San Luis Obispo: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of History & Charm

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide App, which serves as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map, all in one.

Note: This 1.2-mile-long tour covers the essentials of San Louis Obispo in 1-2 hours.

Once downloaded, your self-guided walking tour of San Luis Obispo begins next to the parking lot at 919 Palm Street. From there, you’ll pass the famed Repertory Theater, hear how it started with no budget and staff, and discover one of its most famous performers.

Next up, you’ll find out about the famed bells of San Luis Obispo and learn how they commemorated many events, including weddings, danger, and funerals.

As you keep walking, you’ll go back in time and hear about the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and get to know Father Junipo Serra. You’ll even hear how he got lost and ended up here unintentionally!

Then you’ll hear more about the Spanish Period here. You’ll get stories about the broader mission system and El Camino Royal, as well as hearing how it all came to an end.

Your journey will take you over the Queenie Warden Bridge, where you’ll hear about its famed namesake, active in many civic causes. She was the first woman to run for mayor, back in 1917!

As you keep strolling, uncork the secrets and maybe sample a glass of the city’s unique wine.

The journey takes you next to bustling Mission Plaza with its statue of a grizzly bear. It’s a reminder that these mighty creatures once roamed free here!

As you continue, you’ll come to the San Luis Obispo County Museum. Inside, you can find various photos highlighting the city’s growth. You can also trace the city’s history back with a timeline, going back to the Chumash.

Speaking of history, listen to accounts of the Mexican Rancho Period and how the Mexican government seized the resources the Spanish left behind.

Then stroll into Bubblegum Alley, whose walls are covered in gum! Hear about the shenanigans that birthed this delightfully odd tradition.

After that, you’ll get to visit the bustling Farmer’s Market. Here you’ll also uncover John Harford’s shrewd vision, which resulted in the growth of the railroad in San Luis Obispo!

More stories are up next, as you find out about the city’s dangerous past, complete with outlaws, hijackings, and murders! You’ll be spooked, hearing about one of the most infamous murders, led by the ruthless Jack Powers Gang.

Then step back in time again and learn about the city’s old Chinatown, a once-thriving community that dwindled in the face of prejudice and pressure.

But that’s not all! You’ll also get to uncover the well-known movies that were shot in downtown and the surrounding areas, including Sandra Bullock’s M**der by Numbers and Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 classic, The Ten Commandments.

The journey concludes just after your visit to the historic Fremont Theater, an Art Deco masterpiece that embodies glamor.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

Points of Interest along the Seattle Downtown:

• Repertory Theatre
• The Bells of San Luis Obispo
• Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 1772
• The Spanish Period
• Queenie Bridge
• Wine Wonderland
• Mission Plaza
• SLO County Museum & the Chumash
• The Bells of El Camino
• The Mexican Rancho Period
• Bubblegum Alley
• Tiger Town
• The Rancho San Juan Capistrano Murders
• Lost Chinatown
• Filmed in SLO
• The Smoking Ban of 1990
• Fremont Theater

Benefits Over Live Guides and Group Tours:

• This flexible, self-led tour works by sensing your location as you walk
• The in-depth audio narration plays as you walk
• The audio tour is valid for one year after download, and you can use it as often as you want within that time.
• Once it’s downloaded, the tour works completely offline
• Tour your way: choose when to start, stop fast-forward, or rewind
• Ask for help from a real person anytime over call, chat, or email

This is a self-guided tour. It begins next to the parking lot at 919 Palm Street. Be sure to check your email before you begin driving to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. From there, simply follow the audio instructions and the route. If you have any questions, please contact us by call, chat, or email.

• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Easy-to-use app: download the Action Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Unique password: access your tour on the Action Tour Guide App

What's not included

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
• Food/Drinks

• Embark on a self-guided journey with the Action Tour Guide app, serving as your comprehensive guide, audio narrator, and map in one convenient package.
• Secure a vehicle prior to the tour. A single purchase is sufficient for the entire vehicle, not requiring individual bookings per passenger.
• Post-booking, expect an email containing the Action Tour Guide app download link and a unique password to unlock your exclusive tour access.
• Experience a tour crafted by local experts, brought to life through the storytelling of creative writers and the voice of professional narrators.
• Engage with animated videos at numerous stops, offering visual insights into unseen aspects, from historical scenes to hidden interiors.
• Your purchased tour remains valid for one year from the booking date, offering flexibility should your travel plans evolve—no need for booking adjustments within this period.

Know Before You Go

If the password is not in your inbox shortly after booking, please retrieve it at https://actiontourguide.com/redeem/.

For optimal performance, download the app and select tours via a reliable internet connection prior to your adventure.

If you encounter any issues, contact us without delay! We're dedicated to providing swift assistance: https://actiontourguide.com/faq/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

919 Palm St, 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App