RELOCATING TO THE CENTRAL COAST? THE PRO's & CON's
The Central Coast of California offers a wonderful region for residents seeking to enjoy a slower-paced lifestyle, awesome beach communities, rustic wine-country living, and a community feel missing from so many regions nowadays.
While it has some undeniably positive aspects, it’s not for everyone though.. so if you are considering a relocation to the Central Coast, here are some things to keep in mind from a lifetime local’s perspective!
WEATHER
Overall, the Central Coast has some of the best weather in all of California, with more sunny days compared to the rest of the U.S.A. It is rare to have overcast days and common to have clear, sunny days.
“San Luis Obispo County in California is a region of mild, Mediterranean climates with warm summers and mild winters. The average temperature range is from 40 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. San Luis Obispo County receives an average of 18 inches of rain per year, mostly during the cooler months like October through March, while the summer months are usually dry with high temperatures.” -Bestplaces.net
If you love warm, sunny summers and mild winters you will not be disappointed. If you are someone, however, who enjoys more contrast in your seasons SLO County may not be the best for you. Snow is rare, bundle/layer season is short, and Fall is not as magical nor brilliant as compared to other regions in North America like the East Coast. Fortunately, if you want snow and colder weather during the Winter/Fall you can make a relatively short trek to the world-famous mountains of California in Yosemite and Shaver Lake area.
SHOPPING
Here on the Central Coast we have seen some more nationwide retailers open up shop. Brand names like Nordstrom Rack SLO, COSTCO, Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet, Shoe Palace, TARGET, Urban Outfitters, & Sephora to name a few. One of the complaints, however, would be a lack of higher-end shopping and the overall choices of shopping in surrounding cities like Atascadero, Templeton, or Nipomo or Arroyo Grande.
If you are used to high-end luxury shopping with famous brands like LVMH, BOSS, Gucci, Cartier, you may be disappointed by the lack of options in SLO County. If you are willing to drive to LA or San Fran for your shopping experience, then you won’t be disappointed by the retail scene in SLO County.
The Central Coast, however, has some great boutique and small retail shopping. For example, Bijou, Sole Tree, FireflyPaso, Ah Louis Store, Apropos Clothing Boutique, and Basalt to name a few.
BEACHES
The beaches on the Central Coast are world-famous, and for good reason. We have soft sand which is conducive for laying out enjoying the sun, playing volleyball with friends, playing catch, or reading a good novel. Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and the Oceano Dunes are some of the most famous and fit within the Southern California style. Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Cambria fit a more Northern California Style which is similar to Monterey and Santa Cruz.
It is rare to not have a sunny day at the beach here on the Central Coast. Avila Beach, Pismo Beach and Shell Beach offer many warm sunny days and fog is rare.
Like many beach communities on the Coast, parking is tough. The Central Coast is similar in that parking for beach access can be tricky which is a complaint many who call the area home.
Cold water is one of the complaints many make when it comes to Central Coast oceans. Without a wetsuit, it can take some time to adapt. If you are looking for more warm/tropical ocean water like San Diego or Mexico, you may be a bit disappointed. If you don’t mind a brisker and colder ocean, the Central Coast of California beaches can’t be matched!
TRAFFIC
The Traffic is not bad overall in SLO County. Compared to large metro areas, we don’t see the kind of congestion they see. While traffic is rare, it is not unheard of… Pismo Beach during the summer is notorious for a challenging situation for parking and traffic build-up from beachgoers, SLO has also seen an increase in traffic during rush hour and during farmer’s market.
HOTELS AND RESORTS
If you decide to move to the Central Coast and have friends or family visiting, you want to make sure they have excellent accommodations. Fortunately, San Luis Obispo has some wonderful hotels and resorts to choose from: Sandcastle Hotel on the Beach, Spyglass Inn, The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, the famous Madonna Inn, Allegretto Paso Robles, The Piccolo, and the Carlton in Atascadero to name a few.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
San Luis Obispo County is known for its outdoor lifestyle, with hiking, biking, kayaking, golfing and surfing being some of the most popular pastimes. Pismo Preserve and Cerro Cabrillo are some of the most popular hiking trails, with the Three Bridges Trail in Atascadero also being a local favorite.
If you are looking for serious mountaineering however, the Central Coast might not be your cup of tea. Most of the hikes are fairly short day hikes.
NIGHTLIFE
“Everything closes too early”
This is a complaint some have who live in the area, and I would agree, so if you are looking for a “popping” city nightlife region, SLO County may not be the best for you. There are a few restaurants and bars in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero or Santa Maria that stay open later, but for the most part the cities close down around 8-9pm.
Because SLO is a college town, most of the bars cater to a younger more rambunctious crowd, which can be a bit annoying if you are out later and want a more classy night out. We are seeing a trend toward more upscale and late-night establishments on the Central Coast, with Side Car Cocktail, Koberl at Blue and Eleven-TwentyTwo being some of our favorites.
In conclusion, the “SLO Life” is not for everyone… but for those that embrace and love it, it’s perfect.