Islay Park Greenway, SLO

It's peaceful to walk the Islay Park Greenway. If you start at Islay Park, you first go through forest in thick shade, behind houses. Once you reach Spanish Oaks Drive, cross the street and walk the greenway down a steep hill. There is lush landscaping. Here you can watch the Surfliner train go by around 6:14am or 4:15pm. Kids enjoy this. There is a disc swing hanging from a tree, and a bench where you can watch the sunset over the distant mountains. 

This greenway ends at Ironbark Street (if you want to make a loop, you can just walk straight on Ironbark Street through The Arbors neighborhood back to Islay Park Playground).
Extend your walk by exploring the streets of The Arbors neighborhood. There is a historic homestead called Rodriguez Adobe on Purple Sage Lane, in a park with a huge gorgeous sloping lawn and eucalyptus tree. This homestead was built in the 1850s in the Presidio style, as a series of rooms connected by a veranda. Many houses in this neighborhood have pretty gardens, with lemon trees, cactus, flowers, and pomegranate bushes, and a backdrop of green Islay Hill, which makes for a pleasant walk. In March there are wonderful flowers to behold, such as sageleaf rockrose, freesias, lilac, and poppies galore.
Extend your walk even further by connecting up with the French Park walk. To the left of where the greenway began on Spanish Oaks Drive is a path that leads down some steps, and through a tunnel under the railroad tracks. Bring a friend for this one! This path leads through shady forest all the way to Ambrosia Lane. Here you can explore the French Park neighborhood which has a huge park with pickleball and views of the mountains, houses with pretty gardens, and greenways behind the houses. Most of the walk is fairly flat, so it's easier on your knees than the many hikes in SLO that go to the top of a peak. 
After, rest and relax at Islay Park Playground, a lovely spot with a beautiful view of Islay Hill.
Another fairly flat hike is the Poly Canyon Hike. Find more gentle incline hikes in SLO. 
A short walk from Islay Park is the Islay Hill Hike, a steep hike with gorgeous views of SLO town, and flowers in spring.
A nice 2.5 mile loop walk past sweeping mountain views can be enjoyed at San Luis Country Club neighborhood. It is an eight minute drive from here.

Directions

You can start the walk in various spots. One is Islay Park, located at the roundabout at Tank Farm Rd and Orcutt Rd. You can park in their parking lot. 
You can also park your car at Spanish Oaks Dr, near Sweet Bay Lane, and start the walk there.

Click on map for interactive view