hot springs right on the cliffside overlooking the gorgeous Big Sur coast.
17 locals recommend
Esalen Institute
55000 CA-1The Esalen Institute is well-known for its many workshops, classes, farm, school, spa services, and natural hot springs right on the cliffside overlooking the gorgeous Big Sur coast.
Food Scene
Comfort food breakfasts like french toast with fresh jams; and lunches ranges from stews and salads to grilled sandwiches and pot pies.
The Southern Station
22412 El Camino RealComfort food breakfasts like french toast with fresh jams; and lunches ranges from stews and salads to grilled sandwiches and pot pies.
Renowned for its delicious farm-to-table meats, this steakhouse now features delicious vegetarian options as well. Also has many delectable local wine parings.
48 locals recommend
The Range Restaurant
22317 El Camino RealRenowned for its delicious farm-to-table meats, this steakhouse now features delicious vegetarian options as well. Also has many delectable local wine parings.
Locals enjoy this cafe for their specialty coffee drinks, light meals and snacks, and tall windows to help enjoy people watching.
10 locals recommend
The Porch Cafe
22322 El Camino RealLocals enjoy this cafe for their specialty coffee drinks, light meals and snacks, and tall windows to help enjoy people watching.
Pozo Saloon
90 W Pozo RdRestaurant, bar, and lots of rural summer music festivals.
One of our favorite breakfast stops, with delicious, kid-friendly, healthy-ish meals and outdoor patio seating.
20 locals recommend
Del Monte Cafe
1901 Santa Barbara AveOne of our favorite breakfast stops, with delicious, kid-friendly, healthy-ish meals and outdoor patio seating.
In-N-Out Burger
6000 San Anselmo RdQuintessential California not-quite-fast food.
Cafe with simple bakery offerings inside a local art gallery.
7 locals recommend
The 4 Cats Cafe and Gallery
1531 Monterey StCafe with simple bakery offerings inside a local art gallery.
Family friendly restaurant with diner style menu, full bakery and cafe, and famous clam chowder in bread bowls.
21 locals recommend
Splash Café
1491 Monterey StFamily friendly restaurant with diner style menu, full bakery and cafe, and famous clam chowder in bread bowls.
Hipster college hangout with surprisingly mellow energy in the mornings. Lively and downtown.
31 locals recommend
Kreuzberg California
685 Higuera StHipster college hangout with surprisingly mellow energy in the mornings. Lively and downtown.
Family friendly pizzeria with video games and pinball in the back; walking distance to downtown.
29 locals recommend
Woodstock's Pizza SLO
1000 Higuera StFamily friendly pizzeria with video games and pinball in the back; walking distance to downtown.
Alaska-themed pizzeria, specialty meats like reindeer and moose. Peanut shells cover the floor and there are weekly sing-a-longs and themed celebrations. Pinball and video games.
37 locals recommend
Klondike Pizza
104 Bridge StAlaska-themed pizzeria, specialty meats like reindeer and moose. Peanut shells cover the floor and there are weekly sing-a-longs and themed celebrations. Pinball and video games.
The original ice cream lab; this one features a round-the-parlor train for kids to enjoy, and weekly 'create your own' flavor workshops.
34 locals recommend
Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab
114 W Branch StThe original ice cream lab; this one features a round-the-parlor train for kids to enjoy, and weekly 'create your own' flavor workshops.
A favorite of those seeking local farm to table and fresh catch of the day options. Downtown and lively.
53 locals recommend
Big Sky Cafe
1121 Broad StA favorite of those seeking local farm to table and fresh catch of the day options. Downtown and lively.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
1531 Froom Ranch WayTrader Joe's
3977 S Higuera StAlbertsons
189 Niblick RdNearest large grocery store.
Arts & Culture
Galaxy Colony Square 10 Theatres
6917 El Camino Realmovies and beer!
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
1 Grand Avelive shows on university campus
Downtown Cinemas and the Fremont Theatre both have current and occasionally retro films showing. Both in the downtown SLO area, within walking distance to cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping.
