Page 53 - SLO Visitors Guide Summer 2024

slovisitorsguide.com SUMMER 2024 53
Los Osos
and Baywood Park
Los Osos, Spanish for “Valley of the
Bears”, is off the beaten path and
the gateway to Montana de Oro, an
amazing state park along the ocean.
The town has many quaint places of
interest for visitors to stop on their
way to and from the state park. Try
one of the many restaurants or grab
something to take with you for a
picnic at the beach or one of the
nearby forests.
Montana de Oro
The park is well-used with daily
visitors throughout the year who
go there to hike, picnic, fish, camp,
surf, take a dip in the ocean or visit
the tide pools. The park’s visitor
center is located at Spooner’s Ranch
House Museum above Spooner’s
Cove. The park is free to enter.
(805) 528-0513. For camping call
(800) 444-7275.
Elfin Forest
The forest has nearly 200
species of plants, more than 100
varieties of birds, and many species
of mammals and reptiles and
amphibians. The forest includes a
1-mile boardwalk that is wheelchair
accessible at the north end of 16th
Street. Guided tours are given on
the third Saturday of each month at
9:30 am starting at the north end of
15th Street off Santa Ysabel.
(805) 528-0392.
Baywood Pier
The pier, at the intersection
of 2nd Street and El Morro Ave.,
overlooks the shores of the back bay
of Morro Bay. The Los Osos Oaks
State Reserve Half-mile east of
South Bay Boulevard on the south
side of Los Osos Valley Road. The
reserve has an easy one-mile trail
through the “Pygmy Oaks”, which
are dwarfed coast live oaks. The low
canopy reserve is on the site where
Chumash once lived.
Los Osos Community Park
Located at the corner of Los
Osos Valley Road and Palisades
Avenue, the park includes a
17,000-square-foot skate park,
three tennis courts, playgrounds
and restrooms. The park is ideal for
walking or picnicking and is the
site of the Los Osos Valley School,
one of five original one-room
schoolhouses between San Luis
Obispo and the coast. Of those five,
only two still exist today, both in
Los Osos.
Sweet Springs Nature
Preserve
Located on the north end of
Ramona Avenue between Broderon
and 4th Street, the park is open
from dawn to dusk and has trails
that wander through the Monterey
cypress and eucalyptus trees around
two freshwater ponds and a salt
marsh to the edge of Morro Bay.
Baywood Park Farmers’
Market
On Santa Maria Avenue
between 2nd and 3rd streets. The
market takes place every Monday
from 2-4:30 p.m. (805) 748-1109.
Bear statues
On your way into Los Osos
notice the large grizzlies stationed
as guards into the town at South
Bay Boulevard and Los Osos Valley
Road. The statues were created by
local artist Paula Zima.
Dining & Drinks
Foggy Bottom Distillery
A small-batch craft distillery located
in Los Osos on Los Osos Valley Road,
specializing in bourbon, whiskeys,
gin, and spiced rum. Come visit and
meet the distiller. 905 Los Osos Valley
Road, fbdistillery.com, (805) 795-1727