San Luis Obispo is located midway between San Jose and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities. The city, referred to locally as “SLO”, “SLOtown”, “S.L.O.” and “San Luis”, is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is adjacent to California Polytechnic State University. It has been referred to as “the happiest city in America” by Oprah Winfrey and the National Geographic book “Thrive” by Dan Buettner. The population was 45,119 at the 2010 census.
San Luis Obispo is an outdoor enthusiasts’ mecca. The coastline and foothills offer an incredibly diverse number of activities including surfing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, road cycling, rock climbing, boating, fishing, trail running and more – all within just a few minutes of downtown SLO.
San Luis Obispo is widely known for Farmers’ Market. Every Thursday night, Farmers’ Market is held on five downtown blocks of Higuera Street. The streets are closed to traffic, making for a great night of strolling downtown for fresh produce and local fare. Farmers’ Market is also a great time for tourists to check out Bubblegum Alley: a 15-foot high and 70-foot long alley lined with chewed gum left by passers-by.
San Luis Obispo is a dynamic real estate market with home styles to suit everyone. SLO features California Bungalows, Victorians, Spanish, Craftsman, Modern, mixed-use projects and newer tract developments for families looking for the conveniences inherent in planned communities. There are also sprawling horse properties, wine estates and working ranches spread all over San Luis Obispo County.
