Things to Do

Family Events in SLO County

July

July 4, 2024 (Thurs) - July 4th Fireworks at 9PM at Pismo Beach Pier. I walk on this pier often. See my nearly 1 minute walk on the beach on my instagram reel and the amazing ocean views. Address for GPS: 100 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

AUGUST

August 10, 2024 (Sat) - Saturdays in the Park Summer Concert Series at Atascadero Lake Park from 6:30PM - 8:30PM. FREE to the public and everyone is encouraged to bring a blanket, low-back chair, and the entire family to relish the warm summer evenings at Atascadero Lake Park. Atascadero is one of ten cities in San Luis Obispo County that is hosting free concerts. See the entire list of cities in San Luis Obispo County that is hosting a free concert for 2024. Address: 9305 Pismo Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422

Now - Sept 2, 2024 - Mustang Waterpark 💦 in Arroyo Grande opens for the summer time. They always open between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Their schedule changes towards the end of the summer season so check their website. Read my personal review of Mustang Waterpark and our experience with booking a cabana there

September

September 27 & 28 (Fri & Sat)  - Harvest Festival and Parade in Arroyo Grande. Harvest Festival serves as a tribute to agriculture, the area’s leading industry. Among the many attractions featured is a parade, toe-tapping entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and an array of food, games, and arts and crafts booths. This festival is focused on the local non-profit organizations that serve the community.  Address for GPS: 200 Olohan Alley, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

October

October 12, 2024 (Sat) - Paso Robles Pioneer Day from 7AM - 1PM at Paso Robles. The Pioneer Day Parade starts promptly at 10 am on the second Saturday in October, in downtown Paso Robles. The parade route starts at 16th and Spring Street and ends surrounding the Paso Robles City Park. Bring your favorite lawn chairs, hats and sunscreen and plan on a memorable experience. See antique tractors, horse-drawn wagons, marching bands, mounted equestrian groups, youth groups, church groups, civic groups, floats, vintage cars, fire engines, tractors military vehicles and more. Main Address: Spring St & 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446 October 19 & 20, 2024 (Sat & Sun) - 78th Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival starting with the Clam Festival parade at 10AM on October 19. This is a two day event and it is free admission and includes free kids zone with bounce house and inflatables. I go to this event almost every year. Read my review and past experience of the Pismo Beach Clam Festival with pictures I took. Address for GPS: 100 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 October 19, 2024 (Sat) - Golden Oak Honey & Pumpkin Festival and Kids' Flea Market from 10AM - 5PM in Downtown City Park in Paso Robles. Free admission. Honey, pumpkin pie eating contest, antiques, arts, crafts, and misc merchandise along with a special area for the Kid's Flea Market. Address: Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446

November

November 29, 2024 (Fri) - 38th Annual Downtown Lighting Ceremony at City Park in Paso Robles at 5:30PM. Mrs. Claus will be there. Address for GPS:  Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Thanksgiving Weekend Through December 23, 2024 - Cambria Christmas Market by Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria, California. Enjoy 3+ million Christmas lights, Vendor Market, festive food & drink, visits from Santa, live music and more! This is a ticketed event or if you book a room at Cambria Pines Lodge, then it is inclusive. Learn more about Cambria and my brunch experience at Cambria Pines Lodge. Address: 905 Burton Dr. Cambria, California 93428. I've walked through the Cambria Christmas Market lights last year. Here is my video clip from last year's visit: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D3d--JQVwGM

End of November through December 2024 - Holiday Plaza in Downtown San Luis Obispo. More details to come! Free to walk through. See my video from last year when Mission Plaza is transformed into Holiday Plaza with Christmas lights below. Press the play button.

November and December Selected Dates 2024 - Train Rides at Santa Margarita Ranch. Train ride tickets vary as there are two different trains. Each passenger ticket comes with hot cocoa and a cookie in the barn. Each train ride is 30 minutes long. Tickets are $40 per adult and $25 per child. Babies who are 2 years old and under are free. Address: 9000 Yerba Buena Ave., Santa Margarita, CA 93453. I've been to this ranch before. See my Youtube short video below at Santa Margarita Ranch.

December

December 21, 2024 (Sat) - Holiday Magic at the Charles Paddock Zoo from 10AM - 1PM. Join us for the annual Holiday Magic celebration, where our dedicated zookeepers step in as Santa’s Elves to prepare special gifts for the animals. Santa will be at the Zoo on Saturday, December 21st, to help welcome visitors and deliver gifts to the animals. Event is included with regular admission (costs money) at the zoo. See pictures that I've taken at the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. Address: 6907 El Camino Real. Atascadero, CA 93422

Throughout 2024 - Field of Lights in Sensorio (famous art light installations) in Paso Robles is usually open from Thurs - Sat evenings but for special occasions, they'll open more days. Weather permitting only as it's all outdoors. See my review, videos and photos that I took at Sensorio. Light at Sensorio Address: 4380 Highway 46 East Paso Robles, CA 93446

Ongoing - Every 2nd Saturday of every month, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art has a free monthly family art activity for kids from 11AM - 1PM. Free and open to the public. Address: The lawn outside SLOMA’s Mission Plaza double doors - 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Free Things To Do in SLO

Monarch Butterfly Grove

Bubblegum Alley

Bubble Gum Alley in Downtown San Luis Obispo is always free to explore! The walls are filled with bubble gum and you are welcome to add to the collection. Address: 733 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Avila-Pismo Beach Trolley

