Fantastic Souvenirs to Get on Your San Luis Obispo Vacation

Sometimes referred to as the “Happiest City in America,” San Luis Obispo is a slice of coastal paradise that’s a great destination to visit when you need to refresh and relax. It’s also an excellent place to pick up some awesome souvenirs to take back home to keep for yourself or share with anyone who may not be able to come with you. If you’re on the hunt for souvenir suggestions, keep reading.

Fresh Farmers’ Market Finds

SLO is famous for its farmers’ market, and there are other places in town that offer similar setups for both locals and visitors. If you properly store some of the fresh local goodies you find here, you should be able to bring some of them back with you in a way that allows them to still be enjoyable when you get back.

Surf Apparel/Boards

Not surprisingly, the souvenirs you can easily find in San Luis Obispo include surf-related apparel. The possibilities typically include surf shirts, tees, and shorts available in an assortment of vibrant hues and sizes. Surfboards can also be purchased locally. However, if you find a board you really want to keep as a souvenir, you may want to have it shipped to your home to avoid the hassle of transporting it yourself.

Locally Prepared Wine or Beer

You’ll find more than 30 wineries within the general San Luis Obispo area. There are also many places in and near SLO that sell locally crafted beers. Many of these places sell wine or beer by the bottle or pack, which means you can take some of these tasty selections back to your hotel near San Luis Obispo and pack them up to take home with you. 

Note: Some of the local wineries and breweries in the SLO area also sell apparel and accessories you can pack up for your return trip.

Golf-Inspired Accessories

If you or the people on your souvenir list are avid golf fans, check out the on-site shops at local golf courses during your visit. Many of them offer affordable items that are easy to pack up and transport, such as polo shirts, towels, golf balls, sweatshirts, and headwear.

Unique Museum Gift Shop Items

There are several museums located in San Luis Obispo and throughout SLO County. Many of them have on-site gift shops with items related to the museums’ themes. For instance, the gift shop at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum has unique railroad-themed souvenirs.

Note: Before you go to a museum you want to visit, check to confirm it’s open, since some of them are still temporarily closed as of May 2021.

Cal Poly Merchandise

California Polytechnic State University is the main university located directly in SLO. They have a gift shop where you can pick up jackets, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hoodies, reusable drinking bottles, and other practical items that can be great souvenirs.

Gift Cards

Round out your souvenir hunt when visiting San Luis Obispo by collecting gift cards you can use to make online purchases from local SLO stores when you get back home. You can also pick up gift cards for loved ones or friends so they can do the same thing. Visit DowntownSLO.com for a list of shops in the San Luis Obispo area that offer gift cards.

When you visit San Luis Obispo, souvenir hunting is just one of the huge variety of fun things to do. When you’re planning your vacation to this gorgeous California city, make sure to reserve your room at Sands Inn & Suites, a premier San Luis Obispo hotel. Bring the whole family to our pet-friendly inn and enjoy our on-site gym, heated outdoor pool and spa, and free WiFi. Our staff is dedicated to making your stay as comfortable and memorable as possible, so call us to reserve your room today at (800) 441-4657.