SoCal Nature Kids’ Guide to San Luis Obispo County, California
Looking for a nature area to explore with your family in Orange County? Check out these family-friendly places, recommended by me or other Southern California parents. It’s always a good idea to check each location’s web site for updated information before you go, and use your judgment regarding safety for your family at these locations.
SAN LUIS OBISPO PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY GARDENS AND FARMS
San Luis Obispo Botanic Garden (3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405)
Leaning Pine Arboretum (1 Grand Ave Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA 93405)
Native Plant Garden at Pocahontas Park (2705 Wilton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428)
Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove (400 S Dolliver St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449)
Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden (5015 Linne Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446) - kids welcome!
Chapman Estate and Gardens ( 1243 Ocean Boulevard in Shell Beach, Calif)
Cambria Nursery and Florist (2801 Eton Rd, Cambria, CA 93428)
Nipomo Native Garden (999 Osage St #927, Nipomo, CA 93444)
The Luffa Farm (1457 Willow Rd, Nipomo, CA 93444-9529)
Dallidet Adobe and Gardens (1185 Pacific St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
The Garden Gallery (680 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442)
Lake Park Native Garden (7848 Pismo Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422)
Avila Farm
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CAMPING SPOTS
Northbeach Campground at Pismo State Beach (399 S Dolliver St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449)
San Simeon State Park (Van Gordon Creek Road at San Simeon Creek Road, Cambria, 93428)
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY BEACHES AND TIDE POOLS
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MUSEUMS
Cal Poly SLO (1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407) has an observatory open to the public - https://sites.google.com/view/calpolyobservatory/learn-more?authuser=0
Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove (400 S Dolliver St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449)
Morro Bay Museum of Natural History (20 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442)
San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum (1010 Nipomo St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
The Dallidet Adobe & Gardens (1185 Pacific St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center (250 San Simeon Ave Suite 5A, San Simeon)
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY HIKING TRAILS AND NATURE AREAS
Audubon Sweet Springs Nature Preserve (660 Ramona Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402
Oso Flaco Lake (3098 Oso Flaco Lake Road Arroyo Grande, CA 93420)
Moro Strand State Beach (Yerba Buena & Highway 1Morro Bay, CA 93442)
Heron Rookery Natural Preserve (20 State Park Road, Morro Bay, CA 93442)
San Carpoforo Creek Beach (18550 Cabrillo Hwy San Simeon, CA 93452)
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS
Avila Beach Park (50 San Juan Street, Avila Beach, CA 93424)
Nipomo Community Park (255 Pomeroy Road, Nipomo, CA 93444)
Biddle Regional Park (3500 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420)
Cayucos Beach (200 Oceanfront Lane, Cayucos, CA 93430)
CW Clarke Park (101 West Centre Street, Shandon, CA 93461)
Paul Andrew Park (3rd Street, Cayucos, CA 93430)
Cuesta Canyon Park (2400 Loomis Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
San Miguel Park (1325 K Street, San Miguel, CA 93451)
El Chorro Regional Park (State Hwy 1 @ Dairy Creek, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405)
Santa Margarita Community Park (2210 H Street, Santa Margarita, CA 93453)
Hardie Park (Ash Avenue and B Street, Cayucos, CA 93430)
Shamel Park (5455 Windsor St., Cambria,CA 93428)
Heilmann Regional Park (9400 El Bordo Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422)
Templeton Park (550 Crocker Street, Templeton, CA 93465)
Los Osos Community Park (2180 Palisades Avenue Los Osos, CA 93402)
Oceano Memorial Park (1330 Dewey Drive. Oceano, CA 93445)
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY ZOOS AND ANIMALS
Pacific Wildlife Care (1387 Main St., Morro Bay, CA 93442) offers educational programming upon request - more info here: https://pacificwildlifecare.org/wildlife-ambassadors/
Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary of San Luis Obispo (2148 S Halcyon Rd, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420)
**Charles Paddock Zoo (9100 Morro Road, Atascadero, CA 93422)
Central Coast Aquarium 50 San Juan St, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Morro Bay has loads of otters.
Piedras Blancas Rookery (San Simeon) usually has elephant seals year round.