11 Perfect Things to do in Paso Robles, California on a Weekend Getaway

Vineyards. Olive trees. Hot springs. Paso Robles, California is one of our absolute favorite places in California, and the perfect spot for a weekend getaway! Located under an hour from San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay, the Central Coast town where my husband grew up, this California wine country town is the Central Coast’s answer to Napa & Sonoma, and worth a trip down from the well-worn path of Northern California wine country. It’s one of the best places to visit on California’s Central Coast!

The first thing you need to know about Paso Robles is how to pronounce it, not because it’s especially important, but because you’re going to get a lot of weird looks if you aren’t aware (and also because it bugs me to no end). The actual name of the town, “Paso Robles,” isn’t pronounced like you would think -that is, if you’re a person who speaks Spanish. Throw that Spanish accent right out the window.

Instead, say Paso Robles with basically the whitest sounding pronunciation of any Spanish words that you can imagine. Like pronouncing the L’s in quesadilla, or the fact that the state of Montana was probably supposed to be pronounced Montaña.  It’s Paso Robles: not Paso robe-lays, Paso robe-ulls. Paso … Robles.

Ok, now that we’ve gotten pronunciation out of the way, rest assured: we can forgive Paso Robles for its deceivingly Americanized name, because it’s the home of some of the absolutely best food, wine, spirits, and craft beer that you’ll find throughout all of California – particularly on the Central Coast.

Oh, and don’t forget the hot springs… Paso Robles is tailor-made for the perfect weekend getaway! So whether you’re looking for a girlfriend getaway or a romantic weekend for two, there are plenty of perfect things to do in Paso Robles.

Planning a Highway One road trip? We’ve created a detailed 10-day California Coast road trip itinerary to help you plan! Enter your email below and we’ll send you a printable version, plus tips to plan your trip.

We also have a Highway One podcast episode! A humanist cult, a Danish hideaway, a gravitational anomaly, towering trees, a spoiled rich kid’s castle, clothing-optional hot springs, and the cutest (and weirdest) animals imaginable: in this episode, we cover everything you need to plan your trip up the California Coast – and all the weird history you never knew along the way.

Listen below or just click here! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.

Psst: Planning a road trip down Highway One or a trip to California’s Central Coast? Check out some of our other posts:

• The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary
• The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops
• 12 Adorable Things to Do in Morro Bay, California
• 12 Charming Things to Do in Cayucos, California
• 8 Quintessential Places to Visit on California’s Central Coast

How to Get to Paso Robles

Paso Robles is located on California’s Central Coast, which is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This makes it an easy trip from almost anywhere in California.

Paso Robles is quite close to the coast: maybe 45 minutes away, accessible by driving through gorgeous rolling hills and incredible scenery. It’s a quick drive from the Pacific Coast Highway, so don’t skip a visit while you’re road tripping the most beautiful highway/road trip/coastline in the world (not that we’re biased … well we are, but we’re right).

Likewise, when you visit Paso Robles, don’t forget about its sister towns in San Luis Obispo county, such as Morro Bay, Cayucos, or San Luis Obispo itself. You can easily spend a week exploring the Central Coast (and we think you should).

In fact, we have an entire post all about things to do on California’s Central Coast. This entire area is where Jeremy grew up, so it’s near and dear to our hearts. But if you’re foodies, wine snobs, and/or booze tourists (*raises hand*), Paso Robles is the star of the show.

• Travel Tip: Give yourself at least 2-3 days to experience Paso Robles. A day trip to Paso Robles will limit you to only a small handful of wineries and that’s really unfair to yourself. Better make it a weekend getaway instead. Treat yo-self!

If you’re coming from out of state, there are 3 ways to get to Paso Robles.

