When visiting California, your knee-jerk reaction may be to head north to San Francisco or south to Los Angeles. But in between, there’s Paso Robles – a lively town perched in the rolling hills of Central California. Among the amazing things to do in Paso Robles, you’ll find beautiful scenery, local vibes and cultural experiences that all make for a perfect weekend escape.
Dubbed the “Wild West of wine regions,” it’s a magnet for adventurous travelers seeking phenomenal food, craft beer, boutique wineries and arts and culture. Here are a few reasons to consider Paso Robles for your next California road trip.
Disclaimer: As travel regulations can change at any time, always make sure to check local government advice and guidance before booking any type of trip.
A wine county scene like no other
If you’re looking for a trending wine county and want to go beyond daintily sipping Cabernet Sauvignon and nibbling on crackers in posh Napa Valley tasting rooms, then Paso Robles has your name written all over it. It’s not your average wine tastings: here, you can ramble around in an open-top Jeep Scrambler with Central Coast Jeep Tour Adventures, veering off-road onto rugged terrain to visit Paso Robles’ hilltop vineyards.
Over a full day, you’ll visit a series of “garage winemakers” – private producers who make small batches of wine for family, friends and their exclusive wine clubs. Some local winemakers may even invite you to help punch down grapes in a vat if you’re lucky!
Aside from its “wild child” reputation, Paso Robles’ weather and natural setting also blesses these wines with a special quality. Robust and tangy, the hilly clay-based soils and abundant rainfall on the Westside make dry-farming many wines possible, and the nearby Pacific Coast brings a cool climate that adds a crisp, acidic flavor to the blends. The unique terrain is one of the key reasons why some of the most exciting Californian wines are emerging from Paso Robles wine county. Of course, you’ll have to see (and taste!) for yourself.
Amazing hot springs and wellness experiences
Need a little pampering? Paso Robles’ hot springs make this destination a luxurious spa sanctuary and perfect wellness getaway. Settlers have flocked here since the 1880s to soak in the healing hot springs, and visiting at least one of them should definitely be on your list of things to do in Paso Robles.
Today, you can bask in the balmy thermal waters of Paso in three public locations. At the historic Paso Robles Inn, book a winery-themed spa room with a mineral hot tub on a private balcony. There’s also the River Oaks Hot Spring Spa – where you can relax in the private mineral tub under the stars with a glass of wine, followed by a rejuvenating massage using wine-infused treatment oil. Or for a more no-frills experience, mosey over to the Franklin Hot Springs, located on the North East side of Paso Robles city.
Extraordinary hotel stays
From cozy Paso Robles Inns to vineyard retreats to luxury hotels, take your pick of unique accommodations in Paso. For close to downtown, book a stay at the opulent Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Designed to resemble an elegant Tuscan-style estate, you can stroll through the olive trees, fruit trees and vineyards that grow on the property’s sprawling 20 lush acres. If you’re an early bird, make sure to join the yoga and meditation classes held in the vineyard at sunrise.
Or for a wine lovers’ retreat, some Paso Robles wineries – like The Inn at Croad Vineyards or Calipaso Winery and Villa – offer dreamy accommodations nestled in the vineyards and rolling hills. If you’ve got a larger group, there are also some stunning vacation rentals available.
Incredible arts immersion
You’ll need a full day for an art crawl through all the art galleries of Paso Robles. But if you can only choose one, get tickets to Bruce Munro’s Field of Light at Sensorio – this amazing Paso Robles light show is a mammoth multi-acre walk-through installation comprised of over 58,800 stemmed spheres lit by fiber-optics. When dusk falls, the vibrant colors illuminate the undulating landscape, creating an ethereal experience.
Fabulous food and restaurants
Bring stretchy pants, a voracious appetite and prepare to feast! Paso is an incredible culinary destination. Whether you’re craving real deal Mexican or fine French fare, there’s a smorgasbord of delicious farm-to-fork Paso Robles restaurants, cafés and eateries – some of which are even located on farmlands and wineries. A “Cowboy Supper Club” is a must-try – go to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ to indulge in succulent Central Coast-style barbecue paired with local wines and craft beer.
Paso Robles’ best breweries
There are also plenty of micro-breweries and distilleries to visit in Paso Robles wine county, but for a one-stop-shop, hit up Tin City – a cluster of modern tin industrial-style buildings housing some of the trendiest craft beer, spirit and wine producers. It’s also where you’ll find mouth-watering meals to satisfy your rumbling belly: from fish tacos served from gourmet food trucks to sheep’s milk ice cream to upscale restaurants serving 12-course tasting menus with wine pairings.
Olive oil tasting
Another one-of-a-kind Paso Robles experience is to do an olive oil tasting. It’s a lot like a wine tour – you’ll get a chance to learn about the oil production and sample different flavors of local Paso products. Do you like an oil that’s grassy, hay-like, peppery, fruity or nutty? Sip and savor the liquid gold to find out!
Frequently asked questions
Paso Robles’ claim to fame is its exciting, award-winning wine region that’s celebrated for its rugged character. It’s now the fastest growing wine region in California, growing from 35 wineries to more than 200 wineries over the past 20 years. For almost 150 years, settlers have also flocked to the destination for the mineral-rich hot springs that some claim have healing powers.
Paso Robles is located mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, in San Luis Obispo County. It’s also a short drive to beautiful beaches along the Pacific Coast.
Most Paso locals will tell you that the accepted pronunciation is PASS-oh ROH-buhlz.
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