Road Trip to Real California

Smack between San Francisco and Los Angeles is a part of California that flies a bit under the radar—for now. It’s where an immersive and magical light show comes to life when the sun sets over the rolling hills. It's where a guided horseback ride through fields of wildflowers meets unpretentious wine tasting with winemakers. It's where after an afternoon e-biking through vineyards you can kick back in a historic, walkable downtown that's a true foodie haven. It’s authentically California. It’s Paso Robles.

Week: 04.30.2025
Regions: Northern & Southern CA

Light This Way

Experience the Extraordinary Sensorio Lighted Art Exhibition in Paso Robles

Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles
Live music at the Sensorio Mercado Restaurant in Bar in Paso Robles
The Tower of Light colorful exhibit at Sensorio in Paso Robles
Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields. DECEMBER BONUS: Enjoy a holiday market, see The Nutcracker, and visit Santa at Sensorio.
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Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

Go on a guided horseback ride at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles

People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles
Two people on a horse at a sundial at Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles
Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.
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Eat, Drink, E-bike!

Paso Robles Family and Dog Friendly Food and Wine Adventures

Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles
A woman manages the woodfire pizza oven on the patio Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles
The lively outdoor patio filled with people at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles
Third Wheel Sidecar Tours in Paso Robles
No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!
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Downtown Delights

Visit Historic Downtown Paso Robles for Food, Drinks, and Shopping

Two women sit on the grass with trees behind them at Downtown City Park in Paso Robles
Carnegie Library is a building in Paso Robles Downtown City Park that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
A woman looks at art deco posters inside The General Store located in downtown Paso Robles
Behold Paso Robles’ historic-meets-modern downtown. At the center of it all: Downtown City Park, surrounded by chic and down-to-earth food + drink establishments, beautiful mural art, and stores unique to Paso's creative roots.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

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