Location: San Luis Obispo
Top Things to do in San Luis Obispo
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Things to do in San Luis Obispo, California (CA): The Best Museums
Halfway between San Francisco and L.A., San Luis Obispo can be a relaxing getaway or a buzz of activity. For serenity, pack a lunch and head to one of dozens of wineries or take a drive to the beach for a leisurely swim. For a dose of history, visit the heart of the city at the beautiful Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Kids will love the Children’s Museum or Skate Park. Be sure to stroll along the creek downtown, where there are breweries, wine bars, restaurants and shopping for all tastes.
Restaurants in San Luis Obispo
1. Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum
2. Art Central
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Art Central is an art & drafting supply store for local artists by local artists. It is our mission to promote & support the visual arts of San Luis Obispo County. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find what you need to create your masterpieces or discover a new creative outlet! Our gallery proudly hosts a diverse array of fine art by local artists.
3. San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Preschool through elementary-age children learn about health, history, safety, science, nature and the arts through a series of innovate hands-on activities and exhibits.
Reviewed By deborabQ4619MG
recommend this place to drop off your kid to play. a good place for the kids to stay entertained while adults recoup their energy lol
4. Steynberg Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Art Gallery and Cafe, serving organic coffee and a wide variety of menu items. Also a music venue, having featured a number of great acts including Frank Black, Port O'Brien, Inga Swearingen and Cafe Musique.
5. The Gallery at the Network
6. San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By Y5678TBrobertn - Sparks, United States
Although not large, this train museum is packed with a good collection of historical information. The displays inside the museum are still being developed. The model train layout is coming along and will be great to see again on a later visit. Plenty of free parking and the outside platform and cars are open to the public. The $5 to go inside the museum is well worth the cost.
7. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Museum & Gift Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By AandEGjr - Salt Lake City, United States
Wandered into to mission after Sunday services. Very impressed with the museum that offered Catholic history as well as history of the indigenous people of the area. AND this was all free with a suggested donation. A must see if you like missions !!
8. History Center and Museum of San Luis Obispo County
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 68 reviews
Located in the former Carnegie Library, this museum traces the history of San Luis Obispo County from the era of the Chumash and Salinan Indians to present day.
Reviewed By annadanm - Lacey, United States
One of the free libraries built as a result of money donated by Andrew Carnegie. The greeter was a joy! Her passion for this center was infectious. I will make sure to visit more of these original free libraries in my future travels.
9. Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By jonr105 - San Luis Obispo, United States
I’ve lived in SLO for a year and this was only my second visit to the SLO Museum of Art. The takeaway from this visit is that I need to go more often because it’s now clear to me that each of their exhibits should be seen. The museum is small and exhibition space is very limited, so it’s a challenge for the curators who have to be very selective about what goes into the space available. They do a very good job here. Most of the pieces being shown are for sale, which suggests this is more of a gallery than a museum. That distinction doesn’t concern me if the offerings are diverse, edgy and interesting, which is the case here. The primary exhibit I saw on this visit — Electric Abstractions — fit the bill. I happened to be present on the first Thursday of the month so I attended the Art at High Noon lecture, giving at noon on the first Thursday of each month. It was delivered by Jayne Behman, one of the artists featured in the Electric Abstractions exhibit, and it was very interesting. They also offer Film Night at 7pm on the third Monday of each month. The museum offers artist group meetings, adult classes and workshops, youth and teen summer art camps, and sponsors art trips and concerts from time to time. They are in the midst of a capital fundraising program with a view to a major expansion (tripling the museum size) being kicked off within the next year or two. That will be a wonderful addition to the community.
