Majestic Paso Robles
Plan Your Getaway to Paso Robles
Midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles lies a lush landscape of emerald hills, fruitful vineyards, quiet country roads, and plenty of trails for hiking and cycling. Within all this natural majesty lies a spirited hamlet of vibrant outdoor art, friendly locals, and seasonally inspired creative dining. Now is the time to visit a part of California you may not know but will be very happy to meet: Paso Robles.
Cycling's Best-Kept Secret
Paso Robles is home to a huge variety of spectacular scenic cycling trails and tours. Shhhh! It’s one of the area’s best-kept secrets!
Combine wildlife sightings and all-level easygoing biking at Heritage Ranch close to downtown Paso. Its proximity to Lake Nacimiento means that as you’re pedaling the short trails flanked by impressive oaks, be sure to scan for bald eagles overhead, and elk just ahead!
The popular Peachy Canyon route is just as it sounds: peachy! There’s 3,500 feet of ascent on this 42-mile scenic route. All that effort warrants a stop-and-sip reward at Donati Family Vineyard. This Italian heritage–influenced winery is down-to-earth casual. Pair a friendly game of bocce with some 2021 Family Reserve Grenache.
Book a VineCycle Tour and bask in an electric bike adventure to vineyards like JUSTIN and Ancient Peaks. Check out wine caves, play some disc golf along the way, grab a bite at a local food truck or Michelin-recognized restaurant.
Bonus Bike Events: The quieter rural roads and nature trails in and around Paso Robles make it an idyllic destination for classic and popular cycling events for all skill levels: check out the Bovine Classic, Wildflower Century, and Tour of Paso.
Paso Robles Cycling Routes, Tours, and Events
The Super Bloom Trail & the True West
The multi-generational Stinton Family has owned, protected, and preserved 18,000 acres of land in Paso Robles, known in combination as Avenales and Canyon Ranch. It’s a place both people and wildlife consider home. In addition to natural conservation like running cattle, the ranch has also been making standout wine under the label Avenales Ranch.
The ranch is also now a national stop on the Super Bloom Trail: In spring with ample rainfall, wildflowers in the millions blanket the hills, morphing the landscape into a rainbow connection so vast it feels like you’re in a technicolor dreamscape. The Stinton family invites visitors to witness the spectacle, asking only that you respect nature as you soak in the wowing view of wildflowers.
BONUS: Join their “Wildflower Wine Club” and get an exclusive invitation to their yearly wildflower picnic.
The Food Scene (with some Michelin recognition, too)
Pacific seafood, premium meat from sustainable farms, vegetables by local gardens … when you’re rooted in an esteemed agricultural legacy, you’re going to rise to the occasion, cultivating one of West’s best—and most diverse—food scenes.
Take a seat on the outdoor patio or cozy up at Remedy at the Alchemists’ Garden. Sip non-alcoholic cocktails or make your peace with the When Faustus Met Mateo gin & tonic. If (heaven forbid!) you’ve got a scratchy throat, then the Levy of the Missing (grouse scotch, ginger, honey, lemon, and … peppercorn grenadine) might be just the tincture to soothe your tonsils. Make sure to eat! Cream corn risotto, miso brown sugar salmon, pesto vegetable lasagna, and an 8-ounce skirt steak are just a few of the creative options. Tip: Within the Alchemist's Garden lies The Remedy, a lounge with just 12 seats. Sip on spirits or try a new cocktail as a lovely digestif.
Recently added to the California Michelin guide, The Hatch is a comfort food gem in an equally comfortable atmosphere. Bird’s a big word here (though there’s plenty more to choose from): rotisserie chicken is a highlight, with sides to remember—skillet cornbread, crispy fingerlings…. Tuesday and Wednesday feature a fried chicken special (but it goes fast!). Let your sweet tooth bring even more comfort with cream pie desserts.
In Bloom is a most fitting name for a restaurant recognized by Wine Spectator, with inspiring—and aspiring—dishes. Ingredients come from a host of local farms that bring the originality of the Central Coast to the table. Vinyl records are part of the laid-back ambience as you dine on braised beans and tempura shallots, or filet mignon with black garlic au jus. The founders, a husband-and-wife team, are wine collectors who revere Paso Robles’ exceptional vineyards, so make it a meal with wine pairings.
Dining and Drinks in Paso Robles
Adventure Wine Trails and Camps!
The vineyards of Paso Robles are not only storybook beautiful, with wineries overlooking the green hills that appear to be galloping all the way to the coast; they’re also easy to explore, with 7 distinct wine trails in the region.
Some wine flights take themselves literally. Go zip-lining high above the vineyards on the flanks of the Santa Lucia Mountains with Ancient Peaks Winery and Margarita Adventures (as in, Santa Margarita, not the cocktail). The grand finale flight is the “Pinot Express,” reached by a quarter-mile hike up a hill where you’ll then zoom 1,800 feet back to earth. Afterwards, taste wines at Ancient Peaks Winery while swapping zippity-sippity stories.
Combine excellent reds and adult-camp fun at Cass Winery. Camp Cass has an enticing array of outdoor experiences to pair with their excellent wines. A few options: Archery, Paint N’ Sip, Beekeeping & Crafting, Horseback explorations, and E-bike adventures. Okay, there’s even Helicopter and Third Wheel Motorcycle Tours if you want to turn the adventure dial to 11.
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