SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
County Offices
1050 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo
805-781-5000
www.co.slo.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
1039 Chorro Street
San Luis Obispo
805-781-2777
www.slochamber.org
Major Highways
U.S. Highway 101, Highway 1; Highways 41, 46, 58 and 166
Services
Ideally situated between Los Angeles in Southern California and San Francisco in Northern California, scenic San Luis Obispo County claims a rich history of Native American culture and Spanish rancheros. Today, this Central Coast region combines the principle industries of agriculture, government, tourism, and recreation for a diverse economy. State-of-the-art healthcare services are available close to home, anchored by major institutions like the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, and Twin Cities Community Hospital. Throughout the county, nearly 500 physicians representing every major specialty and most subspecialties combine with optometrists, chiropractors, therapists, and other professionals to meet every need. Nearly a dozen walk-in urgent care facilities ensure that affordable assistance will be available after hours.
Educational opportunities in San Luis Obispo County begin with quality public school districts where low student-to-teacher ratios create an atmosphere conducive to exploration and learning. High school students tend to score considerably higher than other students across the state on college-board exams in both verbal and math sections. In addition to the possibility for a private school education, the county offers opportunities for a higher education at Cuesta College on two campuses. This public two-year college offers day and evening classes in a variety of fields, provides community education courses, and enriches the community with recreational and cultural attractions. The Institute for Professional Development and Small Business Development Center offers training and development classes for local employers as well as their employees.
Crowning the educational advantages in the county, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo boasts a solid reputation that has made Cal Poly graduates some of the most sought-after in the state. The “learn-by-doing” emphasis consistently earns the “Best Regional Public University” rating in the West by US News and World Report. The university has one of the nation’s largest undergraduate architectural schools and is also well-known for its engineering, agriculture, and business schools. Leading high-tech companies like Sun Microsystems and Cisco Systems have collaborated with the College of Engineering in expanding and improving research facilities like the Advanced Engineering Technology Laboratory. Among the private colleges and universities that dot California’s Central Coastal Region, the Music Academy of the West has often been called the “Julliard of the West” for its exceptional programs.
Lifestyle
With ocean and mountain beauty, the Spanish and historical flavor, friendly residents, and freedom from urban crowds, San Luis Obispo County offers a rare quality of life. The picturesque town of San Luis Obispo, selected by USA Today as the “most desirable micropolitan city,” serves as the hub of the regional economy and a source of expanded amenities. Institutions of higher education, a temperate climate around the four seasons, and a world-class wine country add to the region’s considerable magnetism. Nearly 10 beaches grace 100 miles of stunning coastline, attracting surfers, kayakers, boating enthusiasts, and sailors. Road and mountain biking sites are abundant, and the county hosts many popular competitive events.
The county’s rural character and breathtaking coastal vistas are the ideal complement to its small-town friendliness and relaxed pace. The Charles Paddock Zoo, San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, and Morro Bay’s Natural History Museum are some of the highlights on a long list of family attractions. More than 80 wineries offer prize-winning selections and current releases, while the peerless majesty of Hearst Castle built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the early 1900s never fails to amaze visitors with its opulence and artistry. Other highlights include historic missions, galleries, premier golf courses, abundant wildlife, and colorful annual events. San Luis Obispo County is celebrated by the Audubon Society as one of the nation’s top birdwatching destinations.
More than 200 local artists make the county a stimulating cultural retreat brimming over with art galleries and cultural experiences. Live-stage performances and major productions are showcased at the spectacular Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center on the campus of California Polytechnic University. Musical performances, theatrical acts, and local fare fill the calendar with exciting dates to remember. More recently added to the cultural scene, the Clark Center offers a more intimate venue for equally stunning performances. From the bounty of farmers markets to antique shops and boutiques, this area offers cosmopolitan shopping experiences in a quiet setting. For the ultimate in California coastal and rural living, San Luis Obispo County is unparalleled as a beautiful and comfortable place to call home.
