The middle of the coast.
Halfway between Santa Cruz and La Jolla, with the Santa Lucias behind town and Morro Bay down the road. Long Game coaches Central Coast players by video, booked in Pacific time.
A family town, deep roots.
San Luis Obispo runs through my family. My mom went there for college sight unseen, straight out of high school in San Lorenzo. She graduated there and still has some of her closest friends from those years. Both of my cousins went there too.
My own trips started with high school soccer tournaments, then visits to high school friends who went there for college. It was always fun, and I've loved the area ever since.
Slow towns, deep roots.
These days it's Highway 1 on the moto, down the coast toward Morro Bay.
Plan a SLO day, start to finish.
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market
Thursday nights on Higuera Street: farms, food and live music.
Market info → Hike · In townBishop Peak
The tallest of the Nine Sisters, with views over the whole town.
Map it → DowntownBubblegum Alley
The gooey downtown landmark. You have to see it once.
Map it → HistoryMission San Luis Obispo
Founded in 1772, right on Mission Plaza and the creek.
Map it → BeachAvila Beach
A sheltered, sunny beach about 15 minutes south, with kayak and paddleboard rentals.
Map it → CoastMorro Rock and Morro Bay
Sea otters, the harbor and the 576-foot rock, up Highway 1.
Map it → Day tripHearst Castle
Tours of the hilltop estate, about an hour north up the coast.
Hearst Castle → Wine countrySLO wine country
Edna Valley and beyond, minutes from downtown.
SLO Wine →Listed to help you plan, not as partners or sponsors. Check each site for seasons, prices and bookings.
Where to clear your head.
Montana de Oro State Park
Over 8,000 acres and 7 miles of shoreline. Valencia Peak is 1,347 feet.
Carrizo Plain National Monument
At Wallace Creek you can stand on the San Andreas Fault, which has dragged a stream about 430 feet sideways.
Santa Lucia Wilderness
18,679 acres, designated in 1978, about ten minutes from town according to the Forest Service.
Trail tip: no wilderness permit is required in Los Padres National Forest. A campfire permit is required for campfires and stoves. Sources: parks.ca.gov, blm.gov, fs.usda.gov.
What's open right now.
Long games we admire.
The Central Coast runs on people who build something by hand and stick with it.
Long Game is building partnerships with a few key local businesses. When a partnership is official, it shows up right here.
A quick trip to the Central Coast.
San Luis Obispo (SBP)
The county airport, a few minutes from downtown.
Search flights → TrainSan Luis Obispo station
Amtrak Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner both stop in town.
Amtrak → BusSLO RTA
Regional buses to Morro Bay, Pismo and the rest of the county.
SLO RTA →Planning a trip? Email mike@longgamelife.live to hear about the next Long Game meetup in San Luis Obispo.
Know the ground around camp.
Long games run better when you're rooted where you live. Here's who looks after the Central Coast, where locals spend their time off, and where to start if you're visiting.
Protect it
Groups keeping the coast, forests and trails healthy. Show up for a cleanup or a trail day.
- Surfrider Foundation, San Luis Obispo CountyCounty-wide chapter working on coastal and ocean issues.
- Sierra Club, Santa Lucia ChapterSLO County chapter with regular outings and hikes.
- The Land Conservancy of SLO CountyLand trust behind the Pismo Preserve and the Bob Jones Trail work.
- Central Coast Concerned Mountain BikersVolunteers who build and maintain local singletrack.
- Los Padres Forest AssociationVolunteer trail days across Los Padres National Forest.
- Leave No TraceThe seven principles every Long Game trip runs on.
Live it
Where the locals actually spend their time off.
- Boo Boo RecordsDowntown SLO on Monterey St, new and used vinyl for 50 years.
- SLO Skate Park at Santa Rosa ParkFree, lit at night. Helmet and pads required.
- SLO open space trailsCerro San Luis, Irish Hills and more, a few minutes from downtown.
- Bob Jones TrailPaved path toward Avila Beach. Some sections still being built.
- Montana de Oro State ParkCoastal mountain bike trails in Los Osos.
Visit it
Planning a trip, or new in town? Start here.
- Visit SLO CALThe county's official tourism site.
- Visit San Luis ObispoThe city's official visitor guide.
- Morro Bay State ParkEstuary, marina and the natural history museum.
- Pismo State BeachDunes, beach camping and the monarch grove.
- Los Padres National ForestCheck fire alerts before heading into the backcountry.
- Cal Poly MustangsUniversity athletics.
- SLO BluesSummer collegiate baseball at Sinsheimer Stadium.
- San Luis Obispo on WikipediaHistory and the basics.
Links go to each group's own site. Listed as local resources, not partners or sponsors. Spot something closed or missing? Email mike@longgamelife.live.
Everybody has a long game. Yours can start on the Central Coast.
Student, local, or somewhere in between, start with a free 20-minute call.
Or email mike@longgamelife.live