I’ve taken quite a few road trips throughout California and I’ll have to say, one of my favorites was a recent trip we took to Paso Robles. This small quaint town in Central California honestly surprised me. The Paso Robles wineries, hotels and restaurants all exceeded my expectations and then some.

I grew up in Central California about 2 hours west of Paso Robles and I have no idea how I had never made the trip to come check it out. Now living in San Diego, the drive is quite a bit longer clocking in at about 5 hours. However, the drive is totally worth it and I’ll explain below why your next California road trip should be to Paso Robles! 

Paso Robles Hotels and Accommodations

Stables Inn

Our first hotel stay in Paso Robles was the Stables Inn. We were arriving a night before the rest of our group where we would stay in an Airbnb the rest of the weekend, so we just needed a bed to sleep in for the night. Additional points if it’s cute! Spoiler alert, Stables Inn is SO cute!

The Stables Inn in Paso Robles is a charming western chic Inn ideally located just a couple short blocks from downtown Paso Robles. Walking to all the delicious restaurants, wine tasting rooms and antique shops took no longer than 10 minutes.

The small Inn has only 19 rooms that have been recently renovated to embody very chic horse stables. I think this is such a great idea! I have a feeling remodeling small motels into cute themed bed and breakfasts is going to become a trend. I’m definitely here for it!

The fire pit in the middle of the parking area was probably one of my favorite parts of this hotel. The fire pit was warm with plenty of chairs surrounding it and a little nook of wine glasses for your use. This was a perfect spot to enjoy wine purchases from the surrounding wineries.

The foyer was also really warm and welcoming with a stove fire place and some comfy chairs to hang out in. In the morning they have some pastries and coffee that you can help yourself to. They even have a Nespresso machine! 

I highly recommend the Stables Inn for a more casual hotel accommodation in downtown Paso Robles. I wish we could have stayed more than one night but that just means we will have to come back!

Airbnb

Once the rest of our party arrived, we packed up the car and headed to the cutest Paso Robles Airbnb! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures but this Airbnb is perfect for larger groups traveling together.

This Airbnb is located in the middle of a vineyard which makes for a picture-perfect location. There were 9 of us in our group plus 2 babies and there was more than enough room for everyone. There were 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and the master bedroom was HUGE. It was probably the size of my apartment haha. 

This location also had a pool, jacuzzi, firepit and even a chicken coop! The owners live right up a small hill behind the property so if you need anything, they are there to help immediately.

This was such a good find and I would definitely stay here again next time I plan a trip to Paso Robles with a group of friends or family.

Allegretto Vineyard Resort

Before we chose the Stables Inn, I had a list of perspective hotels I wanted to stay at. At the top of my list was Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Talk about a European getaway in California! The pictures of the resort look incredible.

You’re surrounded by vineyards and gardens; the pool looks so serene and relaxing and the spa looks top notch! This resort is definitely on my bucket list to stay at in the future.

Paso Robles Wineries

HammerSky Vineyards

The first of the two wineries we visited while in Paso Robles was HammerSky Vineyards. HammerSky is a large beautiful property dating back to 1904 although, the vineyards weren’t planted until 1997. In 2007, the property was purchased and became what it is today, a working winery with a small bed and breakfast called the Farmhouse Inn.

HammerSky Vineyards is dog friendly and even has cornhole! This makes it a fun little hangout for some winetasting and soaking in the beautiful scenery. I highly recommend for a more casual and laid back wine tasting experience.

Jada Vineyards

The second winery we visited in Paso Robles was Jada Vineyards. When it comes to the actual taste of the wine, Jada wins this trip. However, I did prefer the layout of HammerSky vineyards more as there was more space to spread out and enjoy yourself.

Located in Paso Roble’s “Grand Cru,” Jada Vineyards has developed award winning Syrahs and Cabernet Sauvignons in 2017, 2018 and 2019. We actually ended up buying a bottle of their 2016 Jack John since we loved it so much during the tasting. It is a red blend consisting of 56% Grenache, 23% Syrah and 21% Mourvedre. 

I highly recommend this Paso Robles winery for some incredibly tasting red wines and a very educational tasting. We seriously learned a lot at this tasting. Oh, and you can also purchase the cheese pairing to go with your wine tasting which was 100% worth it!

Paso Robles Winery Wish List:

Justin Wine

We all know Justin Vineyards as we see their wines at every grocery store we go to. I already know I like their wines but I really want to go to their Paso Robles winery to dine at their restaurant! The views and food look incredible!

