It’s one of California’s best-kept secrets, but only for a short time. Paso Robles, located less than 30 minutes from California’s Central Coast, is one of the state’s trendiest and fastest-growing wine districts. Additionally, since it is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it is a favorite weekend retreat for people looking to escape the more hectic life of the major metropolis. City folks are increasingly learning how many enjoyable Paso Robles activities are available to them!
Because of the magnificent clusters of oak trees sprinkled over its gorgeous undulating hills, Paso Robles’ full name is really El Paso de Robles, Spanish meaning Pass of the Oaks. Visitors came to this region in the 1860s to take the cure in the Pasos sulfur springs, which were thought to have tremendous therapeutic properties.
Visitors to this wonderful place are drawn here for reasons other than wine. Its wonderful gastronomy, local missions, active art scene, and natural hot springs are also a huge appeal. Yet the breathtaking scenery, small-town America charm, and friendly residents all contribute to its draw.
Every time we visit Paso Robles, we discover new hidden gems in this lovely area that Mother Nature has gifted with her wealth. Here are some of our most favorite ways to stay and play in this very particular California town.
Visiting other places in California? Check out our other tasty guides:
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- The 7 Best Oceanside, CA Restaurants
- The 21 Best Restaurants in Costa Mesa
- 7 Must-Try Cambria, CA Restaurants
- 11 Must-Try Vallejo Restaurants
- 15 Must-Try Sanibel Island Restaurants
- 9 Must-Try Pier 39 Restaurant
- 8 Must-Try Paso Robles Restaurants
- 10 Best Berkeley Restaurants
Contents
The Top 10 Paso Robles Attractions
The Summerwood Inn
805-227-11175 Arbor Road
Nothing beats waking up to the sound of birds singing and sipping coffee on an own terrace overlooking the vineyards. Relaxing is very simple here.
Summerwood Inn is a luxurious nine-room romantic bed and breakfast farmhouse that oozes beauty, tranquillity, and affection. Our suite was named after a vintage wine, Zinfandel. The inn’s amenities include a complementary bottle of wine in each room, daily gourmet breakfast, and afternoon wine and hor dourvres on the garden patio.
The winery tasting area is just across from the inn, allowing visitors to sample more of Summerwood’s exceptional vintages.
Vineyards DAOU
805-226-54602777 Hidden Mountain Road
Wine is undoubtedly one of the primary reasons travelers come to Paso Robles, since the wines of this area are superb and have received several well-deserved honors. With over 250 wineries dotting the hills and valleys of this Central Coast area, the options for vineyard winetasting seem limitless.
Throw in the breathtaking scenery, and you’ll have an amazing wine country experience. We have preferences based on the quality of their wine and the breathtaking views.
DAOU Vineyards is famous for its panoramic mountainside vistas, delectable cuisine, and beautiful fine wines. Alta Colina is another favorite, with its sweeping wine region views, high-quality organic wines, and The Trailer Pond, a campground with rebuilt vintage RVs surrounding the banks of a private pond.
Olive Oil Farm Kiler Ridge
Kiler Canyon Road.
Paso Robles has numerous of farms and is an excellent olive-growing zone because to its moderate coastal California weather and rich, minerally soil. There are five olive-growing properties that give visitors olive oil sampling experiences.
Kiler Ridge Olive Farm is a family-owned and run business that produces Italian estate-grown, award-winning, small-batch olive oil.
Everything from hand-picking the olives through pressing, bottling, and labeling is done in-house. This results in some of the greatest olive oil we’ve had outside of Italy. Their educational on-site tour is a fascinating look into the world of high-quality olive oil manufacturing.
Sensorio
Hwy 46 East (805) 226-42874380
We’ve honestly never seen anything like that. Around dusk, over 58,000 stemmed spheres lighted by fiber optics illuminate the undulating 15-acre landscape of Bruce Munro’s Sensorio: Field of Light. A painters pallet of amazing hues is used to create the spectacular impression. This beautifully captivating outdoor experience is one that should not be missed.
The enthralling solar-powered performance merges light with nature to create an almost incomprehensible ethereal sight. I’m not sure whether there is a Heaven, but if there is and it looks anything like this, I’m all in.
Picnic in the Park
We adore the restaurants in Paso Robles, but on one of our visits, we couldn’t resist bringing a picnic basket and eating lunch in City Park. Inside this gorgeous main downtown square, a stunning gazebo and grassy leisure area provide an Americana centerpiece.
There are picnic tables and seats throughout the park, as well as a huge BBQ area and a horseshoes pit.
Every Thursday evening in the summer, the Summer Concert in the Park series comprises live performances of rock & roll, jazz, Latin, and rock music.
On The Park Studios
Pine St. (805) 238-98001130 Pine St.
