Downtown San Luis Obispo, the town that is pure California perfection!

Date/Time

Saturday, October 5th, 2024 | 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Where We Will Meet

At the fountain in front of the San Luis Obispo Mission

Where The Walk Will End

Antonia's Pizzeria

About This Walk

Hello Walkers and welcome to the Annual Worldwide Photo Walk!

Our walk is going back after an 8-year break to the Historic Downtown area of San Luis Obispo where we can zigzag in and around the streets and along the creek offering us tons of photo opportunities; street photography, lifestyle, still life, nature, architecture, art and more.  Once named the happiest town in the USA by Oprah Winfrey, this year it was chosen by CNN as Number Five on the list of America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2024 and named it ‘the town that is pure California perfection!’ How can we argue with that?! I chose the time of day for this walk so we can take photos during the day and for those of you who enjoy night photography can also capture some of the great neon signs and lights after dark. Sunset is at 6:40. We’ll meet up in front of the Mission at 5:00pm and either walk in groups or you can feel free to explore on your own. At 7:30 we can meet up for a slice and a drink after the walk so we can chat and relax. I’m thinking Antonia’s Pizzeria, 891 Higuera Street which offers affordable options, pizza, salads, etc. We can do some night shooting after we eat as well!

Here is a list of the many things (in no particular order) we can photograph (or is just interesting!) some during the daylight hours and some after dark.

Historic Fremont Theatre that opened in 1942 1035 Monterey Street.

Chinatown District ~  Ah Louis Store 800 Palm Street built in 1885,  Mee Heng Low Noodle House (serving noodles for over 96 years!!) is across the street.

Mission Plaza Creek Walk which parallels all the downtown shops.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa circa 1772 751 Palm Street Tequski Wa Suwa (Child & Bear), Qiqsmu (Bear Cubs), Yach Ka (Steelhead Trout) Fountain in front of the mission.

The Moon Tree, 699 Monterey Street.

A variety of public art throughout town, painted utility boxes, unique architecture, neon signs:

The American Spirit Sculpture 990 Palm Street, located in front of City Hall and the Downtown Transit Center, artist Jim Jacobson partnered with Will Carlton (glassblower) and Erick Wand (graphic designer) to create “The American Spirit,” which depicts a historical transportation-themed obelisk.

The Archway to Happiness 871 Marsh Street.

Bee Bee Works his Magic 888 Morro Street located in front of the SLO REP Theatre.

Fish Life Mobile located at 1040 Broad Street above the creek.

Tankhead Fish sculpture hanging over the creek.

Web of Life sculpture along creek walk.

Seven Sisters (Celestial Subduction) mural 1101 Higuera – the Higuera side (back) of the Fremont Theatre.

Chumash Pictographs Sculpture 1010 Broad Street located at the Creek Walk near Broad Street, this sculpture represents the Chumash Indians who were the first inhabitants of the San Luis Obispo.

Puck Statue 890 Marsh Street Located in the Downtown Centre, Puck is a bigger-than-life-size bronze sculpture depicting the whimsical, impish character of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Court of Historic Flags ceramic artwork located on the side of the Palm Street parking structure by the side entrance to the Public Library.

Creamery Marketplace 570 Higuera Street.

This open-air public market might just be Downtown San Luis Obispo’s best-kept local secret. Enjoy murals and public art centered around the Central Coast’s dairy history along with eateries, boutiques, and more, all hidden in plain sight. Here you will find one of the Cows on Parade! Built in 1910, this building housed the Golden State Creamery which contributed significantly to the growth and development of the dairy industry in San Luis Obispo.

Yes, sticky Bubblegum Alley! 735 Higuera Street.

You’ll find lots more artwork, sculptures and murals on buildings, parking lots and alongside streets.

Dozens of restaurants and shops on the beautifully night lit street with lots of people watching opportunities!

Our walk….

We’ll meet and begin our walk of the downtown San Luis Obispo area in front of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa* (see below). There is a beautiful Bear Fountain in the plaza at the foot of the steps that is a reminder that the Mission and surrounding area was built in the home of the California Grizzly Bear. We’ll head up the steps and can visit the Mission grounds and ‘quietly’ the church. The church also has nice gardens in the back. We’ll head back to the plaza and continue to a small amphitheater along the creek and down the steps and walk along the creek. The creekside walk has beautiful foliage, some art sculptures, restaurant patios overlooking the creek, a small bridge and more. We’ll be walking by the Moon Tree** (see below) and various artwork. Then we’ll turn the corner and walk up Higuera Street through the downtown area full of interesting buildings, shops and restaurants. We can zigzag between the small streets and courtyards, visit Bubblegum Alley*** (see below) and more on our way towards Antonia’s Pizzeria.

*The Spanish mission was founded in 1772 by Father Junípero Serra in the present-day city of San Luis Obispo, California. Named after Saint Louis of Anjou, the bishop of Toulouse, the mission is the namesake of the city of San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo County. San Luis Obīspo was the first mission founded in the land of the Chumash people and 5th of the California Missions. The neophytes at the mission were called Obispeño. Unlike many of the missions which were-situated over time, San Luis Obīspo stands on its original site. The San Luis Obīspo church was built in 1792-94.

**The Moon Tree. Among the trees that grow alongside the San Luis Creek in Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo is a Coastal Redwood that as a seed took a 9 day trip into space on the Apollo 14, the 8th manned space mission, with Major Stuart Roosa, the Command Module Pilot, Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell. In a project between NASA and USFS this Coastal Redwood along with 499 other tree seeds, launched into space in Roosa’s (a former smoke jumper) pack on January 31st, 1971 on the United States’ third trip to the lunar surface.

Apollo 14 splashed back down into the Pacific Ocean on February 9th. The seeds that traveled on the mission were planted at the US Forest Service Forest Genetics Nursery in Placerville, CA and Gulfport, Mississippi and of the 500 seeds, 420 sprouted and the seedlings, known as Moon Trees, were presented to dignitaries around the world, (Italy, Brazil and Switzerland to name a few) and various Western and Southern States. The San Luis Obispo Moon Tree was planted along the creek on July 30, 1976 commemorating the Bicentennial of the United States of America.

***No one is really certain how it began, but the 15 foot high, 70 foot long alley off Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo has been covered with ABC (already been chewed) gum left by students, residents and tourists alike, beginning around 1945-1950, gaining popularity in the 1970s. Many see it as self-expression, a piece of public art, a tourist attraction, but others see it as disgusting. The alley has been ‘cleaned’ a few times but the gum keeps accumulating to what you see, and ‘smell’, today. Bubblegum Alley has gained international attention and is listed as a tourist attraction of the central coast. It’s been featured on news programs, tv shows and newspapers. Although many would like to see it go away, the gum lined alley is growing in popularity and gum. You can walk through the alley night or day and you will undoubtedly see someone adding their piece of chewed gum to the sticky unofficial landmark, taking a selfie, or asking you to snap a photo of them. It is estimated that there are about 2 million pieces of gum sticking to the walls!

Tips: Dress casual, comfy shoes! The average weather in October is 75ish during the day and low 50s at night. No prior experience is needed. Come with your camera of choice, tripod if you want to shoot at night and your enthusiasm for photography! Oh, mobile phones are ok too! This year’s hashtag is #WWPW2024

I look forward to seeing you all on October 5th! Since this is a FREE event, please consider making a donation to the Springs of Hope Orphanage or buy yourself a WWPW Tshirt (all proceeds benefit the orphanage).  And, for those of you who don’t know me, visit me at Facebook.com/Emotions and send me a friend request!