1. Fly into San Luis Obispo: San Luis Obispo is the nearest city and the only one with an airport. Granted, it’s a regional airport, but it does its job. You’ll find direct flights from Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. From San Luis Obispo, it’s only a 40 minute drive to Paso Robles.
2. Drive from LAX or SFO: If you’re after that California road trip experience, Paso Robles is a fantastic destination from either San Francisco or Los Angeles. Just make sure to pick up the perfect rental car for your road trip – we drove a 2019 Mazda CX-5, which has a HUGE sunroof so you can feel like you’re in a convertible without that hair-in-your-mouth wind.
   • From San Francisco, we recommend driving down Highway One, which is the best road trip in the world and also the most beautiful drive in the world and we’re not lying it really is so just do it and thank us later. On Highway One, it will take 6 hours to get to Paso Robles, but it’s absolutely freaking gorgeous. On the 101, which is still pretty but not the most beautiful highway in the world, it will take only 3 hours.
   • From Los Angeles, it takes 3 hours driving up the 5, or 4 hours driving up the 101 to get to Paso Robles. The 101 is prettier and, we think, worth the extra hour.
3. Amtrak: It’s not the quickest way to travel to Paso Robles, but it’s definitely just as scenic and relaxing. If you’d rather ride the rails from a nearby city, you can do so on Amtrak. Paso Robles has its own Amtrak station platform (PRB is the abbreviation) where you can get in and out of the city. There are regular trains that pass through Paso Robles from San Francisco (~6 hours one way) and Los Angeles (~8-9 hours one way).

Things to Do in Paso Robles

Visit Paso Robles Wineries

Going to Paso Robles and not going wine tasting would be like going to Vegas and not partying or gambling (which, to be fair describes every trip I’ve ever taken to Vegas). Paso Robles is one of California’s best wine countries and has a HUGE number of excellent wineries offering surprisingly affordable tastings of world-class wines.

The wineries in Paso Robles are clustered together on opposite sides of town: there’s the East Wineries, and the West Wineries, on opposites of Paso Robles’ Highway 46. While both sides boast truly incredible wineries, we think driving through the West side is more scenic.

If you’re planning on visiting wineries, you’ll need to figure out your transportation situation. If you don’t have a willing DD, we recommend booking a wine tour! Getting a wine tour in Paso Robles won’t break the bank, and it’s the stress-free way to get around to wineries in Paso Robles. There are two main wine tour companies in Paso Robles: The Wine Line, and The Wine Wrangler.

We managed to pare this list down to our top 3 winery picks, but we’ve got another 30 suggestions where that came from in our guide to the best wineries in Paso Robles! Here are our top picks:

• DAOU Vineyards: The mountaintop tasting room at DAOU overlooks a sweeping valley, dotted with vineyards and lavender fields. It is absolutely stunning and the wine – and food menu – is wonderful. But the tasting isn’t cheap! If you’re visiting with a group, the most budget-friendly way to enjoy DAOU is to buy a bottle and split it on the gorgeous patio.
• Niner Wine Estates: Best known for its iconic “Heart Hill,” Niner Wine Estates also has a beautiful tasting room, with features made of wood and stone, a roaring fireplace, and ceilings tall enough to accommodate a bunch of giraffes playing Quidditch. But that’s not all! They’re also solar-powered and are LEED certified, making them one of the most sustainable wineries in Paso Robles. You can book a wine tasting or take a tour of the facility which includes a wine tasting.
• Mitchella Vineyard & Winery: Some things just go so well together it’s hard to imagine them apart: Bert and Ernie, Hall and Oates, Nicholas Cage and Blockbuster Flops, and above all, wine and cheese. If you’re looking for that combination while wine tasting in Paso Robles, look no further than Mitchella Vineyard & Winery. It’s rarely ever crowded and you’ll get 6 wines to try – with a complimentary cheese pairing!

Go Wine Tasting … on Foot

There are actually two ways to go wine tasting in Paso Robles. You can of course visit the vineyards themselves, or you can opt to visit the many tasting rooms located within a few blocks walking distance of the town square. Explore Paso Robles’ best wine on foot without having to worry about who’s turn it is to DD!

• Budget Travel Tip: You can find “2 for 1” tasting deals all over town on little postcards. Look in local shops and restaurants and even other wineries to snag a few of these and save. Your accommodation may have a few to give away, too, so don’t hesitate to ask!

This is especially convenient if you’re staying right off the square, like at this attic apartment or the Paso Robles Inn. We speak from experience when we say there is nothing better than exploring local tasting rooms on foot and then stumbling back to your hotel room to soak in the hot springs-fed jacuzzi on your balcony just a block away!

