Paso Robles

For mid-winter break this year, our family of non-skiers decided to mix it up and spend time on the Central Coast.

Just a few hours south on Highway 101, it’s an area where I lived for five years during college yet have rarely visited as an adult. Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles was a great spot to meet our LA friends. We rented a house in Templeton and spent our days exploring. The area has become a popular wine-tasting destination, but our crew only had the patience for about one winery a day. Not all are family-friendly, so we sprinkled in good food and dedicated playtime at parks or grassy fields for practicing cartwheels. 

Negranti Creamery

The line might be long, but it’s definitely worth waiting for.

Day One started with a visit to Uptown Family Park, a bit out of downtown Paso. This park got two thumbs up from the kids for having swings, lots to climb on, and an amphitheater for spontaneous dramatic performances. For lunch, we went downtown for tacos at Fish Gaucho before heading to Giornata, a winery known for Italian varietals grown from California grapes and a fun selection of orange wines. Giornata is located in Tin City, a collection of tasting rooms serving craft wines, beers, and spirits in an industrial area of Paso Robles. While we could have visited many more tasting rooms at Tin City, the excitement was high for a different type of tasting. Our next stop in Tin City was Negranti Creamery, where we enjoyed sheep’s milk ice cream and ice cream sandwiches. A sugar rush brought on a burst of energy and another impromptu dance performance and cartwheel competition on the stage at BarrelHouse Brews.

Tin City

"Tin City is an evolving industrial makers market nestled amongst the oaks where friends, adventurers, and aficionados come together to partake in craft wine, beer, and spirits."

To fit as much as possible into one day, we finished our day with a visit to Sensorio, now a permanent exhibit in Paso Robles. No matter what you read online or hear from friends who have visited, nothing captures the feeling of walking along the trails surrounding The Field of Light. This 15-acre field is filled with fiber optic stemmed spheres that gradually change colors, creating a surprisingly peaceful experience. After reading online reviews, I was a bit concerned with how the kids would handle the walk, but it was easy, and they were distracted by the surroundings. We arrived before sunset and grabbed a bite to eat before we hit the trail. 

Sensorio Field of Lights

Arrive before dark to get the full experience.

After an ambitious first day, we slowed down a little on day two. Since not all wineries are kid-friendly, we did our homework and picked a few that would welcome our group and allow us to bring food for our visit–a necessity when rolling with two 5-year-olds and a 7-year-old. Red Scooter Deli offers box lunches that can be ordered ahead for pick-up. Across the street is Downtown Park, where the kids enjoyed the playground while we picked up our lunch. Box lunches in hand, we headed to Brecon Estate, a Boutique Estate winery in the westside hills of Paso Robles. We were welcomed on a beautiful terrace by Roy, the winery dog, and enjoyed lunch and a tasting in the sun. Our adventures caught up with us, and that evening, the thought of sitting down to dinner in a restaurant was daunting. We opted for takeout from Della’s and enjoyed their wood-fired pizzas and a movie night at home.

Downtown Park

Bring a picnic, stay to play!

Our last outing together was right up the road from our house. The Fableist Wine Company recently purchased a large property in the hills of Templeton and has created an idyllic spot to visit. From the tasting room to the wine labels, the team has created a fun and unique brand that flows from its physical space to its wine program, which names each wine after a different Aesop fable. We chose an outdoor table with pink chairs (of course!) near the antique train, where the kids explored while we enjoyed the book of fables before playing a family game of lawn Connect Four. 

We were sad to say goodbye to our friends but know we will meet again in Paso Robles!