Dauo Vineyards

Dauo Vineyards is definitely on my list for our next Paso Robles wine tasting adventure. I’ve never tried their wine, however, when I was researching Paso Robles wineries, Daou consistently popped up in all the travel guides I read. The outdoor tasting area looks beautiful and I’m really looking forward to giving it a try next time we’re in town.

Downtown Paso Robles Tasting Rooms

If you’re staying more in the downtown area of Paso Robles or can’t get a reservation at your preferred winery, there are some options for tasting rooms there as well. There’s even a Justin Winery tasting room!

After dinner one night, we wandered over to Indigene Cellars tasting room and did a tasting and had a great time. The owner, Raymond Smith is super friendly and has a very interesting story. I highly recommend this tasting room in downtown Paso Robles for some good wines and good conversation.

Paso Robles Restaurants

The Alchemists’ Garden

“Alchemy – a power or process of transforming something common into something special.” The Alchemists’ Garden definitely did not deliver anything short of spectacular.

The menus here are well thought out, unique and most importantly, really dang tasty! I wish we could have tried everything but alas, our stomachs are only so big. 

I highly recommend everything we ordered but my personal favorites were the bone marrow and the duck chalupa. Yes, you read that right. There’s a chalupa on the menu. It’s simply divine. 

I was honestly surprised Paso Robles had such a unique restaurant. This actually wasn’t the only one, Paso Robles’ food scene is popping! There are so many other restaurants I want to try next time we’re in the area.

Recommendations:

Croquettes of the Day (ours were sweet potato).

Cast Iron Fondue – melted mozzarella and raclette, soyrizo, cilantro, pepitas and crispy potato dippers.

Bone Marrow – Harris Ranch rosemary brined bone, cherry onion jam, chocolate and smoked sea salt.

Duck Chalupa – crispy pita, melted cheese, spicy slaw, sour cream, fresh herbs and duck carnitas.

Coffee Rubbed Skirt Steak – root vegetable smash, chimichurri and sweet potato threads.

Confetti Tiny Cake – vanilla cream cheese frosting and raspberry sorbet.

Bruleed Banana Split – salted caramel sauce, chocolate, peanut butter mousse, hazelnut ice cream and luxardo cherries.

Brunch

I’m all about restaurants having a specialty and Brunch does Brunch right! They have all your favorite dishes, definitely more breakfast-forward (which I prefer for brunch), made with local ingredients in a bright and airy atmosphere.

I highly recommend this restaurant for Brunch if you’re ever in the Paso Robles area!

Recommendations:

California Eggs Benedict – house made hollandaise and roasted potatoes.

Monte Cristo – French ham, turkey, Havarti, cheddar cheese, potato bread, bacon raspberry jam and potatoes.

Mimosa Flight – orange juice, guave juice, pineapple juice and strawberry lemonade.

Paso Market Walk

Paso Market Walk is a small market in downtown Paso Robles with several restaurants to choose from. I really like this concept as you can go with a group and everyone can get something from a different restaurant if you want. No need to try and figure out what you’re all craving when you can just walk into the market and have everything you need!

We tried the Momotaro Ramen which is probably one of the best ramens I’ve ever had. We also got a burger from Third Degree Grill which was delicious and then we finished it off with some cookies from Just Baked. Oh, and don’t forget to get a bottle of wine from The Wine Merchant!

Paso Robles Restaurant Wish List:

Fish Gaucho

I hear everyone rave about Fish Gaucho in downtown Paso Robles. I’m definitely headed here next time for some yummy Mexican food and margaritas! You know, when you need a small break from all the wine.

Les Petites Canailles

Are you as shocked as I am to find a French restaurant in central California?? Les Petites Canailles is definitely on my list for our next trip to Paso Robles. French farm-to-table bistro? Yes please!

Other Things to do in Paso Robles

Antique Shopping

Like a lot of other small towns in Central California, there are some great antique shopping possibilities. We stopped in at the Great American Antiques Mall and I was blown away at all the antiques they had. It was huge! Anything you can think of was in here and it was fun to walk around and look at all the goodies.

Sensorio Lights

Unfortunately, this beautiful light display was not open while we were in town. Good news is, they’re re-opening April 15^th! You have until September 30, 2021 to go and see this magnificent field of lights. I really want to go see it so hopefully we can sneak a trip in before the end of September!

As I mentioned before, I was quite surprised how much fun I had during our road trip to Paso. I never knew central California to be much fun, but Paso Robles is definitely making a name for itself! I’ll definitely be back to try more wineries and restaurants. 

Tell me, if you’ve ever been to Paso what was your favorite thing you did? I’m always looking for ideas to add to my list for next time!

Thank you for reading!