Arroyo Grande, Oceano
City Hall
805-473-5400
www.arroyogrande.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-489-1488
www.arroyograndecc.com
The splendor of the natural environment in the Oceano and Arroyo Grande area has attracted newcomers who are looking for a rare quality of life. Oceano is an unincorporated community at the edge of the ever-popular Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Area. The historic village of Arroyo Grande shares an ideal location with Oceano, between the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. This area between Los Angeles and San Francisco is convenient to Highways 1, 101, and 227. More affordable housing when compared to California’s large cities, a positive growth attitude, and unrivaled recreational amenities highlight these communities. Ocean sports, organized programs, fresh-water recreation at Lopez Lake, hiking, wine tasting, fine dining, golfing, and shopping are all popular pastimes. Arroyo Grande’s historic village draws visitors to a unique array of antiques and shops in quaint buildings with Victorian charm.
Atascadero
City Hall
805-461-5000
www.atascadero.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-466-2044
www.atascaderochamber.org
Nestled in the very heart of the Central Coast region, the community of Atascadero offers a rural lifestyle set against the backdrop of natural beauty. Many activities appeal to families, including the Charles Paddock Zoo, beautiful Atascadero Lake Park, and the local outlet stores. Nestled in the heart of the Central Coast, Atascadero is halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles to offer a highly desirable centralized location. Easy access to the relaxed pace of wine country, coastal beaches, and backroads for outdoor adventures add to the area’s appeal. Cultural attractions are available in nearby cities, although the countryside is dotted with historic sites, galleries, and interesting museums. The Atascadero Museum in the historic City Hall, the Botanical Gardens on Cuesta Grade, Hearst Castle, and Mission San Miguel are all easily accessible. Access to Highway 101 and a location between Los Angeles and San Francisco are key features in a Central Coast lifestyle.
Grover Beach
City Hall
805-489-9657
www.grover.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-489-9091
www.groverchamber.com
The small and welcoming city of Grover Beach covers less than three square miles along the pristine Central Coast of California. Less than 100 miles north of Santa Barbara and 150 miles south of Monterey, Grover Beach attracts newcomers to a unique quality of life that encompasses a delightful coastal climate, a drive-on beach, and diverse recreational opportunities. Dune hiking, fishing, clamming, golfing, horseback riding, wine tasting, and off-roading are a few of the common pastimes. The city is justly proud of its Multimodal Facility, an Amtrak train station located at the corner of State Highway 1 and West Grand Avenue. The station is situated within a short walking distance of the state beach with its boardwalk and the Monarch Butterfly Grove as well as a cluster of shops and restaurants. Amtrak provides rail service to connecting buses for access to key points in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cayucos, Baywood Park
City Hall
805-772-6200
www.morro-bay.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
800-231-0592
www.morrobay.org
The incorporated city of Morro Bay anchors the Morro Bay region, home to several small communities that include Los Osos, Cayucos, and Baywood Park. Morro Rock, the last in a chain of long-extinct volcanoes, sprawls over 50 acres at its base and towers 576 feet above the entrance to Morro Bay. The local fishing industry in this water-rich area is one of the most important in the state. Along the Embarcadero, visitors and residents alike can shop, relax, and watch passing boats or walk to Tidelands Park. Cayucos is located at the Northern end of Estero Bay, offering an intimate beachfront community with the bay’s largest pier. Los Osos attracts those who appreciate outdoor adventure and beauty in such premier destinations as Montana de Oro State Park, the Los Osos Oaks State Preserve, the Elfin Forest, and the Sweet Springs Audubon Nature Preserve.
Nipomo
County Offices
800-834-4636
www.co.slo.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-929-1583
www.nipomochamber.org
The beautiful unincorporated community of Nipomo nestled against lush foothills to offer a variety of breathtaking views. Acres of avocado and lemon orchards, sand dunes that fringe the ocean, rows of stately eucalyptus trees, and rolling hills of beautiful California Oaks are just a few of the postcard images. In spite of the small-town appeal, the community offers medical centers and professionals, grocery shopping, restaurants, a public library, a county park, a senior center, and a variety of clubs and activities for a true hometown atmosphere. Open space and a friendly environment characterize this area, where many homes are situated on generous lots that would accommodate horses, gardens, a small orchard, and recreational activities.