Here are our favorite tasting rooms in downtown Paso Robles:

• LXV: As one of the most famous wine bars in Paso Robles, we knew we had to check it out and see if it’s worth the hype. Spoiler alert: it is! Be sure to do the signature spice pairing, which pairs custom spice blends on a mild cheese with each wine. In fact, LXV is one of the only places in the country with a spice pairing.  They make an excellent tandoori masala spice blend made by the owner’s mother, who lives in India – it changes each month depending on what’s fresh at the markets. We ordered a wine & cheese pairing, then another one, then straight up joined the wine club – that’s how good LXV is, y’all.
• Indigene Cellars: Founded by an Oakland local, this family-run winery (which is one of the very few Black-owned wineries in California) is a favorite among locals and visitors. It prides itself on unique blends and varietals, and the tasting room is cozy and comfortable. Our favorite wine was the Ambiente, which has fruity and chocolatey notes.
• Cypher Winery: Cypher Winery has a downtown tasting room that serves up great reds and yummy snacks. Their most famous wine is the Slayer, a Bordeaux blend that has rich flavors of vanilla and blackberry. Cypher has an outdoor patio, wine flights, and lots of snacks that pair well with their wines (like olives, cheese and charcuterie, and a delicious brownie).
• Taste in the Alley: Located in an alley behind Artisan Restaurant, this back-alley wine shop slash tasting room has over 400 wines available (including many California wines), which you can sample in a flight or by the glass. The whole place has a speakeasy-like feel, and the staff there can help you choose the wine or flight that’s perfect for your preferences.

Travel Tip: If you’re the kind of person that likes to hop from cellar to cellar and experience a variety of wines in a day, this electric bike wine tour in Paso Robles is a really excellent way to do so! It’s a unique concept: basically, you ride around on e-bikes with your guide as an introduction to wine country. You go to the Paso Robles History Museum before your first winery visit, from there your guide gives you suggested itineraries and bike routes for you to take at your own pace.

Take a Dip in a Hot Spring

Paso Robles is blessed with not just ideal terroir and amazing weather, but also naturally fed hot springs, because it is heaven on earth, basically.  The original residents of the area, the Salinan Tribe, called the region “the Springs.” Unfortunately, the thermal springs were also a huge draw for Spanish and Mexican colonizers and, later, European tourists.

Today, there are two options for soaking in a hot spring in Paso Robles:

River Oaks

One way to pass the time during your romantic weekend getaway in Paso Robles is by indulging in a hot springs/spa combo at River Oaks. This hot springs center features small, private tubs filled with naturally heated water, which overlook some of the beautiful vineyards nearby.

If you’re wanting to up-level your hot springs experience, they have tons of romantic spa packages you can choose from that include massages, facials, wine, chocolate…yeah, basically everything you need for a wine-infused, luxurious, romantic evening of hot tubbing. You can also buy bath bombs or scented additions for your tub as well.

This was one of our most romantic and relaxing experiences in Paso Robles and we plan to do it again on every trip! We strongly recommend contacting them to make a reservation in advance for River Oaks, though they can accommodate the occasional walk-in.

Franklin Hot Springs

If you’ve read the section about River Oaks and are expecting an apples to apples comparison with Franklin Hot Springs, I’m going to stop you right there. The experiences are totally different. What River Oaks offers in luxurious, private tubs and poolside wine, Franklin Hot Springs offers in a public, outdoor, “rustic” spring located in a pool that’s basically a lake.

Basically, Franklin Hot Springs is the hot springs option to choose if you’d rather an outdoorsy hot spring experience than a luxurious one.

Nonetheless, it is a pretty charming place to spend a few hours. Like I mentioned before, the hot spring itself is in a lake, so you can expect to take your steamy dip in the lake water along with…well, everything else you’d find in a lake, including plant life and sand.

There’s a larger hot pool/lake area and a few smaller tubs that you can enjoy there, as well as a beach area to kick back on and pool noodles for rent. Also, at only $7 per person, it’s a real budget steal!

Learn About California’s History

As much as we love delicious booze, food, and relaxing hot springs, there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Paso Robles’ history. Its name literally translates to “the pass of the oaks,” and the region was originally inhabited by an indigenous community called the Salinans. In the 1700s and early 1800s, Spanish religious missions were built all over California, including one in Paso Robles (we’ll get to that in a minute).

In 1886, the Southern Pacific Railroad was built through the area, and the town of Paso Robles as we know it today was born. A community built from farming almonds, grapes, and olives, the city is also famous for its natural hot springs, which are known to have healing properties.

