SLO Ranks #8 on US News & World Reports' Best Places to Live in 2009

San Luis Obispo Mentioned in New York Times - The publication hails SLO as the "West Coast good life," at once laid-back and sophisticated, with wine, olive oil, a walkable college town and eclectic food scene.

Appropriately described by National Geographic as California’s Garden of Eden, the Central Coast is not only home to Cal Poly, it is also an area rich in history, unsurpassed scenic beauty and a region offering a diverse geography that includes world famous beaches, picturesque coastal mountains, pristine inland valleys 
and fertile vineyards and agricultural lands. What’s more, for Cal Poly students, area residents and visitors alike, this spectacularly captivating stretch of California offers something for everyone. 

At the heart of the region is the historic mission town of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1772, San Luis Obispo is today a picture postcard college town comprised of quaint tree-lined streets, charming restaurants and shops and a mission plaza area that serves as a gathering place for concerts, culinary events, farmers markets and festivals. 
Minutes beyond the downtown area and the Cal Poly campus, a plethora of activities await. For the outdoor enthusiast, surfing, off-road dune riding, sea kayaking, water skiing, cycling, wind surfing, rock climbing, great golf and horseback riding are just a few exciting options. 
             
Yet, if more refined activities are sought, tours of world famous Hearst Castle, wine tasting at local wineries, theater, art shows and culinary adventures await in San Luis Obispo and neighboring towns including Paso Robles, Atascadero, Avila Beach, Morro Bay, Shell Beach, Cambria, Pismo Beach and San Simeon. 

For more information on visiting the Central Coast visit the following sites:

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center

Photos provided by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce