San Luis Obispo

Check out this great video called the SLO Experiment!
It’s a great way to experience SLO.

Having once heard the city of San Luis Obispo described as the place where “old Spanish meets Lycra”, the idea that San Luis Obispo is a city of extremes and diversity is actually surprisingly accurate. Nowhere else will you find such a wonderful mélange of polish and rustic ways of life. This is part of what makes San Luis so intriguing.

The city of San Luis Obispo is a culturally rich oasis surrounded by ranch lands, mountains, vineyards and agriculture. How can such an oxymoron exist…culturally rich and rural?

Located conveniently midway between two internationally renowned cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles, this quintessential coastal community is a relocation magnet for “big city refugees” looking to start anew. SLO is as popular with the retirees as it is with the college students who attend Cal Poly (California Polytechnic Institute) and Cuesta College. As a matter of fact, San Luis Obispo was recently ranked third in the nation as Best College Towns to retire in.

The caliber of the culture in San Luis is also extraordinary. San Luis Obispo is internationally known for its Thursday night Farmers’ Market where the community gathers weekly. Bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables, the aromas of tri-tip barbeques and kettle corn popping, entertainment from puppet shows to rock-n-roll bands are on almost every corner.

San Luis always has some event taking place such as the SLO International Film Festival, the Mozart Festival, and a street painting festival, I Madonnari to name a few. San Luis Obispo Symphony is one of the most respected symphonies in the nation having performed, by invite, at both NYC’s Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. And don’t be surprised if one of these musicians happens to have a day job like cleaning teeth! Never underestimate a dentist in this amazing community.

To reside in one of SLO’s historic neighborhoods surrounding downtown supports its growing work-live community philosophy. For many, walking, cycling or jumping on a vespa is commonplace transportation throughout the city. Leaving the car at home and walking to work or a savory dinner adds to the character of this city. It is abundant with incredible restaurants, boutique retailers, outdoor cafes and art galleries. Depending on what side of town one lives in, an extinct volcano peak may be right around the corner, allowing for an exhilarating hike, mountain bike or horseback ride. At the city’s hub is history.

Dating back to the 1700’s, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa sits at the historic heart of this charismatic downtown, its plaza abundant with festivals and events that are as attractive to the locals as they are to the tourists. Even Santa Claus boasts about San Luis Obispo as he sets up shop each November and December! The Fremont Theatre is a historical landmark as one of the last art deco movie theatres left from the 1940’s. Has it been mentioned SLO has one of the last drive-ins in the country as well? That’s right, a drive-in.

Lastly, San Luis is the commerce engine of San Luis Obispo County and is the entrepreneurs’ paradise. Buy Local is not only a marketing theme around SLO but also is again, a way of life. San Luis has been ranked second in the country by USA Today for the highest percentage of population working from their homes.

So, culturally rich and rural? Indeed.

Want to find out if San Luis Obispo is the perfect city for you? Contact Steve today for more information. From bungalows to estates, we’ll find you the perfect home.