Get out

The Zoo in Atascadero is a fun way to spend a few hours.  It is a small zoo, but is nice and shady, and cheap.  If you get a yearly membership, you can use it to get into many of the zoos around the country, including the Santa Barbara Zoo.  The zoo has a tiger, a small aviary to walk through, some monkeys, cute little meerkats, and a several other animals.  Plus, it is adjacent a large park with a big grassy area, a nice playground, and a lake. 

Bob Jones Bike Trail, Avila Beach. Paved bike/stroller trail with beautiful Avila Beach as the destination. I usually start this one at Sycamore Mineral Springs when doing it with smaller children on bikes, otherwise everyone is crying by the end. Don't miss the labryinth across the street from Sycamore Mineral Springs before heading out.

Avila Valley Barn has goats with endless stomachs that you can feed lettuce, other farm animals, hay rides out to pick your own seasonal fruits/pumpkins, a hay maze in the fall, and fresh fruit, pies, and ice cream for sale.  You don't pay to get in, just for the fruit that you will certainly buy.



Sunset Drive-in, San Luis Obispo.  The only reasonable way to take wiggly kids, pillows, and your own candy to the movies.  Also fun for adults.

Elephant seals, North of San Simeon.  These guys are quite a site.  Smelly, loud, and huge elephant seals laying, fighting, and showing off all over the beach.  Read about best times to go.  Generally, winter.  Not that there is really winter here.  My kids will never learn their seasons.  Also, if you are lucky, you will pass some zebras at the Hearst Ranch on the way up there. 

Monarch Grove, Pismo Beach.  Do this late October to February.  There's about 25,000 butterflies in the relaxing eucylptus grove that they migrate to.  Docents will be there during the day to teach you about their amazing migration.  Also, there is a very pleasant trail from the grove across the dunes to a pleasant beach, so bring the swimsuits.

Bubblegum Alley.  There is an alley in downtown San Luis Obispo whose walls are covered in gum.  This is not really a destination in and of itself, but certainly worth walking through.  It's intriguingly gross.  Get to it off of Higuera St. just north of Broad Street.