A Rainy Holiday Road Trip: San Luis Obispo, Oxnard, and the California Coast

This past Christmas and New Year (2025–2026), we took a rainy holiday road trip through San Luis Obispo, Oxnard, and the Central Coast. The weather stayed gray and wet most of the time, but that gave the trip a quieter, slower pace — a different side of California that you don’t see during peak summer months.

San Luis Obispo: New Development and Familiar Stops

San Luis Obispo surprised me with how much new residential development has appeared since my last visit. There are noticeably more recently built apartment and mixed-use complexes, giving parts of the city a more modern feel while still fitting into the Central Coast environment.

Despite the rain, we visited our usual spots. Pismo Beach and Avila Beach were, as always, beautiful — dramatic skies, open shoreline, and far fewer people than you’d typically see in Orange County or Los Angeles.

We also stopped at the Madonna Inn, a place that remains completely unique. Its bold design and themed interiors still make it one of the most recognizable and unconventional stops on the coast.

At Morro Rock, we arrived just in time for sunset. Even though it’s a place we’ve seen many times, the changing light and clouds made it feel fresh again — a reminder of how consistent yet different the coast can be from visit to visit.

A Small Detour, Thanks to the Storm

Before leaving San Luis Obispo, we planned to meet an old friend for breakfast downtown. Because of the storm, many businesses were temporarily without power, though traffic lights and city infrastructure were still operating normally.

After a short search, we found a place that was open and serving food. It wasn’t dramatic — just one of those small travel detours that end up becoming a memorable part of the trip.

Oxnard: Walkable Areas and Coastal Access

From San Luis Obispo, we headed south to Oxnard, which stood out for the amount of new construction and redevelopment underway. What impressed me most was how some areas are designed with walkability in mind — shopping centers, restaurants, and cafes within easy walking distance in certain neighborhoods.

While in Oxnard, we visited the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center to learn more and plan a future trip. One interesting detail I didn’t realize before: the park itself doesn’t charge an entrance fee — you only pay for the ferry ride to the islands.

Solvang: Holiday Crowds and a Great Discovery

The next day, we drove to Solvang, which was busy with holiday visitors. We picked up some Christmas decorations and eventually found a place to eat — not without waiting in line. The food turned out to be surprisingly good, and honestly more enjoyable than our meal at the Madonna Inn.

One of the best finds in Solvang was Hans Christian Andersen Park. The playground was a great break for the kids and made the stop especially worthwhile.

Malibu: A Sobering Drive

On the way back, we drove through Malibu, where signs of wildfire damage were still clearly visible. It was sobering to see how much recovery remains ahead. Many properties — even those that survived — are now for sale, showing how long-lasting the impact of these fires can be.

Final Thoughts

This trip was a reminder that not every memorable journey needs perfect weather. Rainy beaches, quieter cities, new development, and unexpected detours all added up to a holiday that felt grounded and real.

California continues to change, but the coast still has a way of feeling familiar — especially when you slow down enough to notice it.