The atmosphere of San Luis Obispo is very relaxed and friendly. The atmosphere in town is comfortable. Although SLO is a college town, it is also a tourist destination, so there are occasional tensions between college students, locals, and business people, but in general everyone gets along. Visit Bubblegum Alley, Bishop’s Peak, the “P,” the beaches, the men’s bathroom at the Madonna Inn, and Montana de Oro state park. The only other college in the area is a local junior college, Cuesta, but the majority of students there are attempting to get into Cal Poly anyway.
There are very few places that would be considered dangerous, but most stay clear of the nude beach (fortunately, it’s small). There are also increasing numbers of homeless people downtown. The students, especially those used to large cities, are disappointed by the lack of pop culture activities available. Most will come to enjoy the fact that outdoor activities are the norm here. Whether or not they are the athletic type, all students will end up trying some sort of physical activity, such as surfing, kayaking, hiking, or rock climbing. There are many opportunities to engage in all of these pastimes.
Sort by:

Local Atmosphere at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Inkie
Animal Sciences '15
4.6
A
An Excellent Town
San Luis Obispo is a fun, exciting, and safe place to go to school/live. The locals are very kind, and Oprah rated San Luis Obispo as the happiest city in America!
May 23, 2012
Comment actions:
Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Local Atmosphere at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
mlsponce
Electrical Engineering Technician '13
5.0
A+
SLO Behavior
Everyone here in San Luis Obispo is extremely friendly and everyone is very welcoming. The environment is great and the weather is also very great.
Mar 26, 2012
Comment actions:
Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Local Atmosphere at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
A+
Small, Tight Knit Community, Great School
I have really enjoyed my first quarter at Cal Poly. It was a perfect choice for me. There are a lot of things to do and everything is close enough to get to.
Jan 10, 2012
Comment actions:
Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
User rating for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo - Local Atmosphere is
4.6 out of 5
based on 35 user reviews.
Become a Contributing Author Learn more »
Most Recent Student Author View all
- Name
- Sarah Parr
- Hometown
- Simi Valley, CA
- Major
- Journalism/Pre-Law
College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.
Buy the eBook "California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo 2012: Off The Record"
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)