Shonna & Justin
Things To Do
Liquid Gravity Brewing Company
Where we had our first date (awww)! We met for a beer at Liquid Gravity after connecting on Hinge on November 5, 2020. During the pandemic, breweries had to serve food with drinks to stay compliant with city regulations, so we split 5 potstickers over a couple beers and the rest is history. The potstickers may be gone, but the beer is good and still on tap!
There Does Not Exist
Shonna's favorite brewery in the area (and where she almost suggested she and Justin go on their first date but didn't in case the date didn't go well to prevent ruining her favorite spot, but then the date went well, so she kinda wishes they went there after all, but it makes for a good story so it's okay and we can still recommend it).
SLO County Hikes
We love hiking and we don't care who knows! SLO boasts countless beautiful hikes; if you need help deciding, our favorite moderate-hard hikes include the Ontario Ridge Trail (Avila Ridge), Cerro San Luis (Madonna Mountain), and Bishop Peak, while our favorite easier hikes are Johnson Ranch and the Bluff Trail in Montaña de Oro.
San Luis Obispo
SLO is the heart of the county and where we're getting married! There are so many great things to check out in this area. If you're in town on a Thursday night, head to downtown for the weekly Farmer's Market on Higuera Street. Start your day with a hike (see the list above), grab a coffee at Scout, play some pickleball at French Park, get a sandwich at High St. or Lincoln Deli, check out the many cute shops in downtown, and hit up Petra for the best Mediterranean food and a great happy hour. If you're looking to wine taste without heading to Paso, check out Baileyana, Saucelito Canyon, Chamisal, and Sextant - don't forget to make a tasting reservation! For more SLO recommendations, see the link below.
Avila Beach
The Avila Beach area is one of our favorite spots! If you're looking for the perfect day, walk the Bob Jones Trail to the beach, lay out and go for a swim, grab a beer at Locals Taproom, and end the day with a relaxing soak at Sycamore Mineral Springs. Other attractions include playing a round of golf at the Avila Beach Golf Resort, visiting the Secret Garden, and checking out the Avila Valley Barn.
Templeton
This is where we live! If you're in the North County neighborhood, swing by our town and hit up some of our favorite spots. Kitchenette serves the best brunch around, Aliyah's has the best burritos, Templeton Market & Deli's got the best chicken tenders and mojos, and Club Car Bar is the rootinest, tootinest watering hole in town! Stop by Castoro Cellars (this is where our cute lil' vineyard house is 🏡) and do a tasting or play some disc golf in their Whale Rock Vineyard. While you're at it, might as well stop by their sister winery & distillery across the street, Bethel Rd Distillery. Can you tell we love our little town?! She's tiny, but great.
Paso Robles
Paso Robles is in North San Luis Obispo County. Downtown Paso is very cute and has some great places to check out. Some of our favorite spots are Thai Classic and Cal Coast Beer Company. Check out 1122 if you want a fun speakeasy vibe, but be warned - it can be quite a long wait to get a table. If wine's your thing, you've got lots of options. Since there are far too many to see in one weekend, we've picked out a few of our favorites: Jada Alta Colina Paix Sur Terre Parrish Family Vineyard (pro tip: order a BLTA 🥪) Castoro Cellars (technically in Templeton... but a good wine stop nonetheless!) We highly recommend making a tasting appointment before you visit; you can search for wineries and make an appointment at the link below.
Hwy 1 Beach Cities
Explore the beach cities along Highway 1, including Los Osos, Morro Bay, and Cayucos. These quaint, coastal towns are just a short, scenic drive from SLO and host many gems along the Central Coast: Los Osos | Montaña de Oro State Park, Beerwood, Kuma, & High St. Baywood Park Morro Bay | Three Stacks & A Rock Brewing Company, The Siren, & Morro Strand Beach Cayucos | Schooners, Hidden Kitchen, & Cayucos Gas Mini Mart (great burritos!)
Cruickshank Trail & Ragged Point
Last but not least, we got engaged on the Cruickshank Trail in Big Sur, so we couldn't help but put it on the list of things to see! It's such a special place for us and we have so many memories in this magical place. We highly recommend taking time to explore this beautiful part of the coast. Ragged Point, the southernmost point of Big Sur (also dubbed the Butthole of Big Sur by the bride), is about 1 hour from SLO and about 20 minutes south of the trailhead. We recommend stopping at Ragged Point for a post-hike bevvie and taking in the view! If you're not feeling this hike, there are so many amazing ones to choose from in Big Sur; AllTrails is great for finding trailheads off the beaten path. But make sure you check the road access before setting out to your destination - Big Sur often has road closures due to past weather disasters.