Although many people do visit Paso Robles to taste wine and relax in the springs, it’s worth taking some time to explore the rich, complex history of the area at one or more of the following historic sites:

• Mission San Miguel Arcangel: Established in 1797, Mission San Miguel Arcangel is one of the most important Central Coast historical landmarks. Originally founded by Franciscan priests, it suffered fire and secularization throughout the many milestones in Mexico’s and California’s history. Today, it is still a functioning church, so if you’re planning to visit, dress conservatively and be conscious of any masses or church services going on while you’re there.
• Paso Robles Pioneer Museum: This museum was built to showcase what life was like in small town central California in the 19th and 20th centuries. Inside the museum, they have tons of artifacts, including the largest collection of antique barbed wire in the world, as well as replicas of historic transportation systems and buildings. Admission is free (donations suggested) and it’s a great way to learn more about what life was like before in the Central Coast.
• Rios-Caledonia Adobe: The Rios-Caledonia Adobe is a historic building made of adobe that was first created as part of the Mission San Miguel Arcangel. It later served as a residence for the head of the mission guard, and changed hands several times afterward. Today, it’s a house-museum with restored furniture, where you can learn more about the history of the mission and the story of the house itself.

Explore Downtown Paso Robles

There’s more to downtown than tasting rooms! Surrounding the adorable green square in the center of town, you’ll find lots of little gems. We highly recommend spending a few hours exploring downtown! Here are a few of our favorite stops:

• Brown Butter Cookie Company: While the original location of our favorite cookies is in nearby Cayucos, you don’t have to go all the way to the beach to try the melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies sprinkled with crunchy sea salt: there’s a location right here on the square in the center of town! You’ll find a few classic flavors like chocolate or honey, and seasonally rotating flavors like Coconut Lime and Bourbon. And the best part? They let you sample EVERYTHING. Probably because they know it’s impossible to walk out without a bag…
• Spearhead Coffee: Think Paso Robles just has amazing wine, beer, and spirits? And food? And olive oil? … NOPE, they have amazing coffee too. Because Paso Robles is like the Hermione Granger of delicious stuff. But we love its over-achieving ways so much! Anyway, Spearhead Coffee is just off the square and has the best coffee in town. It’s also right around the corner from that cute Paso Robles mural in our photo above!
• Boutique Shops: Lining the square, you’ll find tons of locally-owned boutiques selling everything from handmade jewelry to craft-made soap. There’s art, stuff made from recycled wine bottles & barrels, artisanal everything, and you’ll want to buy it all. We spaced out our downtown wine tasting with shopping, which is sort of fiscally irresponsible, but sober us also liked all the stuff we came home with, so it’s all good.

Craft Beer & Cider Tasting

Look, you can’t very well have a booming wine industry and not have a craft beer scene, too. Well, you probably can, but not when you’re overachieving booze capital of California. Just call Paso Robles the Hermione Granger of the booze world.

Anyway, for those of you who are more into hops than grapes, don’t worry: Paso Robles has you covered with several delicious craft breweries!

• Firestone Walker Brewing: If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes in California, you’ve probably seen 805’s eponymous logo. 805 is an incredibly famous California beer, and it’s brewed right in Paso Robles at Firestone Walker. The Firestone Walker brewery is a fantastic place to sample some lesser known Firestone Walker beers. Other than 805, we recommend trying the Nitro Milk Stout and the sour beers, Krieky Bones and SLOambic. They’re bang on if you’re a fan of Belgian Krieks or Lambics! And no trip to Firestone would be complete without a taste of their other flagship beer, the Double Barrel Ale.

• The Pour House: With 27 rotating taps, The Pour House is Paso Robles’ premier stop for anyone looking for a refreshing beer. When we visited, most beers on tap were from the Central Coast, and all from California. Except for PBR, but like…who counts that anyway?

• Silva Brewing: We’ve seen quite a few beer operations while we’ve been traveling, but none of them screamed passion quite like Silva Brewing. Tucked away in a room not much larger than a garage, the entire team of only four employees toils away to craft the dozen beers on tap, AND they’re releasing new flavors almost weekly! If you’re a fan of IPAs, you’ll love Silva Brewing’s flagship brew, the Paso Pale. Also worth checking out are the “Nut Farm” Walnut Nitro Milk Stout, “Mind on my Orange” Belgian Style Saison, and “S-Shot” Smoked Porter. You read that right. Smoked. Porter.

