Exploring Paso

Paso Robles (pronounced “ROH-buhlz,” or “ROH-blays” to some locals) is located in the coastal mountain range of central California.  Paso Robles, or “Pass of the Oaks,” is close to mountains, beaches and deserts. The area has an ideal climate and terrain for our spring cycle camp. Close by there are thermal springs, which are said to have healing powers that will certainly make you a better cyclist!  And as we know from cycling around numerous vineyards, it has become a wine-making mecca with more than 170 wineries, 26,000 vineyard acres and 40 varietals of wine.  Beer and distilled spirit lovers aren’t left out of the fun, as more and more craft breweries and craft distilleries are cropping up around town.

Hearst Castle is nearby in San Simeon and they offer tours daily.  Coastal towns of Cayucos, Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay and Avila Beach are all worth visiting.  There are numerous restaurants, shops, and historical sites within Paso Robles and in nearby Templeton.  With so much to do and so little time, we offer a few suggestions of things to do on your days/evenings off.  Please feel free to use the comment section below to offer your own recommendations to the group.

“It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels”
-Heinz Stucke, German long-distance cyclist

SENSORIO

A 15 acre walk-through artwork, Field of Light is a sculptural composition that covers Sensorio’s rolling hills with an array of over 58,800 stemmed spheres lit by fiber-optics, gently illuminating the landscape in subtle blooms of morphing color.
NY Times ranked it #6 of Places to Go in 2020
The art installation is very popular and will likely sell out well in advance of our week in Paso, so if you want to go it is recommended that you get tickets early.  

RESTAURANTS

For evenings when you’ll be on your own for dinner, you might want to check Trip Advisor or Yelp for reviews.  Or you might want to ask fellow cyclists for recommendations.  Paso Robles has establishments that offer fine dining, quick bites, and everything in between. Evenings and weekends are often busy in Paso Robles, so reservations are recommended at the more popular spots.  Many restaurants take reservations through Open Table, Yelp, and Trip Advisor.  I’ve heard some places still take phone reservations, too!

CAL COAST BEER COMPANY

CALIFORNIA COAST BEER Co. is now the largest outdoor space in downtown Paso Robles!
Inspired by California’s Central Coast, the brewery was created by a group of dreamers who believed that, through hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Featuring a 10-barrel system, they specialize in classic American ales and lagers along with Belgian-style beers.   
The brewery is only 1.2 miles from the Adelaide Inn in downtown Paso Robles on Railroad Ave. The building is fantastic! It was a true labor of love to turn the former Tozzi’s Auto into California Coast Beer Co. It took nearly two years for the 3 friends to bring their vision to life. 

RIVER OAKS HOT SPRINGS AND SPA

River Oaks Hot Springs Spa has been a secret source of rejuvenation and relaxation for some Paso Gran Fundo cyclists. The secret is out! River Oaks offers a wide variety of services such as massage, herbal wraps, facials, and leg waxing.  Whether it’s soaking in their artesian thermal mineral springs under the starlit sky (10 private tubs are fed from springs bubbling up at 117 degrees F), or relaxing in the shade of a private open-air spa, you will be reborn in the opulence of nature in a tasteful, uncluttered environment. The dramatic views of Paso Robles rolling hills and vineyards, the reflective lake, and of course, the magnificent artesian thermal mineral waters are the true luxuries of River Oaks Hot Springs Spa.  You’ll be refreshed and ready to pull the peloton on another long bike ride!

AVILA BEACH

Each year we drive to SLO to begin a bike ride.  An option for a post ride lunch is to have a change of clothes in your car and drive into Avila Beach.  The Avila Beach Farmers Market is a seasonal event that takes place on Fridays beginning in April each year.  The market is right on the Avila Beach downtown promenade.  What other market do you know of with the majestic Pacific as the backdrop?  They have live music,  great food from local restaurants, Central Coast wine tasting, and fun for everyone. Right off the promenade is Peloton Cellars, a bike themed wine shop and tasting room.  They have a great selection of bike themed clothes and gifts.  The Libertine Brewing Tasting Room is also in the heart of the downtown Avila Beach area.  Who wants to sit on the beach, eat lunch, and listen to to a great band on the promenade?  It might be a lovely way to take in more of Avila Beach before heading back to the Adelaide for dinner on your own!

PASO ROBLES DISTILLERY TRAIL

Leftover grape juice from the region’s wine production isn’t wasted. It makes up the base alcohol for distilled spirits, which you can sample at various stops along Paso Robles Distillery Trail.
Sip Wine Shine’s mango mule, Krobar’s gin and rye whiskey, Manucci Spirits’ grappa and limoncello, and Re:Find Distillery’s vodka. Most distillery tasting rooms are located on vineyard grounds, “just around the back” from the wine-tasting rooms.