Kevin and I are used to traveling to far off places. But every so often, we just want to do an easy road trip from LA. Or maybe, it’s a pandemic and you’re forced to quarantine? No matter what the case, one of our favorite side trips from LA is Paso Robles. We’ve even outlined a 3 day itinerary from LA to Paso Robles — hitting up everything from the iconic restaurant from the movie Sideways to a farm where you can feed overly aggressive ostriches. Now if that doesn’t sound like a Kevin and Phil road trip, I’m not sure what does!
Ostrich Land, a stop on our 3-day road trip. You should be frightened — very, very frightened.
On our latest trip, we skipped the ostriches (aka the evil beasts! I’m still scarred…) and kept things a little more low key by booking a relaxing 1910 bungalow Airbnb in Paso Robles. Best of all, you’re just a 5 minute walk to downtown Paso Robles’ many wine tasting rooms, restaurants and shops. Or you can do what we did — pretty much stayed away from everyone! Even though we didn’t go out much, it doesn’t mean we weren’t busy. Oh, this is a Phil and Kevin weekend itinerary after all. Check out our recommendations below.
How Long does it Take to Travel from LA to Paso Robles?
The rolling green hills along the journey to Paso Robles. Clearly, I’ve coordinated my outfit for this stop.
The total drive time from LA to Paso Robles really depends on the amount of traffic. Luckily, we didn’t have much and arrived in just under 3.5 hours. More than likely, Google Maps will give you 2 options to drive north — either going up Interstate 5 (aka “the 5” in Cali speak) or going along Interstate 101 (“the 101”) to Santa Barbara. Without a doubt, take the 101 which hugs the ocean before cutting inland through Santa Barbara’s wine country and other cute little towns like Los Olivos. This route might not be the most direct, but it is a lot more scenic. The amount of extra time really depends on the traffic. For our drive, it took us 6 extra minutes out of our way (but it’s southern California and could take a lot longer!).
Why do an Airbnb in Paso Robles?
Inside the Airbnb in Paso Robles. Kevin gets some work done while Doug, the dog, does what he’s best at…relaxing.
Paso Robles doesn’t get as much attention as the big wine regions in northern California like Napa and Sonoma. But we don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Paso Robles, or “Pass of the Oaks,” is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the mountains, beaches and deserts — perfect for couples who might not agree on one activity over the other. You literally could start off your day hiking the coastal mountains, then relax on the beach before hitting up some tasting rooms (in real life or in our case, virtually). The 2-bedroom Airbnb cottage is located in a quiet neighborhood in the city of “Paso” (what many of the locals call it). City would be an overstatement though as life moves a lot slower here.
Master bedroom in Airbnb in Paso Robles.
Second bedroom, perfect for the kids.
Backyard and fire pit.
Shopping in Paso Robles: A Weekend Away From People
A weekend in Paso Robles makes the perfect spot to stay far away from others. But truth be told, nothing sounds sweeter to me right now than shopping without lines. Don’t even get me started on LA. And while most of the shops in Paso Robles are closed as of writing due to COVID-19, many are still offering pickup orders. One of the must-visit shops to check out is Pasolivo in the heart of downtown. It specializes in California-produced olive oils. We went directly on their website and pre-ordered a bottle of their award-winning Cucina extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and truffle salt that we pretty much use every day. Pick up was a breeze!
And while you’re downtown, be sure to stop inside Di Raimondos Italian
Entertaining Things to Do at the Airbnb
Virtual chocolate tasting.
Just because you’re holed up inside, doesn’t mean you’ll be bored. We kicked off our weekend doing a chocolate tasting with Ethel M Chocolates, based out of Las Vegas. The shop has made life in quarantine a little sweeter by offering its popular chocolate tasting experience at home. They’ll send you everything you need — including a placemat, bottles of water, pens and the chocolates to be sampled. Just try not to eat them all before your class. Chocolatier Mark Mackey hosts the event live from Las Vegas.
Finally, a Zoom meeting I don’t mind going to! Be sure to enjoy some red wine to sip while tasting.
Over the course of 30-40 minutes, Mark walked us through the subtleties of tasting their fan favorite chocolates, as well as tips on what to pair. Tastings are $30. Sign up for a chocolate tasting class on their website here. But we weren’t done with our classes yet. While all of California’s wine cellars are shut right now, many are offering virtual tastings including Paso Robles’ Daou winery. Tastings are typically $40 in person at the winery. But you can now do it for free with their virtual wine tasting.
Kevin enjoys the Daou virtual wine tasting.
Reservations are available on Tock nearly every day of the week on the hour from 12 – 5 PM. Advanced reservations are recommended — especially for Fridays and Saturdays. The only thing you need — beyond a computer and Wifi — is a bottle or two of Daou wine to join along. You can either order this directly from the winery, or search your local wine shop. Most places in LA carry it.
We were also able to put that cheese we bought in town to good use with the tasting.
Keeping the Excitement Going: Airbnb in Paso Robles
Enjoying some quiet time and reading. When do we ever get to do this at home?
During this time of social distancing, it has given us more time to reflect and do other activities. Why not read that book gathering dust on the shelf? The Airbnb also really helped mix up our time at home with its backyard bbq pit and old school games like Jenga to play out back in the massive yard.
Jigsaw puzzle complete. What a sense of accomplishment. We brought this along as one of our weekend activities.
Playing backyard Jenga, which is part of the games offered at the Airbnb. Kevin is so serious.
I wanted to win, but at the same time loved being the one to bring everything toppling down.
Kevin enjoys the backyard s’mores with Doug the dog.
Wrapping it Up: Staying Active with a Hike in Paso Robles
Besides all the eating and drinking, you might want to do some exercise. Many of the hiking trails in California are closed right now. But we used the helpful app All Trails to find Montebello Oaks Open Space still open for hiking. This 2.1 mile trail is pet friendly and winds through fields of wildflowers and oak trees.
The trail is a little confusing (okay, very confusing!). We recommend downloading the All Trails App on your phone (which is free) and following their map. Just make sure you keep your eyes open on the trail. Let’s just say, I nearly knocked myself unconscious after walking into an oak tree. Yeah, that happened. Besides nearly getting a concussion, I’d highly recommend it for a quick and easy hike (especially with a dog or kids in tow). Just watch out for those clumsy ones…Oh, and anyone hiking while playing on their phone. Guilty…
Montebello Oaks Open Space… Like the name implies, lots of oak trees. Just don’t walk into one.
And there you have it. Looking for other ideas in Paso Robles after quarantine time? Check out our top picks for a romantic getaway in Paso Robles and our 3-day itinerary in Paso Robles. Have more time? Read our recommendations for a cheap weekend in Santa Barbara and Ojai. And of course, if you are looking for more ideas to do during COVID, here are our top 5 fun ideas to do at home.
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