• Tin City: Sure to get Tyga stuck in your head, Tin City (AKA Marquita Crossing) is a perfect place for a self guided booze crawl while in Paso Robles. Essentially, it is a collection of tasting rooms and craft breweries all built around one block. The idea behind Tin City was to provide a convenient place for consumers to taste the best cider, beer and wine in Paso Robles without needing to visit the actual wineries in or breweries in Paso Robles. The spot has become a local favorite, and it’s the place to be on a Saturday night (or so we hear … we’re way too lame for that sort of activity.) You can walk the entirety of Tin City in FIVE minutes, but you won’t want to take so little time because there are SEVENTEEN (!!!) tasting rooms – with both beers and ciders – for you to duck into!

Psst: We’ve got a whole guide to the many amazing Paso Robles breweries and distilleries!

Liquor & Spirits Tasting

In Paso Robles, vineyards and distilleries go hand in hand! Most of the Paso Robles distilleries we visited were either part of an existing winery, or crafting spirits using the byproducts of the wine industry, like grapes and barrels. Turns out that a grape that makes an incredible bottle of wine also makes a delicious bottle of brandy or gin!

There are loads of distilleries in Paso Robles, and they’re all helpfully laid out Paso Robles Distillery Trail website. You can use their helpful map to plot out your route.

• Re:Find Distillery: This is an absolute must-visit! Re:Find distillery was started by the Villacana Winery owners in an attempt to minimize waste. They take juice that is typically discarded in the winemaking process and turn it into high quality, uniquely crafted spirits. Try the cucumber vodka or the herbaceous gin, two of their most popular specialties.
• KroBar Distillery: Tucked away behind the Barton Family Wines tasting room, past a few gorgeously drawn chalkboard arrow signs and well-arranged courtyards that make you feel like you’re at a Pinterest-worthy wedding, next to a coop of gently clucking hens, sits the tiny tasting room of KroBar craft distillery, one of the best distilleries in Paso Robles. Here, you’ll find grape-based brandy, herbaceous gin, and wine aperitifs. But KroBar doesn’t stop there. It’s moved past its wine roots into the land of pure experimentation: rye whiskey, gin aged in rye whisky barrels, even sweet-smelling bourbon.
• Red Soles Stillhouse: Sharing the tiny tasting room of Red Soles winery is Red Soles distillery. This little operation is serving up fascinating spirits, from California Hooch to Absinthe. The Hooch is their basis for all of their drinks. It’s grape-based and sort of like a cross between moonshine and brandy. They’ve also made a Cinnamon Hooch that smells like fall & tastes the way you always wanted Goldschlager or Fireball to taste. From their Hooch they’ve also developed a delicious, barely-sweet Limoncello made with meyer lemons, and a bright green Absinthe – yes, the real kind!
• Willow Creek: Opolo Vineyards recently began distilling, but they do something a little different: brandy! In addition to their signature grape brandy, they sell flavored varieties as well. Opolo’s craft brandies are distilled with fruit to provide a smooth and full flavor. Currently Opolo offers a Bartlett Pear Brandy as well as a mouth watering Walnut Brandy made from the walnut on the estate. Keep in mind, the distillery only offers tastings over the weekend.

Olive Oil Tasting

Because of the seaside climate of Paso Robles and the Central Coast, olives grow easily here, and as a result, many orchards and olive oil producers have flocked to the area to plant trees and create some find olive oils.

If you’ve never tried olive oil tastings before (or even if you have), it’s a wonderful way to taste the unique flavors of the Central Coast’s olive yields or take a break from wine tasting. Plus, it’s just really relaxing to sample delicious olive oils and breads in a beautiful olive orchard setting.

• Alta Cresta Olive Orchard: Alta Cresta is a beautiful olive orchard and olive oil producer located on the outskirts of Paso Robles. Here, you can take a tour of the facility, taste their olive oils and vinegar products, and enjoy the beautiful orchards.
• Pasolivo Ranch: Pasolivo is a local Paso Robles olive oil producer and they have a ranch located on the outskirts of the city. On a visit to the ranch, you can visit their tasting room, which offers samples of their olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and spice packs as well.
• Kiler Ridge: Kiler Ridge is a smaller olive oil producer in the Paso Robles area, which offers tastings alongside tours of its farm and warehouse, which are located in a gorgeous setting. Make a reservation beforehand to ensure there’s availability.
• We Olive: We Olive is an olive oil chain that operates predominantly in California and the western United States. They have a tasting room in downtown Paso Robles, which is perfect for a quick olive oil tasting pit stop between wine tastings or other activities.
• Jada Vineyard and Winery: Jada Vineyard is both a vineyard AND an olive orchard/oil producer, which means that you can taste wine and olive oil here…at the same time. Fancy, huh?

