Light at Sensorio

Bruce Munro’s solar-powered light show is 15-acres of jaw-dropping joy in Paso Robles

By Misty Hall

Paso Robles: Land of gently rolling hillsides, dotted with oak trees, and blanketed in vineyards. During the daytime, it is a playground for wine lovers, with more than 200 wineries taking advantage of the many microclimates this topography affords. In the evening, there’s a totally different way to experience this landscape: Sensorio. With well over 100,000 color-changing lights spread across 15 acres of rural hills, this awe-inspiring spectacle has attracted world-wide attention in its four years of existence.

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The Complete Package: Downtown Paso Robles

Explore libations, food, shopping, and adventure — all within just a few blocks

Photos and story by Katherine McMahon

Paso Robles is known as wine country — a place for getaways spent driving through oak groves and rolling hills to visit vineyards. But the heart of Paso, the Downtown area, has an incredible life of its own with enough dining, wine tasting, shopping, and places to stay to make an amazing vacation in itself — all without venturing more than a few blocks.

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Discovering Downtown Paso

By Donna Wolfe

Central California is full of best-kept secret towns. One of our favorites: downtown Paso Robles.

Although the town is officially called El Paso de Robles — “The Pass of the Oaks” in Spanish — locals often refer to it simply as Paso.

The region has historically been known for its thermal baths, wineries, olives, and almonds, in addition to its nearby Spanish Missions (San Miguel, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and San Luis Obispo). Through the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new generation of vineyard pioneers settled and flourished in the surrounding hills, bringing acclaim to the rural community.

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Quilty Pleasures

By Misty Hall

Quilting: it ain’t just granny’s game anymore.

I mean, sure, there are plenty of quilters who happen to be grandmothers. But they are also soccer coaches, motorcycle riders, pre-teens, and scientists. And they are no longer “just” quilters, weavers, or knitters, either — collectively, they are becoming known as fiber and textile artists. And increasingly, these arts are entering the mainstream art world, stretching perceptions, pushing boundaries, and expanding definitions with every stitch.

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Leading Ladies 
Caitlin Pianetta, woman winemaker

By Misty Hall

Winemaking is where art and science meet patience and muscle. I’m sure there’s a fancier way to say that, but Pliny the Elder never hung out in Paso Robles. So picture the shrugging girl emoji, and pour us another glass. While you’re at it, ponder the fact that according to trade association estimates, just 10 percent of winemakers in California are women. In such a progressive state, how is that number so low? Interestingly, that’s not something winemaker Caitlin Pianetta spends much time thinking about.

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The Spirit of the Central Coast: Craft distilling along the 101

By Zachary Rosen

With the rich agriculture and lush landscapes lining U.S. Highway 101, it’s no wonder that the wineries and breweries along the way have become known worldwide. With about 20 craft distilleries dotting the 101 between Camarillo and Paso Robles, there is now a whole new group of craftspeople capturing the spirit of these cities and putting these regions on the craft distilling map. Although distillery tasting rooms are currently limited to only serving 1 1/2 oz per person, always remember that liquor is much stronger than beer or wine. Never drink and drive.

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