Related Posts:

San Diego to Carmel: A California Coast Road Trip

Weekend Road Trip to Paso Robles, California

The post Paso Robles: A California Road Trip appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

One of the main attractions for visitors planning a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is the beaches. The promise of sunshine, warm waters and a margarita or beer in hand. You’ll most likely find this at your resort or at least a short walk from your accommodation, but what if I told you there was something better? Something more secluded and quiet away from the crowded beaches and persistent beach vendors. Take your vacation to another level with a day trip to one of the 3 best hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta.

What makes these beaches so special is that they are only accessibly by boat. There aren’t any roads leading to these beaches from Puerto Vallarta so because of this, there are less tourists and everything is locally run. You’re bound to get the most authentic Mexican beach town experience!

I recently wrote a post about what it’s like traveling to Puerto Vallarta during the COVID-19 pandemic where I go over the current safety precautions being taken at the airport, resorts, restaurants and downtown Puerto Vallarta. I also wrote a similar post about my experience traveling to Cabo San Lucas during the same time so you can compare the two. Check it out!

How to Get There

The best way to get to all three of these beaches is by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan. Boca de Tomatlan is a pretty quick taxi ride from Puerto Vallarta. The taxis start departing for Yelapa, the beach furthest away, as early as 8am making stops along the way at the other beaches. The boats usually depart in 30 minute increments from Boca de Tomatlan. The current schedule is easily found after a quick google search as it changes time to time especially during COVID.

There’s no need for piers here as the taxis take you right up to the beach and help you off. Want to leave and head to another beach or back to Puerto Vallarta? Just wave down a taxi and they’ll take you wherever you need to go.

Pricing for water taxis from Boca de Tomatlan start at 220 pesos per person one-way and 380 pesos per person round-trip. Make sure to take note of their last taxi leaving Yelapa because if you miss it, you’re stuck on the beach for the night. Don’t worry, there are small hotels in town if that nightmare of a situation happens to you.

1. Yelapa

The first and most popular of the hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta is the small fishing village of Yelapa. Located about 30-40 minutes south of PV by boat, Yelapa is situated in a small cove surrounded by the lush green jungle of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The long strip of beach has a few locally owned restaurants where you’ll find freshly caught seafood and ice-cold drinks. Each restaurant has beach chairs set up where you can still get service while relaxing in the sunshine. We stopped in at Fanny’s for a couple of drinks and a break from the sun before heading off to the next beach!

What to do in Yelapa

If you’re spending the day at Yelapa and are looking for more to do, you can take a short walk into town. Yelapa has only about 1,500 residents and boasts a picturesque quaint village that you can walk through and shop for authentic handmade items. If you want to stay on the beach there are kayaks for rent, snorkeling, swimming and parasailing. There’s even horseback riding. Well, they’re actually donkeys but it looks like a pretty popular activity.

And for the best part, if you’re up for about a 20-minute hike, there’s a hidden waterfall called The Cola de Caballo! Although I did hear it can get pretty crowded on the weekends so it would probably be best to get there in the morning to avoid crowds as the swimming hole is quite small.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the “Pie Ladies.” Some of the women in town are well known for their homemade pies ranging from coconut to cheesecake. They walk around the beach offering slices for sale in order to help their families earn more income. I’ve heard the pies are delicious but it kind of freaked me out that they weren’t refrigerated or at least kept in a cooler while they walked around. We politely declined.

2. Majahuitas Beach (My favorite of the 3 hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta)

Out of the three beaches I visited while in Puerto Vallarta, Majahuitas Beach was my personal favorite. We had originally planned on just visiting Yelapa and Las Animas but the boat captain recommended a stop here for a swim. I’m so glad we took his advice. We didn’t make it on the beach for sake of time but we anchored a little way off for a swim and to ride the jetski for a bit as this cove isn’t as crowded as the other two.

As soon as I jumped in the water and took in the scenery around me, I found myself in awe profusely thanking the crew for taking us to this beach. The contrast between the lush green jungle and the crystal-clear blue ocean is incredible and needs to be seen in person to fully grasp its beauty. 

I honestly felt like I was on a deserted tropical island. It’s the smallest of the three beaches and looked to be the emptiest. Like Yelapa, this beach is perfect for swimming and kayaking. There’s also a reef in this cove so the snorkeling is quite good! Next time I’m in Puerto Vallarta, I’m definitely coming back to spend a full day here. It truly is that beautiful.

A new beach club called Majahuitas Beach Club actually just opened at the end of last year that looks amazing! Besides having reservations at this beach club, I don’t think there’s another way to get food on this beach. So if you’re hanging out and get hungry, I would recommend flagging down a water taxi and head to Yelapa or Las Animas for a delicious seafood meal.

