California Polytechnic State University occupies a large campus in the hills north of downtown, about a mile from Higuera Street. The architecture is mostly mid-century California utilitarian — nothing to write home about — but the campus is open, walkable, and set against a backdrop of golden hills that looks definitively Californian.
The main draw for visitors is the working farm. Cal Poly's motto is "Learn by Doing," and it means it: the university operates an 810-acre agricultural complex with cattle, sheep, horses, poultry, and row crops. The farm is active and generally accessible to the public on a self-guided basis, though some areas have restricted access during operations. Chickens are often visible from the main road. It's a genuine working farm, not a display — which makes it more interesting.
The campus bookstore, cafes, and outdoor spaces fill up during the academic year and are quiet in summer. If you want to understand what shapes SLO's character as a town, spending an hour on campus is more useful than reading about it.