With more than 200 wineries to choose from, dozens of wonderful restaurants, and many diverse activities to excite any visitor to Paso Robles Wine Country, it’s hard to know where to start planning your fall getaway. Autumn is an awesome time to explore wine country. The vineyards are brilliant with bold warm colors, the air is a bit cooler, and the crowds a little less robust. We’ve taken the guesswork out of planning your trip and crafted a lively itinerary just for you. If this is your first vacation to Paso Robles, we are confident it won’t be your last.

Paso Robles really does have something for every wine-loving traveler, including lodging options. We have a multitude of choices from economy inns to full-service resorts, vineyard estates to tiny homes, luxury RV properties to a vintage trailer pond. For this trip to Paso we are staying downtown in a quaint bungalow-style home smack dab in the middle of all the wine country fun. Paso Robles Vacation Rentals offers more than 100+ homes in the area to rent. We chose Bungalow on Vine.

The great thing about staying downtown is the walkable proximity to restaurants, wine tasting, art galleries, antique shops, and more. After your easy keyless check-in, grab a sweater and head out. Take in the autumn air as you stroll down the charming historic Vine Street to the nearby Paso Market Walk. This new collective marketplace is filled with local purveyors – farmers, ranchers, chefs, vintners, makers, and producers. Since you just arrived in wine country, your first stop at the Market Walk must be the Paso Robles Wine Merchant. With eight rotating wines on tap plus many more by the glass we suggest you try the McPrice Myers Beautiful Earth white blend and the Nelle Bedlam red blend. Sit outside on the expansive lawn area or check-out the marketplace. Pick-up goodies for later like sweet treats from Just Baked or Leo Leo Gelato. Grab some local cheese from the Vreamery or a pick-me-up from Joebella Coffee Roasters.

Now that you have checked out the newest attraction in Paso, cruise back toward the downtown and visit Hoyt Family Wines. This small family-owned winery has a delightful tasting room with a real beach shack vibe and killer wines! A couple of our faves are the Grenache and Tempranillo. Since there are so many awesome restaurants downtown, we always struggle to just choose one.

So tonight, we are doing some progressive dining. The first stop is The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar specializing in food-fired comfort food. Course one – Pork Belly with butternut squash, pomegranate, and Brussels leaves – yum! The second stop is a block away at La Cosecha Bar & Restaurant. The menu is Latin American influenced using all locally sourced ingredients. Course two – Ceviche Del Dia (ceviche of the day) it is always a winner and we love that it’s served with fresh plantain chips. Next up for your third restaurant is Les Petites Canailles. As a newer addition to the Paso dining scene, this French Bistro will not disappoint. Course three – Grilled Octopus with celeriac, green apple, pickled mustard seeds, black garlic, grapefruit gel, and sesame seeds. Now if bellies are feeling pretty full and you need a little movement before dessert walk the downtown town square. Visit the General Store Paso Robles for the best souvenirs and Paso-tastic gifts for your friends back home. Stroll through Studios on the Park, a working co-op art center and gallery. The Piccolo Luxury Boutique Hotel is your final stop before heading home to your bungalow. Take the elevator to Tetto Rooftop Bar. Cozy up by one of the firepits and indulge in course four – Chocolate Mousse topped with whipped peanut butter, layered with crushed graham cracker.

You don’t want to worry about driving around Paso Robles. You are on vacation after all. So, leave the driving to the pros, Breakaway Wine Tours is picking you up to head east. Make a quick pit stop at Amstrdm Coffee House & Piano Lounge for your caffeine boost and breakfast. Grab a Brunchwrap Supreme and a Breakfast Burrito for the trip to Central Coast Trailrides. Enjoy the golden rolling hills and vineyard landscape of rich red, gold, and orange. What better way to enjoy the cool fall air and spectacular autumn colors of the vineyard than by horseback? Your cowboy/cowgirl guides will take you through the breathtaking scenic Paso landscape. Be sure to snap a selfie (and tag #pasowne)!

Load back onto your tour van and take the backroads to Bovino Vineyards. At Bovino you’ll experience gracious hospitality with world-class wines. Take a seat on the viewing deck that overlooks the many acres of vines, keep an eye out you may see a bald eagle flying about. Enjoy a delectable lunch – a few of our favorites include the Fall Panzanella Salad and Pumpkin & Black Bean Chili with a side of their signature French fries!

A short drive away is family owned and operated Sarzotti Vineyard & Winery. Founded in 1941, this multi-generational winery exemplifies what is Paso Robles – renegade pioneers full of character and rustic charm. Specializing in Italian varietals, you won’t find a wine that you aren’t crazy about – be careful you’ll probably end up joining their wine club. Chat with the winemaker under the canopy of oaks and take in the beauty of the vineyards that surround you.

Freshen-up back at the bungalow and do what winemakers do at the end of a long day – drink beer! Walk downtown to the Backyard on Thirteenth, the ultra-friendly outdoor beer garden. This cool stop has multiple beers on tap plus wine and beer by the bottle. Have a little fun playing one of the many outdoor games and play our favorite game – how many winemakers can you spot?!

On to dinner at Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ. A favorite spot for locals, this lively eatery is tucked away in an alley next to the hip Indigené Cellars. Jeffry’s is known for its scratch-made smoked meats with a wine country attitude. Spoil yourself with the award-winning Signature Tr-Tip Sandwich, Paso Mac & Cheesesteak, Wine Country Cobb, or BBQ Sampler Tray.

Start day three on Highway 46 West with a little outdoor movement that’s good for the body and soul at Castoro Cellars. For those who need a little zen sign-up for Yoga in the Vines, or if you are looking for something more physical, Disc Golf will be right up your alley. Stay awhile at Castoro to taste through their most recent wine releases then go across the street to sip their spirits at Bethel Rd. Distillery. Creativity and community are at the center of Bethel Rd. with top-notch grappa, gin, and brandy.

Next on your fun-filled fall day is a trip to Tin City. This evolving industrial area is a maker’s market nestled amongst the oaks where friends, adventurers, and aficionados come together to partake in craft wine, beer, and spirits served up by Paso’s most passionate artisans. For lunch grab a bite at one of the many food trucks, we love Hurricane Kitchen, an Italian grinder at ETTO Pastificio, or at the new McPhee’s Canteen. Taste your way through Tin City – you can’t go wrong. Our recs include Aaron, BENOM, Desparada, Field Recordings., Giornata, ONX, Sans Liege, Tin City Cider Co., and Turtle Rock Vineyards.

Before heading out of Tin City pop into ETTO and grab everything you’ll need to cook back at the bungalow. A combo we love to pick-up is fresh Rigatoni, local sausage by J & R Meats, marinara sauce by Loshel, fresh ricotta, and a bunch of Magnolia greens. Don’t forget to buy a bottle of the ETTO White or Red wine.

Nap….

Right before the autumn sun is setting, you’re headed to the much talked about Sensorio Field of Lights. This enormous multi-acre walk-through installation is comprised of an array of over 58,800 stemmed spheres lit by fiber-optics, gently illuminating the landscape in subtle blooms of morphing color that describe the undulating landscape. Powered by solar, the stunning exhibition will captivate you. You must experience Sensorio.

Back at the bungalow for your final night…kick-off your shoes, turn on some tunes, whip up your easy and delicious ETTO pasta dinner, crack open some Paso wine. Sit on the patio and reflect on the days spent and plan your next getaway Paso Robles Wine Country.