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Sun-baked oak hills, hot mineral springs and more than two hundred wineries have turned Paso Robles into one of California's most rewarding wine towns without losing its ranching roots. The name comes from El Paso de Robles, the Pass of the Oaks, and the town of about 31,000 sits along U.S. 101 roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Mission padres soaked in the local springs long before the 1889 incorporation, and hot-spring hotels made Paso Robles a resort for decades. Pianist Ignacy Paderewski bought land here and planted Zinfandel in the 1920s. After the 2003 San Simeon earthquake damaged downtown, the historic center was rebuilt around its leafy city park and Carnegie library.
Today the west side's Adelaida hills are known for Rhone-style reds, the east side for rolling vineyards along Highway 46, and the town itself for tasting rooms, brewers and restaurants. The California Mid-State Fair fills July, while Sensorio lights up the hills at night. Hearst Castle, Cambria and Morro Bay are all within about an hour.
A shaded square ringed by tasting rooms, restaurants and boutiques that forms the heart of old Paso Robles. It hosts farmers markets, wine festivals and summer concerts, and the 1908 Carnegie library sits in the middle. Park once and explore on foot, as dozens of tasting rooms lie within a few blocks.
A domed Carnegie library from 1908 in the center of the downtown park, now run by the El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society. Exhibits cover the hot springs hotels, ranching families and the town's early days, with old photographs and maps. Entry is free and hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A volunteer-run aviation museum at the Paso Robles airport with restored military aircraft, cockpits, engines and memorabilia from World War II onward. The Woodland Auto Display on the same grounds shows race cars and vintage vehicles. Opening days are limited, and the hangars are large, so wear comfortable shoes.
A museum of local ranching and farming history with saddles, wagons, tractors, a blacksmith shop and an old one-room schoolhouse moved onto the grounds. Volunteers share stories of the pioneer families of the north county. Admission is by donation, and it makes a good stop for kids who like machinery.
An outdoor light installation in the hills east of town, where artist Bruce Munro's Field of Light spreads tens of thousands of solar-powered glowing spheres across the slopes. It opens after sunset, with food and drinks on site. Timed tickets sell out on weekends, and evenings get cold, so bring a jacket.
One of California's best-known craft breweries, brewing in Paso Robles since 2001 with a barrel-aging program built on wine-country oak. The taproom restaurant pours flagship ales and rare releases, and guided brewery tours run on a schedule. Book tours ahead and plan a designated driver for wine-country days.
A pioneering west-side winery in the Adelaida hills, founded by the Perrin family of France and the Haas family, that brought Rhone grape cuttings to California. The vineyard is farmed organically with sheep grazing between vines. Tastings feature Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blends; reservations are recommended.
A long-running east-side winery founded by Gary Eberle, one of the pioneers of the Paso Robles wine region. Visitors can tour the underground wine caves dug into the hillside and taste Cabernet, Zinfandel and Syrah on a deck overlooking the vines. It sits on Highway 46 East, an easy first stop from town.
A historic downtown hotel on the site of the grand 1891 El Paso de Robles Hotel, which burned in 1940. The rebuilt inn keeps a quiet garden with a creek and koi, and some rooms have private tubs fed by natural mineral water. Non-guests can stroll the garden and dine at the restaurant across from the park.
A spa on the north side of town where you can rent private open-air hot tubs filled with natural mineral water by the hour, set among gardens and oaks. Massage and other treatments are available. It is an easy way to try the springs that first made Paso Robles famous; book ahead on weekends.
A big summer fair held each July at the Paso Robles Event Center, with rodeo events, livestock shows, carnival rides, fair food and major concerts in the grandstand. Wine and beer competitions celebrate the region's producers. Buy concert tickets early and expect heavy traffic and hot afternoons.
An open-air amphitheater on the east side of town, owned by Vina Robles winery, that hosts touring musicians and comedians from spring through fall. Seats face a stage framed by vineyards and hills. Wine from the estate is poured on site, and evenings cool quickly, so pack a layer.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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