17 locals recommend
Downtown Centre 7 Cinema
888 Marsh StDowntown Cinemas and the Fremont Theatre both have current and occasionally retro films showing. Both in the downtown SLO area, within walking distance to cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping.
Plays and musicals and supporting local artists. Win for everyone.
11 locals recommend
San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre
888 Morro StPlays and musicals and supporting local artists. Win for everyone.
Sightseeing
Thursday evenings about with people watching and sight-seeing, where this market has produce in addition to street performers, kid-activities, barbeques and bar patios everywhere.
150 locals recommend
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market
Higuera StreetThursday evenings about with people watching and sight-seeing, where this market has produce in addition to street performers, kid-activities, barbeques and bar patios everywhere.
A bizarrely famous little alley full of chewed up bubblegum in strangely artistic designs- it's tradition!
48 locals recommend
Bubblegum Alley
734 Higuera StreetA bizarrely famous little alley full of chewed up bubblegum in strangely artistic designs- it's tradition!
Beautiful tribute to local history: the Spanish settlers and the Native Chumash tribes. Also holds Catholic Mass regularly.
107 locals recommend
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
751 Palm StBeautiful tribute to local history: the Spanish settlers and the Native Chumash tribes. Also holds Catholic Mass regularly.
Hearst Castle
750 Hearst Castle RoadOur amazing friends run this kayak & stand up paddle board rental shop, right on the bay, near otters, whales, dolphins, pelicans, sea lions, and a beautiful lighthouse on a string of coastal beaches.
26 locals recommend
Avila Beach Paddlesports
3915 Avila Beach DrOur amazing friends run this kayak & stand up paddle board rental shop, right on the bay, near otters, whales, dolphins, pelicans, sea lions, and a beautiful lighthouse on a string of coastal beaches.
6 miles of shoreline dedicated to elephant seal habitat (more than 7,000 seals live at the rookery, with wild seals living onshore seasonally); prime viewing spots for observing them.
28 locals recommend
Friends Of The Elephant Seal Gift Shop
250 San Simeon Ave6 miles of shoreline dedicated to elephant seal habitat (more than 7,000 seals live at the rookery, with wild seals living onshore seasonally); prime viewing spots for observing them.
A brief hike down takes you to what appears to be a cave but is actually an old pirate tunnel! Walk through to the sea side and find out where pirate ships were able to unload their bounty in secret.
Partington Cove
51700 CA-1A brief hike down takes you to what appears to be a cave but is actually an old pirate tunnel! Walk through to the sea side and find out where pirate ships were able to unload their bounty in secret.
Entertainment & Activities
San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
1010 Nipomo StSweet little nature-themed playground that has a shallow, perfect for playing in, creek adjacent to it.
Santa Rosa Park
1050 Oak StSweet little nature-themed playground that has a shallow, perfect for playing in, creek adjacent to it.
Mitchell Park
1400 Osos StTiny but beautifully maintained educational aquarium. Directly next door to a sweet pirate playground and nearly right on the beach.
10 locals recommend
Central Coast Aquarium
50 San Juan StTiny but beautifully maintained educational aquarium. Directly next door to a sweet pirate playground and nearly right on the beach.
Charles Paddock Zoo
9100 Morro RdSmall local zoo with a playground adjacent and small lake.
Drinks & Nightlife
Dunbar Brewing Public House
5855 El Camino RealLocal microbrew in the town of Santa Margarita.
Ancient Peaks Winery
22720 El Camino RealElegant local winery in the town of Santa Margarita.
Downtown Santa Margarita brewhouse with a few local beers on tap and small area of back patio seating.
Santa Margarita Tavern
22302 El Camino RealDowntown Santa Margarita brewhouse with a few local beers on tap and small area of back patio seating.
Popular bar & restaurant with retro styling offers original, locally sourced dishes & cocktails.
56 locals recommend
Sidecar
1040 Broad StPopular bar & restaurant with retro styling offers original, locally sourced dishes & cocktails.