With 315 days of sunshine, San Luis Obispo (nicknamed SLO) is the perfect year-round weekend destination – and one of the best places to visit in California – with picturesque beaches, a burgeoning farm-to-table culinary scene, rolling vineyards and plenty of small-town charm.

From a wine perspective, Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley are catching people’s attention with bold flavors being blessed with one of the longest growing seasons in the world. The thick morning fog almost always gives way to warm afternoon sunlight. The vines from these local wineries count on this cooling and warming cycle to extend the growing season which adds complexity through deeper ripening of sugars, acids, and tannins. The pronounced marine conditions and moderate temperatures allow the fruit to achieve, rich, full flavors while structure and balance remain steady and manageable.

Although renowned for Burgundian varieties and cool climate favorites like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, there are also aromatic white varietals like Riesling and Pinot Gris. As you move away from the coast to the warmer mountainous regions, you will find powerfully flavoured reds like Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Kick off a long weekend with a stop at a pedestrian-friendly farmers market held on Thursday evenings along Higuera Street downtown. Other SLO activity options include shopping for one-of-a-kind items at the JunkGirls shop, picking a pound of Tongg to slice up, taking a surfing lesson or catching a movie at the nostalgic Sunset Drive-In.

There are plenty of galleries to satisfy art lovers, but a more unconventional tourist attraction invites visitors to help make
graffiti out of chewed gum in Bubblegum Alley. For a bit of California history, wander through the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.