Three years ago, I moved to San Luis Obispo from the Seattle area.
When my son graduated from high school, I had my heart set on moving to Arizona. Scottsdale had long been my favorite place to escape to during Seattle’s dreary winters. The warm sun, the dry desert air, and the sense of space left my mind, body and soul more settled.
So when I found myself ready for a fresh start, Scottsdale was my first stop.
As the search for a new home continued, I was reminded about this charming town on the Central California Coast called San Luis Obispo. Various friends over the years had spoken fondly about this college town affectionately known as “SLO”. I came to learn that this historic place was not the Bay and was not L.A. It has a richness, a warmth, and vibe all its own.
Although Scottsdale was a place I loved to visit, I’m a coastal girl. True to my Cancer nature, the ocean has always felt like home and that quiet pull had me leaving the desert and seeking the sea.
And then SLO came up again.
And then again.
Looking back, how I found myself here could only be described as divine intervention. Everything about how I came to live here—the timing, the opportunities, the unfolding of events—felt guided. And once I arrived, I quickly understood why.
San Luis Obispo has a rare and effortless charm.
Tucked into the hills of California’s Central Coast, it’s a place where life moves at a gentler, and dare I say, a “SLO’er” pace, where the warm hospitality feels genuine. It’s because the people who live here truly love it here.
The weather, dreamy. Warm days allow for slow mornings sipping coffee on the patio and evenings are just cool enough for long dinners that stretch into the star-sprinkled nights.
Along the coast, miles of soft white sand beaches stretch quietly along the Pacific, uncrowded and glowing with some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.
The surrounding hills are lush with vineyards, lavender fields, farms, and citrus groves where everything grows in abundance. The food here reflects it—vibrant, fresh, and bursting with flavors.
The mountains parallel the ocean, offering panoramic hikes through eucalyptus-filled forests that are deeply restorative.
But what truly captured me here were the small, quiet details of everyday life.
The warm sun that rises behind the mountains.
The cows grazing on the hill.
The twinkling ocean beyond.
The bright light in the house.
The horses. The owls. The birds.
The healing ocean air.
The sunsets that never seem to repeat themselves.
I have fully embraced the miles of hiking trails, the fresh food, the local wine, and the feeling of calm that seems to settle into my nervous system with each passing day.
SLO spoke to my soul.
When I began building Julie Catherine Wellness, I initially explored retreat locations in Arizona and along the East Coast. I looked at beautiful properties and inspiring destinations that held fond memories.
But the truth kept revealing itself.
The place that had been the most healing and restorative for me was the place I already called home.
There are places that energize you, and there are places that restore you.
San Luis Obispo has a quiet way of doing both.
What began as my own place of renewal has now become the setting where I invite other women to experience the same.
It has been such a beautiful journey to live here and build a company in this extraordinary place. But to now share SLO’s charm, beauty, and restorative qualities with the women who attend my retreats is a dream come true.
This June, a small group of women will gather here on California’s Central Coast surrounded by blooming lavender fields, rolling vineyards, soothing ocean air, nourishing food, and thoughtful care.
It isn’t simply a wellness retreat.
It’s an invitation to step away from the pace of everyday life and immerse yourself in a place that naturally invites rest, connection, and renewal.
Explore our June retreat in San Luis Obispo at Julie Catherine Wellness.