Psst: Love olive groves so much you wish you could live in one? You can – sorta – at the Olive Ranch! Nestled in a hillside and surrounded by views of rolling hills, olive trees, and grapevines, this AirBnB has two beautifully appointed master suites complete with fireplaces and private terraces where you can sip your morning coffee and smell lavender, rosemary, lemon and sage wafting through the air.

Eat an Incredible Meal

Where there is good wine, there must also be good food. Or at least, that’s what we’ve come to expect, because Paso Robles has completely spoiled us! The food in Paso Robles is every bit as good as the wine, and spirits, and beer, and olive oil … basically, Paso Robles is our foodie dream come true. Here are our favorite places to eat in town:

• Fish Gaucho: This is a contemporary California-Mexican restaurant and tequila bar located in downtown Paso Robles. Try the short rib tacos, and wash them down with a smoked fire and blood cocktail, which consists of blood orange juice and mezcal. And don’t forget the amazing elote, which was creamy and corny and delicious!
• Orale: Think of a cross between a chic, locally-sourced food house and a traditional taco stand and you’ve got Orale. Their delicious, flavorful tacos are to die for! Try their street tacos, which come with your choice of meat, or one of their more robust parrilladas, which are basically fajita-style meats served to you in a sizzling hot pan.
• The Hatch: This is one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles and located right downtown, calls itself calls itself “A Simple Rotisserie and Bar.” But with menu items like bone marrow, burrata on toast, and grilled octopus, it seems to be anything but simple. Be sure to order the special of the day, and don’t forget to pair it with a craft cocktail or local beer.
• Thomas Hill Organics is a farm-to-table foodie spot with a gorgeous patio tucked a corner of downtown Paso Robles. For a special night out, try the bone marrow crusted rib-eye and follow it with a bourbon pecan tart with Chantilly cream, all paired with a Raspberry Surprise from Central Coast Brewing Co.
• La Cosecha: This is another amazing restaurant in downtown Paso Robles, features the best South American food we’ve had outside of South America, served up by a Honduran chef alongside incredible craft cocktails. We recommend the Honduran empanadas, the fresh ceviche, flavorful grilled octopus,and the Clover Club South cocktail, which reminded us of a raspberry Pisco Sour. (Oh, and one of our favorite local vacation rentals is located right above La Cosacha!)

Visit a Waterpark

What’s more romantic than flying down water slides at lightning speed in the California sunshine? Um, basically nothing. You can bring out your inner child at Ravine Waterpark, Paso Robles’ giant park with TONS of water slides and pools for you to cool off from the heat.

While you’re there, you can blaze down thrilling, fast slides with names like “Anaconda,” “Viper,” and “Kamikaze,” (which like, TBH, are already making me simultaneously giddy and terrified), or float down Ravine’s signature lazy river, Kickback Kreek. You can also rent a private cabana inside of Ravine Waterpark if you’re looking for a place to relax, order food, and spend the afternoon.

Take a Day Trip

• Cambria, San Simeon, & Hearst Castle: We lump these 3 spots together because combining them makes for an excellent day trip, and they’re all nearby on a northern stretch of Highway One! Start by touring Hearst Castle, the opulent, over-the-top and very strangely designed former home of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. On your way back to Morro Bay afterward, visit the Elephant Seal Rookery at Piedras Blancas in San Simeon to visit our favorite hideous and flomp-tastic marine mammals, and then swing by Linn’s in Cambria to pick up a slice of famous Ollalieberry Pie!
• Morro Bay & Cayucos: Located right next to one another on the coast – and literally ON Highway One – these two tiny towns are the place to go for surfing, marine life (OTTERS), and beaches. While Morro Bay feels like a fisherman village, Cayucos feels more like the Old West, complete with saloons, antique stores, and adorably old-timey buildings. Honestly, it’s worth the very short trip just to try the amazing cookies at Brown Butter Cookie Company. Take a look at our Cayucos travel guide & guide to things to do in Morro Bay!
• Pismo Beach: Venture south down the coast to sunny Pismo Beach. It’s a gorgeous beach and well loved by surfers and sunset afficionados, but the coolest thing to do in Pismo is actually to go sandboarding and dune-buggying on the giant sand dunes! After a day of fun and adventure, pick up a delicious old-fashioned Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese icing – and maybe get a few to go. You’re gonna want them later, trust us.
• Lake Nacimiento: About half an hour inland from Paso Robles lies Lake Nacimiento, an 18-mile long, sparkling blue stretch of water situated in a tree-filled, peaceful area. Here, you’ll find resort getaways, hiking trails, and plenty of opportunities to participate in water sports and activities. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the lake, or simply lounge around with a picnic on the banks.

