A trip to Paso Robles, CA: Biking, Hot Springs, and Beautiful Views!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Update: Mike and I have done a lot more exploring in California after living in Long Beach for a year. I recommend taking a look at our Southern California vacation guide fore more fun things to do.
This weekend, Mike and I drove up from the L.A. area to Paso Robles, California. Paso Robles is a small city in San Luis Obispo County, best known for its’ many vineyards, hot springs, and beautiful scenery. The scenic drive from Los Angeles took about 4 hours.
We booked a night in a suite at La Quinta Inn & Suites. We were seeking something more on the affordable side as we are currently living in the pricey L.A. area. The property and room were both exceptional for a 3 star hotel. If you are looking for an affordable convenient hotel, La Quina is always a good choice. We stay here a lot on roadtrips because they take pets and offer some great amenities.
A quick photo tour around the La Quinta
I highly recommend reserving a suite at La Quinta for your trip to Paso Robles. They have a great wine gift shop, a nice saltwater pool and hot tub, a fantastic hot breakfast buffet, and a complimentary weekday local wine & cheese reception!
During our stay, we took a scenic bike ride, visited a hot springs, received a massage, and dined at an excellent Italian restaurant. Check out each activity in more detail below!
Templeton Bike Ride
Templeton is a small, scenic town located about 15 minutes from Paso Robles. We passed through the town driving in and just had to stop by for a bike ride. The bike ride was quiet and provided great views of the local vineyards!
River Oak Hot Springs and Spa
Paso Robles is well known for its’ hot springs and the healing properties associated with soaking in these mineral enriched waters. We booked an appointment for a Swedish massage at River Oaks followed by a session in the hot springs. The massage was very relaxing. The spa is situated in a relaxing, comfortable building. You can choose an indoor or outdoors hot springs experience before or after your massage. We decided to use it both before and after as we got to our appointment early.
The outdoor tub featured beautiful views of the rolling hill landscape. We enjoyed taking in the healing properties of the springs while enjoying the natural scenery. Hot springs are said to heal a variety of illnesses and alleviate injuries and inflammation in the body. It was definitely a relaxing experience that I wouldn’t mind enjoying again.
Update: We have visited a lot more hot springs since this vacation. Soaking in a mineral springs is like a hot tub but with the bonus of no chlorine and extra healthy minerals. Two great springs I recommend include: Pagosa Springs in Southwestern Colorado and Hot Springs, North Carolina (near Asheville).
Dinner at Distasio’s on the Bay
We took a 40 minute drive for dinner over at a coastal Italian restaurant called Distasio’s on the Bay. This cozy, local restaurant had an excellent location right on the water. The views were simply amazing. The food was fantastic too – I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli, which was a real treat! Mike loved his Chicken Marsala dish. The wait was long, but worth it in the end for the delicious home cooked food!
Address: 781 Market Street Morro Bay, CA 93442
