Paso Robles (residents call it PASS-oh) was originally named El Paso De Robles (pass of the oaks). From its beginnings, the oak-tree-studded hill have been a destination for visitors. In the early days, they came to soak in the area's natural hot springs, but today they come to sip in the area's winery tasting rooms. Today's visitors find a charming, lively downtown surrounded by a wine region that sports a growing collection of wineries that already number over 200.
You can plan your Paso Robles day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like It?
Paso Robles is popular with wine lovers seeking a more laid back experience than busy Napa. It's not a good place for a family getaway, with litle to do that's targeted toward children, except during the Mid-State Fair.
Best Time to Go
The most popular time to visit is early or late summer, when the weather is best. Hotels fill up during the wine festivals, but you can have a good time here almost any time of year.
Don't Miss
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate Paso Robles wine production, but you can find almost anything at the area's 200-some-odd wineries. Tasting is free at many places, with others charging a small fee, but most of the tasting rooms are so much alike that you won't be able to remember one from the other after a while. Our favorite wine-tasting spot, Vina Robles stands out from the pack with top-notch wines, a nice gift shop and a tasting room filled with innovative artwork. For dessert wine lovers, Martin & Weyrich's Moscato Allegro, sweet but not syrupy has won more awards than we can count.
You can also go wine-tasting on foot in downtown Paso. A nubmer of wineries have tasting rooms on the streets surrouding the park, and you could easily make an afternoon out of visiting them, with no worries about driving.
5 More Great Things to Do in Paso Robles
- Visit Mr. Hearst's Castle: Five miles inland through the Templeton Gap is the Mediterranean Revival mansion built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Designed by architect Julia Morgan, the oversized main house and guest cottages larger than many people's main residences give a rare peek into the lifestyle of the rich and famous in the early twentieth century.
- Soak Up Some History: Just a few miles north of town off US 101, you'll find Mission San Miguel Arcangel, California's 16th Spanish mission. Nearby is Rios-Caledonia Adobe, a 19th-century inn and stage stop.
- Take a Brewery Tour If you've had enough of wine tasting and want to learn about how beer is made, the award-winning Firestone Walker Brewing Company offers tours every Saturday afternoon at 1400 Ramada Drive.
- Play Golf: You'll find a number of places to play in and around Paso Robles, including The Links, a Scottish-style course.
- Relax: River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa offers massages and open-air hot tubs overlooking the hills. Some of the local hotels including Hotel Cheval and Villa Toscana also offer in-room spa treatments (book ahead).
Annual Events You Should Know About
The California Mid-State Fair runs from late July through early August, with performers such as Aerosmith and Leann Rimes, livestock competitions and a variety of entertainment. The rest of the year, the Paso Robles Event Center sees a steady stream of activities.
As you might expect, wine dominates the festivals, with a Zinfandel Festival in March and the Wine Festival in May. Area hotels fill up for these events and also during the harvest in September and October.
Individual wineries also host some fun and interesting events, so you may want to see what's happening while you're there.
Tips for Visiting Paso Robles
- You can pick up a map of the local wineries at most any local hotel or winery tasting room.
- Our simple rule for casual wine tasting is never go to more than three wineries in a day. Stop at more, and not only are you likely to get a little tipsy (dangerous for driving), but even if you don't, all the wines start to taste alike, and you may buy something you'll later regret.
- Paso Robles gets very busy during the wine harvest in October, and also over holiday weekends. Reserve as far ahead as you can.
- We almost hate to mention this, but it's better for you to know ahead of time. The hot springs that first put Paso Robles on the map come with some natural sulfur vapors that you may catch a whiff of while walking downtown.
Best Bites
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a nice meal or a leisurely brunch. Judging from the number of people who recommended it to us, Artisan is the hottest place in town, with a menu specializing in fresh, local ingredients and expertly run by brothers Chris and Michael Kobayashi. A morning drive around town found local residents lining up for Sunday breakfast at the Cowgirl Cafe (1316 Pine) and Touch of Paso (1414 Pine).
Local residents say the Saturday farmers market in nearby Templeton is the area's best. To get there, exit 101 at Las Tablas, go west to Old County Road, turn right to the the park at 6th Street. In downtown Paso, We Olive offers locally-produced olive oils and olive products.
Where to Stay
If you stay downtown, it's an easy walk to restaurants and the local cinema. The Paso Robles Inn is one of the town's oldest lodgings, but it gets somewhat mixed reviews.
We stayed at the Hotel Cheval (also downtown) and you can read the review to find out what it's like. Other highly-rated hotels include the reasonably priced Best Western Black Oak Motor Lodge and Holiday Inn Express, and for more luxurious rooms, try La Bellasera. You can check prices on them and others at Kayak.com. For more ideas about how to get the best possible deal, read about how to find a good place to stay, cheap.
Some of the best-rated local bed and breakfasts include Orchard Hill Farm, Le Domaine at Moss Ridge Vineyard, Chanticleer Vineyard, Canyon Villa, Villa Toscana, Winemaker's Porch at Frances James Vineyard, Wild Coyote and Summerwood Winery & Inn.
Getting To Paso Robles
Driving? Paso Robles is located just off US Highway 101, 158 miles from San Jose, 204 miles from San Francisco, 207 from Los Angeles and 110 from Bakersfield.