Where to Stay in Paso Robles

We’ve stayed in a few places during our many trips to Paso Robles, and we highly recommend either staying within walking distance to town, or staying near (or on) the picturesque vineyards that Paso Robles is known for! Here are our picks for either option.

Stay Near Farms & Vineyards

There are tons of unique vacation rentals in Paso Robles, offering one-of-a-kind experiences like waking up on a vineyard or in an olive grove! That said, we recommend booking directly through VRBO or Plum Guides because they have fewer fees and more flexible cancellation policies than Airbnb – also, we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record, poor customer service and lax security.

Here are our favorite vacation rentals in Paso Robles:

• On the outskirts of Paso Robles is the gorgeous Olive House set in the middle of a working olive farm! The olive oil orchard is located in Paso Robles’ wine country on a high ridge, with sweeping views of a picturesque valley filled with rolling hills, olive trees, ranches and vineyards. Sit on the arched outdoor terrace sipping wine from a local winery and dipping fresh-baked bread into award-winning olive oil while watching the sun set over the orchard and vineyards!
• Stay directly on the Adelaida Road Wine Trail in this jaw-dropping rustic lodge, originally designed and constructed by the set designer of Little House on the Prairie. This beautiful cabin spent half a century as a working cattle ranch before a local purchased it and turned it into one of the best vacation rentals in Paso Robles we’ve seen! Curl up next to the huge stone fireplace and live your best rural life surrounded by vineyards.

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Stay Near Town

Staying within walking distance to Paso Robles’ central plaza means you’ll also be walking distance from coffee, incredible food, and the many tasting rooms located around the square! There’s nothing better than walking around exploring Paso’s charming boutiques and tasting rooms before stumbling home, safe and sound.

Here’s where to stay near town:

• Paso Robles Inn is located in the center of downtown Paso Robles, just off the central plaza and around the corner from our favorite coffee shop in town, Spearhead Coffee. It’s the perfect starting point to walk to the best restaurants & tasting rooms in Paso Robles! Your winery-themed room also comes complete with its very own mineral hot springs, fed into a jacuzzi tub on your own private balcony. And, yes, it is as romantic as it sounds. And if your own in-room mineral hot spring wasn’t enough, head through the gardens to take a dip in the heated pool.
• This Spanish-style bungalow is walking distance to downtown and comes with 3 bedrooms. I’m digging the exposed beam ceilings and wood-burning fireplace, as well as the outdoor patio, BBQ and fire pit! This is a perfect centrally-located spot for a small group. We recommend booking directly through TurnKey to get the best deal!

Want more suggestions? We dug through hundreds of options to round up 7 of the best Vacation Rentals in Paso Robles (for both couples and groups)!

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I hope we’ve managed to convince you to book a weekend trip to Paso Robles ASAP! And if you’re still on the fence, just drop your questions about Paso Robles or the Central Coast in the comments below and I will make Jeremy answer them. Kidding! He loves answering your questions.

Psst: Planning a trip to Paso Robles? Check out some of our other posts!

• 33 Incredible Wineries in Paso Robles, California
• 12 Must-Visit Paso Robles Breweries (& Distilleries)
• The 7 Best Airbnbs in Paso Robles, California

We’ve also got a bunch of travel guides for nearby getaways in California’s Central Coast, where I grew up!

• 12 Adorable Things to do in Morro Bay, California
• 12 Charming Things to Do in Cayucos, California
• 41 Marvelous Things to Do in Monterey, California
• 8 Quintessential Places to Visit on California’s Central Coast

And, if you’ll be visiting Paso Robles as part of a Highway One road trip, we’ve got a few travel guides for that, too:

• The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops
• The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

Planning a Highway One road trip? We’ve created a detailed 10-day California Coast road trip itinerary to help you plan! Enter your email below and we’ll send you a printable version, plus tips to plan your trip.