San Louis Obispo with an Infant

 

San Louis Obispo with an Infant

A Maternity Leave Travel Guide

While the early days of maternity leave were spent mostly at home—learning to breastfeed, catching sleep when we could, and slowly gaining the confidence to venture out—I knew I wanted to end that season with something special.

We spent those slower weeks researching potential travel plans and decided to use the final stretch of my leave for our first adventure as a family of three. I was hoping for something low-key, with good weather, a new-to-us location, and ideally not too far from Denver since that’s where we were living at the time.

That search led us to San Luis Obispo, California—a beautiful part of the Central Coast that checked all our boxes for our daughter’s first trip at just 3 months old.

Getting There

There are direct flights from Denver to San Luis Obispo (SLO), but we booked a bit late and those fares had skyrocketed. So instead, we flew into San Francisco, rented a car, and made the scenic drive down the coast.

Would a direct flight have been easier? Yes. But the road trip was manageable, and we were able to pick up a few baby travel essentials on the way down.

Where We Stayed

We booked this Airbnb for five nights—a modern, well-designed space that felt peaceful and private. While it might not be ideal for older kids or toddlers (not much in the way of baby-proofing or family amenities), it worked great for a baby who wasn’t mobile yet.

The host had mentioned it wasn’t “kid-friendly,” but that didn’t phase us at this stage. The space had everything we needed, and while it wasn’t within walking distance to downtown, it was a quick, easy drive.

Things to Do in and Around SLO

Explore Downtown SLO

We spent a few hours wandering the downtown area, which has a mix of local boutiques, a busy farmers’ market, and great people-watching. It can get very crowded during the market hours, so we stuck to quieter times of day and avoided peak evening hours with the baby.

Visit Nearby Beaches

There are several beautiful coastal spots just a short drive away—Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, and Morro Bay were all easy half-day adventures. We’d time visits for mornings or golden hour, enjoying the salty air and the sound of waves while our daughter napped in the carrier.

Catch a Sunset

One night, we drove up TV Tower Road and parked at a pull-off with sweeping views of the valley and coast below. The sunset was stunning and one of our favorite memories of the trip.

Hike Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail

This trail near Los Osos is a great option with a baby. It’s flat with wide-open coastal views and dramatic cliffs. We took turns carrying her in the baby carrier and soaked up the salty air. Afterward, we grabbed lunch and a local beer nearby.

Wine Tasting with a Baby

Wine tasting with a baby might sound ambitious, but it was one of our favorite parts of the trip. We did two different tasting days:

Edna Valley

Close to SLO, this area is known for its laid-back vibe and beautiful rolling hills. A few of the wineries we visited:

  • Chamisal Vineyards

  • Claiborne & Churchill Winery

Paso Robles

This region is about a 45-minute drive from SLO and is better known for its bold reds and standout experiences. Some wineries require reservations and have policies around kids, so we booked in advance. We especially enjoyed:

  • Adelaida Vineyards

  • Daou Vineyards

  • Tooth & Nail Winery / Rabble (Believe the tasting room has now closed since we visited)

She stayed in her car seat at stops around nap time and we kept things very relaxed. We also purposely planned some of the winery stops earlier in the day before some of the spots got too busy, it would have been fine to have taken her later but we were more comfortable when places were less busy and she was usually less fussy earlier in the day. And I feel like this goes without saying but obviously be smart about how much you have to drink, if you are driving etc. That wasn’t an issue for us I don’t drink a lot anyways and had to stay hydrated for breastfeeding but just having a couple of glasses of wine spaced throughout the day, food and enjoying the company and atmosphere was such an enjoyable experience.

Where to Eat & Drink

We tried to keep things simple, with a mix of takeout and low-key meals out:

We also packed snacks and stayed flexible—sometimes eating in the car between outings or grabbing food to go so we could eat back at our Airbnb after bedtime. Also highly recommend stopping by Central Coast Wines while wandering down town and picking up a bottle to have back at the Airbnb after the little one goes down for the night!

We did try to push it one night and scheduled a nicer dinner at an Italian Restaurant. While we thought we had booked it early enough it was close to my daughters witching hour, ended up being a little fancier than I realized (white table cloths) and busier than expected. She cried most of the dinner and we ended up taking turns taking her outside and took some of our food togo at the end. While sometimes you do have to roll the dice in hindsight we probably pushed it a little too far trying to squeeze that in and would have enjoyed takeout back at the house a little more.

Tips for Traveling with a 3-Month-Old

Before doing this trip I like most first time mammas and was a little intimidated by the idea of a trip with her so little, worried she would cry too much on the plane or while out at dinner, worried about germs traveling etc. But to any mammas out there considering traveling with a little one at this age trust the ones who have been there before, it isn’t a piece of cake easy but it is so worth it. Everyone’s postpartum timeline and feelings are different but for me this trip was a little piece of starting to feel like myself again. I was finally more comfortable breast feeding, my body was getting back to feeling good, the brain-fog was slightly better and I was getting back to the activity that lights me up - travel! Looking back, this was a really sweet stage to travel.

A few things that helped:

  • Pack and Play Rental: We rented one through BabyQuip and picked it up en route to SLO. We found a rental that was conveniently located near the airport and not out of the way at all.

  • Extra Bedroom: Having an Airbnb with a separate room meant better naps and early bedtimes for her—and adult hangout time for us.

  • Flexible Feeding: By this point I was nursing confidently, so I fed her in the car, on trails, and once or twice while out and about.

  • Smart Seat Booking: We booked the window and aisle in the very back row of the plane, which gave us more space and easy access to the bathroom for diaper changes.

  • Car Seat Bag Bonus: We checked our car seat and used some extra space in that bag for diapers, blankets, and gear — while this is generally accepted it is not guaranteed to always be allowed so maybe check with your specific airline ahead of time, don’t over stuff it to where the gate agent would question it or throw in a lightweight laundry bag you can use on the trip but also serve as a backup plan if needed.

Were we tired? Definitely. But Scout Coffee helped with that. ☕ And it felt amazing to get back out into the world and kick off this new chapter of travel as a family of three.

Final Thoughts

This trip felt like the start of something important—our first real adventure with our daughter. It wasn’t overly complicated or far-flung, but it gave us the confidence that travel was still possible and still fun, even if the pace had changed.

If you’re considering a trip during maternity leave, I highly recommend something like this: easy flights (or a manageable drive), relaxed days, good food and wine, and space to reconnect with your partner and your new role as parents.

We loved San Luis Obispo and would absolutely go back—especially to explore more of the Central Coast and dive deeper into the wine scene. If you go, I hope it’s as special for you as it was for us.

Let me know if you’d like a downloadable itinerary version of this post, or tips on packing for your first baby trip—I’m happy to share! Another resource we found helpful in planning this trip was A Plus K’s SLO Video, was not focused on traveling with a little one but still covered a lot of good spots in the area and is worth a watch.

This post does contain affiliate links meaning I may make a small commision if you purchase from one of the links above.

 
Michelle OwensComment