Downtown Paso Robles is a walkable, beautifully maintained district with a plethora of restaurants, cafés, beers, spirits, and boutique stores. We like the antique and vintage thrift shops that give respect to the town’s timeless small-town roots.
Paso Robles is also well-known for its thriving art scene. Studios in the Park, a non-profit open-air art complex in the middle of town, is a remarkable tale of communal togetherness. This facility has six studios under one roof, as well as 15 artists in residence. Its four galleries include an excellent collection of local arts and crafts, as well as a charming gift shop.
Indeed, this little town is so creative and joyful that even the flower-filled barrels bordering its walkways are painted with bright joyous pictures.
Day at the River Oaks Spa
800-238-4600800 Clubhouse Drive
Come on in, the water is clear. That is, the positively charged, ionized mineral waters that emerge from the earth at 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit in Paso Robles’ natural hot springs.
Paso Robles Hotel, River Oaks Hot Springs, and Franklin Hot Springs are three hot springs resorts that provide a traditional, soothing, and therapeutic hot springs experience.
Visitors may bathe in artesian hot mineral springs beneath a starlit sky or unwind in the shadow of a private open-air spa with spectacular views of rolling hills, vineyards, or reflected lakes. The calming revitalizing spa treatments at River Oaks Hot Springs help de-stress and restore balance and harmony to the body, mind and spiritas they have for generations.
Massage, skin, and face treatments are also available at these spas. Couples or groups of two friends may, predictably, select for a 60-minute bath in a private tub with a bottle of sparkling wine and gourmet cheeses provided tub-side. Packages for chocolate aficionados are also available. You have to agree, these are some of the best ways to unwind.
Tin City is a trendy destination.
(805) 434-547-4449 Marquita Ave
Tin City is a one-of-a-kind growing industrial park tucked amid old oaks at the start of the 1,200-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Friends, travelers, and connoisseurs gather here to enjoy artisanal wine, beer, and small-batch spirits prepared by Paso’s most enthusiastic craftsmen.
This contemporary and energetic spot has quickly become one of Paso Robles’ favorite hangouts, and it’s easy to see why after a visit.
Tin City Cider taproom’s seasonal selections are always a hit with us. Their original ciders include catchy names like Zig Zag, Fresh Quince of Bel Air, and Cousin Eddie. BarrelHouse Brewing Company has nice people, good experiences, and wonderful beers, all complemented by live music on their outdoor patios.
At Giornatas, an all-Italian wine shop, you can see hand-made pasta being prepared. A visit to its tasting area allows you to sample delicious wines made from Italian grape varieties such as Fiano, a very rich and fruity white.
Salinas River Walk by Bike
Niblick Road (805) 226-0500141 Niblick Road
Outdoor lovers will be delighted by the many outdoor activities available in Paso Robles and its surroundings. Paso Robles excursions range from bicycling, golfing, hiking, and horseback riding to paintball adventures and jeep trips.
We like bicycling the Salinas River Walk, which is one of the first portions of a planned 30-mile river route that will run from Santa Margarita in the south to San Miguel in the north. Those looking for a more intense exercise may travel to Peachy Canyon, which offers stunning vistas of vineyards and orchards as well as tremendous rising, bends, and downhill for a superb workout.
The 5.6-mile Shoreline Path on Lake Nacimiento is popular for hiking and trail running. This walk, located only minutes from Paso Robles wine region, provides breathtaking views of Lake Nacimiento and the neighboring Santa Lucia Mountains.
Hearst Castle on the Central Coast
750 Hearst Castle Road (800) 444-4445
There is something quite distinctive about California’s Central Coast. Its spectacular vistas, laid-back atmosphere, and charming coastal communities provide authenticity to this area, harkening back to the days when California beach towns preferred a simpler lifestyle.
The travel from Paso Robles takes less than 30 minutes. That is, if you can resist the many honey, stop the vehicle moments on the calm and breathtakingly beautiful ride to the seaside.
The Central Coast has over 300 days of sunlight and is home to gorgeous beaches and lakes, lovely coastal villages, beachfront restaurants, and a stunning pier with breathtaking sunsets. Its coastal route is the historic Pacific Coast Highway (Route 101), which marks the start of the spectacular and world-famous Big Sur Coast.
The ranch house of newspaper billionaire and philanthropist William Randolph Hearst, Hearst Castle, is a definite must-see. This National and California Historic Landmark is one of the most elegant and unique examples of West Coast architecture. The castle rose to prominence in the Roaring Twenties and 1930s, drawing Hollywood royalty and distinguished visitors from across the globe. The views of the Pacific Ocean and rolling landscapes from this hilltop castle are spectacular.
As we drove from Paso Robles to San Diego, Louis Armstrong serenaded us with these magnificent words: And I thought to myself. Such a lovely world we live in.
We couldn’t agree more as we looked at each other. Beautiful locations like Paso Robles assist to make the world a better place.