"Still SLO After All These Years" San Luis Obispo by Karnubawax

San Luis Obispo is a gorgeous town on the Central California Coast that is ripe for destruction.

I've been visiting this little town as long as I've been alive (my grandparents lived in neighboring Los Osos), and I'm amazed that the place has not been totally overrun. Housing prices have shot up in recent years, and zoning and development battles make the headlines, but San Luis Obispo still maintains a wonderful, small town feel.

The first thing you'll notice about SLO is that it is surprisingly hip; no doubt the proximity of a major university (Cal Poly) has something to do with it. You'll see hippies, punk rockers, gays, and extremely fashionably dressed folks rubbing elbows with farmers and fisherman. And yet, this is not a recent phenomenon; it's always been this way (at least, as long as I can remember it). There's a subtle, quirky side to San Luis... from the wacky Madonna Inn to the beautifully disgusting bubble gum alley. Downtown is a great place for a stroll, especially on a really hot summer day - when the shady trees are a welcome relief.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolusa

The big tourist draw of the area is Hearst Castle - located near the town of San Simeon around 20 miles north. While The Castle is definitely worth a stop, the region has more than enough things to keep you occupied for a week (or even two)! Besides the town of SLO, there's Morro Bay - a great little seaside village, the untouristy town of Cayucos - with its many beaches and herds of elephant seals, the tiny, arty town of Cambria, Paso Robles with its mega-Mid-State Fair, and, to the south, Pismo Beach - with its famous clams and just as famous dune-buggy playground. If that isn't enough for 'ya, the area around Paso Robles and Templeton is now a hot spot for wineries - and those into wine tasting will be in for a real treat on a tour through the hills!

Bubble Gum Alley

While San Luis Obispo is certainly hip enough to earn the nickname "SLO-town," in reality, few people call it that. If you ask a local where they're going they'll say either "San Luis" or maybe "up to SLO." "SLO-town" is a bit too "urban" for this area, if you know what I mean. I hope it always will be so. Like I said, I expect this town to be completely overrun any minute, and I'm really glad it hasn't happened yet.

• Pros:Biggest town between SF & LA, great small-town feel.
• Cons:Not so much nightlife, but there is some.
• In a nutshell:See it now before it is overrun!