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

Explore San Luis Obispo's history on a self-guided tour featuring Mission de Tolosa and Bubblegum Alley. 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 Murder 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

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