SLO is well placed for day trips along the central coast. Most destinations are under an hour away, and the coastal scenery on Highway 1 makes the drives worthwhile in themselves.
Morro Bay (15 miles northwest on Highway 1) is a fishing town built around a natural harbor and the unmistakable 576-foot volcanic rock that sits just offshore. The bay has a functioning commercial fishing fleet, good seafood restaurants on the Embarcadero, and a state beach. The rock is technically a nature reserve and you cannot climb it, but it dominates every view from town.
Pismo Beach (13 miles south on US-101) is the quintessential California beach town: wide sandy beach, a pier, and a laid-back atmosphere that hasn't changed much in decades. The Pismo clam was once so abundant that locals raked them from the sand by the barrel; commercial harvesting ended decades ago, but you can still dig a small number with a fishing license. The dunes south of town at Oceano are some of the tallest on the Pacific coast and accessible by ATV.
Hearst Castle (45 miles north on Highway 1) is the baroque hilltop estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst between 1919 and 1947, designed by architect Julia Morgan. The scale is extravagant to the point of absurdity: 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, two swimming pools, and art collected from across Europe shipped in crates. Tours are required (no self-guided access) and run daily; book in advance, especially in summer.
Edna Valley wineries are 10 minutes south of downtown — a small appellation producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a cooler microclimate than the rest of SLO County. Several tasting rooms are open daily and don't require reservations on weekdays.