Stroll and Sip

Wine Taste and Stroll Avila Beach

Picking a beach on the Central Coast is like deciding which flavor to go with at a homemade ice cream shop: There are so many good choices! You really can't go wrong, but if you're looking for a mellow, strollable beach town with a few restaurants and some seriously good wine tasting, Avila Beach is the place—especially in winter when it's far less crowded. The small beach is just half a mile long and sheltered by Point San Luis to the west and Fossil Point to the east. It's a nice stretch to stroll after a day of other activities in the area. A few blocks in downtown Avila are closed to traffic, making for a mini Fisherman's Wharf that's all a-twinkle at night. A huge bonus: Tasting rooms here are putting out some seriously good, award-winning wines, and they're open late. Two tasting rooms not to miss: Sinor-La Vallee, specializing in coastal terroir wines sourced locally; their 2013 Pinot Noir Black Label is excellent. At the top of our list is Peloton Cellars. Their "Good ride. Good wine. Good times!" mantra sums up the approachability of both the tasting room and the wines. The young owners are super friendly and love good company (ask them for tips on where to ride your bike in San Luis Obispo County). Wines can be bought by the glass or the bottle, and tastings are a good starter. You're not going to go wrong with any of their syrahs, pinots, zins, or cabs. And their Albariño is tasty too. Ride on!

WHERE TO STAY: Located a few miles away in Pismo Beach and set atop a secret cove overlooking the Pacific, Inn at the Cove has modern rooms with ocean-facing patios that offer the best seats in the house for kicking back and enjoying the coastline.

Sinor-La Vallee is located at 550 1st St., Avila Beach. They're open from noon to 6 p.m. and the tasting fee is $10. Peloton Cellars is located in the Front St. pedestrian zone, by the pier. They're open from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday they're open until 7:00 p.m. The tasting fee is $10.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    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.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    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.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View