Wine Country Weekend: A Guide to Paso Robles

I honestly had never heard of anyone I know visiting Paso Robles before I took a girls’ getaway. And then what really caught my attention was a Tik Tok showcasing Sensorio, a beautiful light show in the middle of a giant field. 

This is a perfect location for a three-day weekend getaway from either Northern or Southern California with plenty of wineries, places to eat, and things to do. 

In this blog post, I’m going to highlight the places I checked out as well as places I didn’t get a chance to visit during my stay. Just another excuse to visit again!

Where to Stay

• 

• 

• 

We stayed at Oxford Suites which was centrally located and within walking distance of the downtown area. 

There are plenty of amenities including a pool, hot tub, outdoor fire pits, complimentary breakfast, and a shuttle service (within a 5-mile radius of the hotel).

This is a fantastic option for groups of all sizes and is definitely on the more affordable side.

This hotel stay at Oxford Suites was gifted.

There are plenty of great options all around the area including Airbnbs that could fit various budgets. There are options to even stay at some of the vineyards so definitely check that out. 

What to Do in Paso Robles

I highly recommend and encourage booking reservations for wine tasting, restaurants, spa, etc. 

Go Visit Wineries

Paso is a very laidback, less expensive version of Napa to me. There are more than 200 family-owned wineries in the area so you’ll definitely have plenty of options for your trip. I recommend having a designated DD, book a wine tour, or hire a shuttle service to get around.

Fun Fact: If you stay at Oxford, some of the wineries fall within the shuttle service range so you can get a free ride!

Steinbeck Wines

What really drew our group to Steinbeck was the Jeep Wine Tour but the experience we had was so much more. It was such a pleasure to meet Howie; he was incredibly insightful and taught us so much about his family’s 135-year history in the area from the 1956 Crash of a B-26 bomber jet on the ranch to the art of winemaking. 

You can clearly see and feel the passion of this family and it was truly an experience I’ll never forget. 

The Crash Jeep Tour includes a wine tasting and is 1.5 hours long. You cover their 400-acre vineyard in their 1958 Jeep Willy for $25 per person. Recommended for up to a group of 4 (maybe 6 if you squish).

Eberle Winery

I have always wanted to go on a cave tour and was incredibly excited when I saw Eberle offered them. The cherry on top was that the wine tasting and cave tour was complimentary! There is a $10 reservation fee for up to 6 people and this can go towards a bottle of wine. 

The crew was fabulous and gave an in-depth look into the wine-making process from growing grapes to the aging process to bottling. 

Other options include JUSTIN, DAOU Vineyards (go for the view), Cass Winery (wine tasting and horseback riding!), and Tooth and Nails Wine (an actual castle with a moat).

Field of Lights at Sensorio

My social media has been filled with images and videos of this spectacular art installation. It will definitely take around 2-3 hours to see the entire Field of Lights and new Light Towers. There are food trucks and live music as well and something to do for all ages. 

Spa and Hot Springs

Paso is known for it’s naturally fed hot springs so what better way to spend on your relaxing getaway than a dip at River Oaks Spa. This spa offers small, private outdoor tubs overlooking nearby vineyards. This is definitely a luxurious experience and it $24 per hour per person. 

They offer a ton of options to upgrade your experience including facials, massages, wine, chocolate, etc. 

Tin City

Tin City is just three miles south of Paso Robles and is the hottest new attraction in the area. Located in a small warehouse district, this walkable area is filled with breweries, regional food trucks, 20 wineries, and gourmet eats. You could spend a whole day here but recommend having a plan on how to get back to your accommodations. 

Downtown Paso

There is more to Paso than just wine tasting (although they have plenty of tasting rooms as well). Boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants line the entire square providing ample opportunity to shop, check out the booming art scene, and taste a wide variety of local cuisine. 

If you need a break from all the wine tasting, there are craft beer tasting rooms, olive oil shops, spirits tastings, and even a local speakeasy. 

Notable mentions: Brown Butter Cookie Company, Spearhead Coffee & Buona Tavola.