Head to the center of town any day of the week, and you’ll find locals, visitors and SLO’s Cal Poly students flitting between cafes, old record stores, boutique jewelry shops, art galleries and big-name chains. They can grab a bite at one of the town’s many long-time restaurants such as Giuseppe’s Italian or Linnaea’s Cafe or try a new spot like Ebony, serving Ethiopian cuisine.

Downtown SLO is centered around Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, a Spanish mission founded in 1772. The state’s missions figure prominently in the formation of California, giving rise to cities including San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. On any given afternoon, you’ll find couples relaxing on the grass in front of the mission and kids throwing coins into its iconic bear fountain.

A collection of museums such as the History Center of San Luis Obispo County and the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum is scattered nearby, making up the city’s cultural corridor.