Chances are you came to San Luis Obispo to drink a lot of wine, but you’re also only 20 minutes from Pismo Beach. While you roam around the kitschy beach town working on your farmer’s tan, stop into Splash Cafe for the best bowl of clam chowder on the coast. This PCH institution is on every travelers’ brochure in the state, but don’t let that deter you. The chowder lives up to the hype - with fresh clams, a not-too-thick broth, and all the butter they could find in California. Get it in their housemade bread bowl.

photo credit: Jakob Layman