Paso Robles
City Hall
805-227-PASO
www.prcity.com
Chamber of Commerce
805-238-0506
www.pasorobleschamber.com
The community of Paso Robles offers a balanced and well-developed hometown nestled in the coastal mountain range of Central California. Newcomers will find a welcoming and friendly atmosphere where the values and legacy of the past are seamlessly woven into a bright and progressive future. Ideally situated near the mountains, fine beaches, and open desert, the city is home to one of the nation’s most celebrated wine-growing areas and hot springs resorts. Situated midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it also serves as a gateway to several metropolitan centers. Efficient city services, attractive housing, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, retail development, excellent public schools, and quiet neighborhoods characterize Paso Robles. While the city still retains all the charm of a rural community, it is rapidly developing into a center of industry, viticulture, recreation, commerce, and housing. Cuesta College recently opened a North County located on Buena Vista Drive, just north of Highway 46 East.
Pismo Beach
City Hall
805-773-4657
www.pismobeach.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-773-4382
www.pismobeachchamber.com
New residents to Pismo Beach will be able to enjoy vast stretches of clean beaches that command spectacular sunset and sunrise views. Popular leisure activities include golfing, playing tennis, exploring tide pools, scuba diving, taking to the dunes for the thrill of four-wheeling, horseback riding, surfing, body boarding, or fishing from the 1,200-foot pier. The award-winning boardwalk is ideal for relaxation or breathtaking views. This recreation and tourism-oriented town is brimming over with restaurants and hospitality centers from charming inns to RV parks. Special events bring neighbors and friends together frequently and draw throngs of visitors for great food and lively entertainment. Pismo Beach is primarily known for having one of California’s longest and widest stretches of beach, although residents also enjoy outstanding city services and an overall high quality of life.
San Luis Obispo
City Hall
805-781-7100
www.ci.san-luis-obispo.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-781-2777
www.slochamber.org
Just a 10-minute drive from the ocean, the beautiful city of San Luis Obispo is centrally located 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 235 miles south of San Francisco. Commanding spectacular mountain vistas, the city excels in its unusual combination of small-town charm and sophisticated residents. The city is the proud home of the highly respected California Polytechnic State University, which fuels local high-tech industries, stimulates the economy, and enriches the entire community. San Luis Obispo has a history of promoting a healthy lifestyle and was the first of California’s cities to implement a non-smoking regulation in public buildings. With the close proximity to mountains and beaches, recreational opportunities are virtually unlimited. Hiking, rock-climbing, biking, camping, boating, and ocean water sports are common pastimes. Historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa graces downtown Mission Plaza Park that overlooks San Luis Creek, and the area is known for a weekly farmers market that transforms the downtown district into a lively block party. The city’s forward-looking spirit is attributed in part to the influence of its institutions of higher education and the intellectual, social, and cultural advantages they bring.
Templeton
County Offices
800-834-4636
www.co.slo.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-434-1789
www.templetonchamber.com
The pleasant rural community of Templeton offers a comfortable hometown atmosphere midway between Atascadero and Paso Robles. Founded as a railroad town, Templeton preserves much of its historical character in restored vintage buildings that are still in use today. Even the new construction is designed to blend with yesterday’s styling. This growing area is one of three unincorporated communities in the county with land available for development. One of the major businesses in this area is Twin Cities Community Hospital, an 84-bed general medical and surgical acute- care facility. With a staff of nearly 100, the hospital serves all of northern San Luis Obispo County. This area is also home to regional headquarters for Cal Trans, Southern California Gas, SBC, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff. Surrounded by rich farmland ad wineries, the Templeton area offers a picturesque and visually appealing environment.
