Best Health Club/Gym
Kennedy Club Fitness
Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Templeton, SLO
facebook.com/KennedyClubFitness
Best Yoga Studio
Spark Yoga
977 E. Foothill Blvd., suite 111, SLO
1289 Laurel Lane, SLO
285 Buchon St., SLO
(805) 439-1848
Best Pilates Studio
Club Pilates
SLO, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles
Best Martial Arts Studio
Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
SLO, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles
(805) 305-7512
facebook.com/ParagonBJJSanLuisObispoAtascadero
Best Bike Trail
Bob Jones Trail
Avila Beach
(805) 544-9096
facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-San-Luis-Obispo-County-98093522918
Best Bike Shop
Artās Cyclery
3988 Short St., No. 110, SLO
(805) 439-3915
Best Hike
The Pismo Preserve
80 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 544-9096
facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-San-Luis-Obispo-County-98093522918
There are few easily accessible places in the world that boast spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and rolling green hills, but The Pismo Preserve is one of them. Choose your own adventure from a few well-marked trails and begin a couple of hours of moderate hiking, fit for adults, willing children, leashed dogs, and equestrians. Bring layers for the temperature dips as you proceed beneath shady trees, and keep your eyes peeled for grazing cattle in the spring and summer. If youāre not into paying a few bucks to park in the lot, get a few extra steps in and start your journey on the other side of the freeway along Price Street. Itās worth it.
āMadison
Best ADA Accessible Trail
Bob Jones Trail
Avila Beach
(805) 544-9096
facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-San-Luis-Obispo-County-98093522918
One word: microclimate. Thereās something magical about Avila Beach. Sometimes when the coast is socked in with fog, Avila will be a little nook of sunshine. With a wide sandy beach, a beautiful beachside promenade, a historic pier, lots of quality restaurants and accommodations, seasonal events like a farmers market and art on the beach, summer vendor carts, surfboard rentals and lessons, and more, itās a sought-after destination for both locals and out-of-towners. Some might miss the unincorporated communityās old funkiness that was perfectly captured in the 1979 Dennis Christopher film California Dreaming, but change is inevitable, and when it was discovered that Unocal had leaked oil under the town, the cleanup changed the face of Avila. Those in the know might miss Peteās Seaside CafĆ© and Barbaraās by the Sea, but Avila remains a jewel of the Central Coast. The indigenous Chumash settled there for a reason.
āGlen
Best State Park
MontaƱa De Oro State Park
Pecho Valley Road, Los Osos
(805) 772-6101
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592
facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks
Best Beach
Avila Beach
Avila Beach
Best Outdoor Store
The Mountain Air
667 Marsh St., suite D, SLO
(805) 543-1676
customerservice@themountainair.com
themountainair.com
Best Campground
Morro Bay State Park
State Park Road, Morro Bay
(805) 772-7434
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=594
facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks
Best Horseback Rides
Madonna Inn Trail Rides
100 Madonna Road, SLO
(805) 550-5307
madonnainntrailrides@yahoo.com
madonnainn.com/trail-rides-1
facebook.com/madonnainntrailrides
Best Surf Lessons
Sandbar Surf School
1879 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 835-7873
jonny@sandbarsuf.com
sandbarsurf.com
facebook.com/sandbarsurfschool
Best Surf Shop
Moondoggies Beach Club
837 Monterey St., SLO
781 Doliver St., Pismo Beach
(805) 541-1995
moondoggiesbeachclub@gmail.com
moondoggiesbeachclub.com
facebook.com/moondoggiesbeachclub
Best Skateboard Shop
Alliance Board Co.
1233 Park St., Paso Robles
(805) 238-2600
allianceboardco@gmail.com
allianceboardcompany.com
facebook.com/AllianceBoardCompany
Best Place to Get Swimwear
SLO Swim
795 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 888-7630
sloswim@att.net
sloswimco.com
Best Dive Shop
SLO Ocean Currents
3121 S. Higuera, suite B, SLO
(805) 544-7227
info@slooceancurrents.com
slooceancurrents.com
Best Watersport Rental
Avila Beach Paddlesports
3915 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beach
(805) 704-6902
avilabeachpaddlesports@gmail.com
avilabeachpaddlesports.com
facebook.com/avilapaddlesports
Best Fishing Charter
Patriot Sportfishing
Harford Pier, Avila Beach
1215 Embarcadero, suite A, Morro Bay
(805) 595-7200
patriotsportfishing.com
facebook.com/PatriotSportFishing
Best Hotel
Hotel San Luis Obispo
877 Palm St., SLO
(805) 235-0700
info@hotel-slo.com
hotel-slo.com
Best Golf Course
Dairy Creek Golf Course
2990 Dairy Creek Road, SLO
(805) 782-8060
dcinfo@co.slo.ca.us
dairycreekslo.com
facebook.com/DairyCreekGolfCourse
Best Dog Park
Laguna Lake Dog Park
504 Madonna Road, SLO
(805) 781-7302
recnews@slocity.org
slocity.org/government/department-directory/parks-and-recreation/parks/dog-off-leash-area
Best Thing About SLO County
The Weather ā
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2026.