The Bay Area is one of those places where you love to live. If you grew up here, you stay here. You might move away for college or a boyfriend, but chances are you will be back. If you moved out here to attend schools such as Cal, you often decide to linger and plant roots here. If you live in the Oakland or Berkeley area, here is a field trip for you.
The other month, I had the opportunity to drive down to Paso Robles. A small city nestled between the mountain range and beach in Central California. From my house, Paso Robles is a 3 hour drive, making this a great weekend adventure.
In 1857 this community was a rest-stop for travelers of the Camino Real trail, and was known for its mineral hot springs. Now this community is part old time town with a strong sense of yesteryear and part up and coming hip, foodie community. Paso Robles is known for it's wine country and a trip down here can be filled with great restaurants and wine tours.
In Paso Robles you can have steak and turkey nuts at F Mc Clintocks Saloon, to fine dining at Artisian Paso Robles a happening American restaurant featuring locally grown, sustainable food operated by brothers Chris and Michael Kobayashi. Chris Kobayashi was recently a semifinalist for Best Chef/Pacific by the James Beard Foundation.(www.ArtisanPasoRobles.com) In regards to the turkey nuts, according to our server, these are fried reproductive organs of the chicken and no I am not Anthony Bourdain, so I did not try them. Sorry!
I asked Michael Kobayashi to name a few of his favorite wineries for my readers, he named, L'Aventure, (www.aventurewine.com), Booker Winery, (www.bookerwines.com) and Linne Calodo, (www.linnecalodo.com).
When staying in Paso Robles you can stay at the historic Paso Robles Inn, a hotel that was established in the late 1800's and in 1906 expanded to a luxury hotel complete with a hot spring bathhouse. Burned in 1940, was rebuilt, and is still in business. Recently Hotel Chevel Hotel opened, giving people luxe service in a boutique setting.
For a day trip, you can take the quick 45 minute drive from Paso Robles to Pismo Beach to view the Pacific Ocean and build sand castles.
Another reason to live in the Bay Area - we are close to dreamy destinations.