Elephant Seals in San Simeon

Playgrounds for Kids in SLO County

Sinsheimer Park in san Luis Obispo

Sinsheimer Park in San Luis Obispo is huge with a large playground area and a green hill where kids use cardboards to slide down. They have a lot of sitting areas and a large parking lot. Address: 900 Southwood Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo

Located in downtown San Luis Obispo is Mitchell Park with a large playground, picnic tables and public restrooms. Parking is street parking. Address: 1400 Osos St, San Luis Obispo, CA 9340

Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo

Playground at SLO Botanical Garden in San Luis Obispo

During normal days, you'd have to pay to enter SLO Botanical Garden but every month, they host a free Family Day where everyone gets in for free. Once you enter the gates, next to the SLO Botanical Garden is a large playground with a parking area and benches. It's typically quiet when my kids and I come here. They have swings, slides, and it's very spacious. We would hang out at the Children's Garden at the SLO Botanical Garden first on Free Family Days and then end up at this playground. See my Instagram video reel of my SLO Botanical Garden adventure with my kids. Address: 3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Dinosaurs Caves Park in Pismo Beach

Chumash Park in Pismo Beach

Spyglass Park in Shell Beach

Avila Beach Park 

16th Street Park in Grover Beach

16th Street Park is the largest park with a playground in Grover Beach. They only have one section as a playground, unlike other playgrounds that separate them for the little ones. It is meant to be in all-inclusive playground. I'd be wary about bringing little kids as my younger son has been buillied by older kids who were hanging around the area. One time, two older kids (maybe Middle School age) approached one of my sons and was encouraging him to try drugs if he wanted to "feel special". It was so sad that this happened. My son told me right away and I made sure I was right next to him. Those older boys were throwing around slurs and saying a lot of bad stuff that I know most parents do not want their little ones to hear. I'm not saying I would expect it to happen often but a couple of extremely bad experiences is enough to make me be a little hesitant to bring my little boys here. I have not encountered problems like this at any other park that I've visited. Address: 16th Street & Mentone Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433

Hero Park in Grover Beach

Hero Park is located in Grover Beach area and has a playground for the smaller kids. It's located in a quiet residential area. It is street parking only. It has a basketball court and tennis courts. Address: 1600 Farroll Rd, Grover Beach, CA 93433

Elm Street Park/City of Arroyo Grande Parks & Recreation Park

Also known as Elm Street Dog Park, this has both a playground and dog park. There is also a Park & Recreation building there that has preschools and special programs for kids. Throughout the year, the City of Arroyo Grande would host special events here for the public. Address: 1221 Ash St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Del Mar Park in Morro Bay

Tidelands Playground in Morro Bay

Tidelands Playground does not have the traditional playground with swings and slides but it has a ship structure for kids to climb! I love the phenomenal view here of the Morro Rock. It has a large parking lot, which makes it easy. I've chaperoned for a field trip in Morro Bay before and we'd stop here for lunch. It was ample room for three classes and it could fit a lot more, easily. Address: 301 EmbarcaderoMorro Bay, CA 93442

Atascadero Lake Park

Located in Atascadero and next to the Charles Paddock Zoo is a large green park with a playground and a nice lake. The playground makes it very convenient for the kids after the zoo. They don't sell food at the zoo so you can bring a picnic here at this park (right outside the zoo) and enjoy a little a break. Address for GPS: 9100 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422

Popular Beaches to Explore in San Luis Obispo County

Avila Beach

Avila Valley Barn

San Luis (SLO) Lighthouse

Avila Beach PIER

Pismo Beach

The most famous SLO beach is Pismo Beach and attracts the majority of the tourists who come to this area. Come to the Pismo Beach Pier to take in some beautiful ocean views. 

With clean beaches, a lot of shops and restaurants, many tourists, local families and surfers come to Pismo Beach for a nice day out. The boardwalk is also a nice stroll along the beach in Pismo Beach.

Oceano Dunes, part of Pismo State Beach, is only 3 miles south of Pismo Beach. Read more about Oceano, California.

HotShots Billiards & Family Entertainment at Pismo Beach

Don't let the word Billiards throw you off from coming here with your kids! They have a lot of arcade games in the back with some centered on little ones! You can buy food or draft beer while the kids have some fun. 

It's very close to the Pismo Beach Pier. You can park in the beach parking lot there and walk here. We came here with the little ones around 8pm and it is still family-friendly.

There is never an admission fee to enter the game area. Bring your quarters. Otherwise, bring cash to dispense some quarters here. Address: 250 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Grover Beach

Grover Beach and Sand Dunes Beach Entry

Grover Beach Playground on 16th Street

Cayucos

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Morro Bay

Morro Rock

Sea Otters

Morro Bay Trolley

Paso Robles

Paso Robles Children's Museum

The Paso Robles Children's Museum is a two story museum located in the downtown area of Paso Robles. It may be a bit intimidating for the smaller toddlers but it's still a great place for the kids if you're nearby. See more pictures of our visits at Paso Robles Children's Museum in this blog post. It is much smaller than the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum only open a few days out of the week, depending on their staff coverage for the season. Address: 623 13th St,Paso Robles, California 9344

The Ravine Waterpark (only open during summer season)

California Mid-State Fair

Check out the blog section to read about our most recent visit or activity in SLO County.