Did you know that San Luis Obispo County, aka SLO CAL®, has tons of adventurous things to do? From horseback riding through a winery to ATVing over sand dunes to kayaking amongst the wildlife of Morro Bay, there are plenty of options to satisfy that urge for adventure during your trip to SLO CAL. Check out below for my 5 top thrilling things to do in San Luis Obispo, and a few bonus activities at the bottom!
SEE ALSO: The Most Instagrammable Spots in SLO CAL
Disclaimer: The following post is in partnership with Visit SLO CAL®. As always, all opinions are my own!
Table of Contents
Horseback Ride Through a Winery
Central Coast Trailrides has several awesome options for those looking to go riding during their time in SLO CAL. You can choose to ride through a vineyard in Paso Robles, like Cass Winery, Halter Ranch Vineyard, or Calcareous Vineyard. They also offer a more technical ride around the front side of Santa Margarita Lake that features more switchbacks and steep elevation changes, if you’re looking for a challenge, or a longer ride around the backside of Santa Margarita Lake.
Paraglide Onto a Beach
Have you ever been paragliding? It’s a pretty amazing experience! You can soar over Cayucos, California with a tandem paragliding experience that lands on the beach. One company that offers this is WingEnvy Paragliding. You’ll launch off a 700 ft mountain over the Central Coast, flying over Cayucos and finishing in the sand! If you’ve never been paragliding, I highly recommend it! If activities like skydiving make you nervous, this is a boost of adrenaline without the intensity of skydiving or bungee jumping.
ATV at Oceano Dunes
While you’re down in Pismo, head over to the Oceano Dunes SVRA for some fun thrills in the sand. You can rent an ATV from Steve’s ATV Rentals and enjoy an off-roading adventure! I recommend going out for a sunset ride for beautiful views as the golden hour and sunset hit the dunes and ocean. So you’ll get scenery AND an adrenaline rush!
Hot Air Balloon Over Wineries
Experience a view of the Central Coast that few get to see as your soar high above SLOCAL in a hot air balloon! Balloons Over Paso offer sunrise flights that will take you floating over Paso Robles and vineyard views. You’ll have to get up early, but it’ll be worth it.
Kayak Morro Bay
If you’re looking for what to do in Morro Bay, kayaking is the perfect way to spend an afternoon on the water! While kayaking Morro Bay, which is a National Estuary, you’ll have the chance to spot harbor seals, seal lions, sea otters, and other wildlife, all while having the stunning backdrop of Morro Rock. If you’re looking for group kayaking tours, Central Coast Outdoors is one option and has tour options including a sunset paddle or their half-day classic. While you’re in the area, you can also choose other adventurous activities in Morro Bay State Park, like biking and hiking. If kayaks aren’t your thing, several companies also offer stand-up paddleboard rentals for another type of paddling experience.
SEE ALSO: San Luis Obispo County California Travel Guide
Honorable Mentions
- Try to surf at one of the many beaches in SLO CAL, like Pismo Beach or Avila Beach. You could also try lessons at a surf school!
- Hike Bishop Peak’s Felsman Loop Trail for stunning California views over the Central Coast.
- Get your Top Gun thrills and ride in an open cockpit WWII biplane with Banner Airways. You’ll get a birds-eye view of Pismo Beach! Or, choose a longer tour that flies over the Oceano Dunes as well as the pier.
- Zipline over wine country with Margarita Adventures. You can even do a Zip ‘n Sip package with a wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery after your ziplining experience.
- Kayak at Pismo Beach’s Dinosaur Caves Park – it’s an underwater cave!
- Explore and hike Montaña de Oro State Park!
Looking for more things to do in San Luis Obispo that aren’t adventurous? Try snapping a photo at Bubblegum Alley in the city of San Luis Obispo, or visiting the infamous Madonna Inn. A tour of Hearst Castle is another must for any visitor to SLO CAL, and while you’re up there, you can stop by to see the elephant seals on the beach!
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