Old Town Historic District walk, SLO

It's pleasant to stroll past the Victorian and Craftsman homes in the Old Town Historic District. Start at 1500 Garden Street, where you can park along the road for free. Broad, Garden, and Chorro Streets go east-west rather than north-south, and they have little Victorian homes and lovely gardens. In autumn, it's nice to walk along, admiring the yellow, orange, and red trees. Buchon Street, which runs north-south, has stunning architecture around the 600-800 blocks. Some of the houses are little cottages and some are large Victorian mansions.  It is on top of the hill, so you get great views of the morros/mountains: Cerro San Luis (the one with an M on it) and Bishop's Peak. Around the 500 block, peek over at Pismo Street, which runs parallel, to see another large mansion at 559 Pismo Street with a wraparound balcony and midnight blue stained glass. Here you can also see Emerson Park, with its community garden full of sunflowers, playground for little kids, and workout stations, plus views of the mountains. Saint Stephens Episcopal Church is an adorable church here. North of Chorro Street it becomes a bit sketchy because of the high crime area around Mitchell Park, but you can take one of the eastern streets, like Islay Street or Leff Street, to avoid Mitchell Park, and then explore the far north end of the grid, Toro Street. On the way you will see that Leff Street has tall pine trees- you feel like you're in Northern California! Islay Street has some colorful Victorian houses that I love, around the 600-800 blocks. Toro Street has a great variety of flowers and trees to behold! The houses are all unique and lovely, with cute fences and decorations. 

It becomes more rundown as you go south of Beach Street, and the numbers get lower than the 500 block of Buchon Street. In this industrial area you can find Nautical Bean Coffee, Bread Bike Bakery, Ascendo Coffee SLO, and House of Bread (Marsh Street), which has delicious muffins made with real butter rather than vegetable oil. High Street Deli, a very popular cafe in a sweet historic house with a side patio, is also nearby, and has amazing Dutch Punch sandwiches (opens 11am) with bread supplied by Back Porch Bakery.
A classy and adorable place to go is The Platypus Cafe, on the corner of Upham Street and Broad Street, right by your walk! Try their memorable passionfruit scones!
Walk a few blocks west of Old Town Historic District and you will come to the main downtown area of SLO. Here you can hang out with a cup of coffee at Scout Coffee, a gorgeous coffee shop, or Linnaea's Cafe, both on Garden Street.

Directions

The most glorious section of Old Town Historic District is around 1500 Garden Street, where you can park for free along the road. 
If you want to park on Chorro, Broad, or Garden, park at the 1400 block or higher, in order to avoid paying for parking.
The Platypus Cafe, 1901 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo. Open daily 8am-8pm, and till 9pm on Fri and Sat.

Click on map for interactive view