San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden is a small garden in El Chorro Regional Park, a dry inland area between the town of SLO and the town of Morro Bay. It is a work in progress. Currently there is an attractive entrance area with strung lights, a poppy fountain, and colorful painted fence in the children's garden. There are some nice trees, such as a fig tree, Hungarian oak tree, and mayten trees (like willow trees) from the Andes foothills. There are plants from similarly dry regions like South Africa and Australia, including Sunset Gold breath of heaven and blue hibiscus. A little bridge leads to the children's garden which has tree stump stepping stones and miniature fairy items to play with, 

If you become a member, you can enter many botanical gardens in California for free, which is worth it if you love gardens and plan to travel long distances. 
There is a 1.4 mile loop Discovery Trail with good views of Bishop Peak. It reaches 17% grade steepness on the way back down. It is a hard-packed dirt trail through dry grassland- come early or late in the day since there is no shade. 
The Christmas Lights display is fun with lanterns, hot chocolate, and live music. 
Dogs are allowed if on a leash. 
After, your kids can play on the large playground in El Chorro Regional Park. It has a tire swing, baby swings, regular swings, tic tac toe, a twisty slide, monkey bars, and a cable.
In mid-June there is Live Oak Music Festival in El Chorro Regional Park. For other live music in SLO, check out my summer live music list. 

Directions

Admission is $10 per person, $8 for students, military, and seniors, and free for children aged 12 and under. 
Sometimes there is a fee to enter El Chorro Regional Park, though this has been waived recently.

Click on map for interactive view