Planning a Trip

Getting There -- U.S. 101, one of the state's primary north-south roadways, runs through San Luis Obispo; it's the fastest land route here from anywhere. If you're driving down along the coast, Highway 1 is the way to go for its natural beauty and oceanfront cliffs. If you're entering the city from the east, take Highway 46 or 41 to U.S. 101, and then go south. Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL; www.amtrak.com) offers daily service into SLO from Oakland and Los Angeles.

Visitor Information -- At the San Luis Obispo Visitors Center, 1039 Chorro St. (tel. 805/781-2670; www.visitslo.com), downtown between Monterey and Higuera streets, you can pick up the colorful, comprehensive Visitors Guide and self-guided Points of Interest Walking Tour. It's open Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm.

Orientation -- San Luis Obispo is about 10 miles inland, at the junction of Highway 1 and U.S. 101. The downtown is laid out in a grid, roughly centered on the historic mission and its Mission Plaza . Most of the main tourist sights are around the mission, within the small triangle created by U.S. 101 and Santa Rosa and Marsh streets.