SLO CAL — Welcome to SLO CAL

World Travel & Tourism Council
3 min readMar 2, 2023
Welcome to SLO CAL

Nestled in California’s Central Coast region is a land of alluring beaches, undulating vineyards and a town radiating with a quintessential Californian charm. San Luis Obispo County, CA (SLO CAL) is a destination that emanates a sense of community, with its commitment to sustainability engrained into the way of life of its residents. It’s distinct topography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean allow for twenty-eight contrasting microclimates to exist in tandem across the region, making the possibility for adventure endless.

The beating heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo County

In SLO CAL there is both a respect for and reliance on the natural world that has meant an early adoption of sustainability practices within the destination. This has filtered into tourism related organisations from tasting wines in the vineyards, to surfing and exploring the beaches or other outdoor areas of outstanding natural beauty.

In the words of Chuck Davison, CEO at Visit SLO CAL

“This is a community that’s open to everyone, if they’re looking for a place where they can really connect with nature, the person they’re travelling with and the authenticity of the people who live here in the community. This is the place they should consider.”

Boasting over 80 miles of sublime coastline, SLO CAL is a beach-lover’s paradise. Relish in the sweeping shores of Pismo & Shell Beach, hike down coastal cliffs to stumble upon secluded coves or wonder at the elephant seals down at San Simeon.

If you’re more of a foodie, you’re in luck, SLO CAL is bursting with exquisite local produce. With a year-round growing season, rest assured that you’ll always be getting the freshest, locally sourced produce during your visit. Get a taste of the real SLO CAL on a tour of one of the regions many farms and experience the farm-to-table movement first-hand.

It’s impossible to talk about SLO CAL without mentioning wine. Home to over 250 wineries across two major wine grape-growing regions, visitors are encouraged to explore designated wine trails and tasting rooms in Paso Robles to experience their internationally acclaimed wines.

Wine tasting a Tablas Creek Vineyard

In this series we will capture the essence of SLO CAL by exploring the ways in which their tourism strategy has been able to encourage sustainable tourism to the region whilst simultaneously acting as responsible stewards on behalf of the community that resides there. Through top down and bottom up perspectives, we’ll explore how different tourism entities are working to present SLO CAL as a tranquil tourist hotspot whilst staying true to their sustainability value.

Explore more from the SLO CAL Destination Spotlight Series

--

--

World Travel & Tourism Council

Our mission is to maximise the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector. Join the conversation #WTTC