3. Las Animas

This beach is the closest to Boca de Tomatlan and is usually the first stop the water taxis make on their way to Yelapa. It’s only about a 5-10 minute boat ride so this makes it a pretty popular hangout spot. This was our final stop on our beach tour and unfortunately, I might have had one too many margaritas at Yelapa because I completely forgot to take photos of our arrival. I just seem to have some terrible quality videos haha. But what I did get was some photos of our very delicious lunch at Los Conos Restaurant Bar which had a nice upper deck that overlooked the ocean. Like Yelapa, the fresh seafood here is amazing! It literally came off the fishing boat earlier that day so no matter what you order, you know it’s going to be fresh and really dang good. 

Since we arrived later in the day, people were starting to pack up to catch the last of the water taxis back to Puerto Vallarta. You could definitely tell a good time was had by all by the looks of empty drink glasses, sun kissed faces and big smiles. It was definitely the liveliest of the three beaches. As for activities, they’re similar to the other beaches. There’s swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and even banana boats! Those things honestly terrify me. 

If you’re more of the adventure type, you can actually hike to Las Animas from Boca de Tomatlan. I’ve heard the route is pretty safe and well labeled by locals. I’m sure the views from the hike of the ocean are stunning. However, I’m not entirely that adventurous (unless we had a guide) so I’ll stick with the quick boat ride to get to this beach.

Puerto Vallarta Hidden Beach Tours

If you don’t feel comfortable tackling these beaches and water taxis alone, there’s a tour company called Vallarta Adventures that does a Yelapa and Majahuitas Tour. They offer snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking in Majahuitas Cove and Yelapa. They also allow you to hike to the Cola de Caballo waterfalls in Yelapa. There’s also a deli-style lunch prepared and an open bar on board. Check out their website for their current rates!

We decided to use a private charter for our trip to these beaches as we wanted a more tailored experience and didn’t want to be crammed on a big tour boat. We used PV by Sea Tours for our private charter. While it is pretty pricey, it was worth it to have our own boat and explore the beaches at our own pace. Memo and the boat crew with PV by Sea Tours were awesome and were very accommodating. I highly recommend them!

Welp, there you have it, my top three hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta! Like I mentioned above, Majahuitas Beach was my personal favorite with Yelapa coming in close second in terms of seclusion. As for food, Memo and crew all agreed Los Conos Restaurant at Las Animas has the best seafood.

I hope this post was helpful and gave you a good idea of what to expect from these beaches. Have you been to Puerto Vallarta before and made it to one of these hidden beaches? Which one did you go to and which one is your favorite?

Related Posts

Traveling to Puerto Vallarta During the Pandemic

Where to Eat in Puerto Vallarta

The St Regis Punta Mita Resort Review

Puerto Vallarta Hidden Beaches

The post 3 Best Hidden Beaches in Puerto Vallarta appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

My boyfriend and I decided to take an end of summer trip from one beautiful beach to several others because when you live in Southern California and are dating a surfer, you do as such. I’m definitely not complaining. We started out in Carlsbad and made our way north, ending our trip in the picturesque town of Carmel By the Sea.

We took four days on this trip. Obviously, I wish we could have gone longer, but if you just have a long weekend to take a trip, it’s definitely doable.

Day 1: San Diego to Santa Barbara

Now, to do a road trip the right way, you have to take the 101. There’s no if ands or buts about it. Some of the most stunning views are the stretch from Ventura to Santa Barbara so make sure you have your camera ready! I however, did not. I was too busy starving because I forgot car snacks. Don’t ever forget car snacks.

• Check the surf at Rincon. Like I mentioned before, if you date a surfer, you do as such. Rincon is known for waves that seem like they never end which makes it a popular location for many professional surfers. Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot one!

• Lunch at Pickles & Swiss. This little deli made Yelp’s Top 100 so I knew we just had to try this gem! Our sandwiches were quite delicious! What stood out the most to me was that their bacon was actually CRISPY! Nothing worse than getting a sandwich with bacon and it’s sad and precooked from SYSCO.
• Check in to The Harbor House Inn. This little Inn is so cute! All the rooms are decorated differently and you can actually see pictures of your particular room on their website before booking!
• Take advantage of the free bikes offered at The Harbor House Inn and take a cruise along the boardwalk. Just don’t ride it on the pier, you’ll get yelled at…

• Dinner at Santo Mezcal. I LOVE Mezcal and I LOVE Mexican food, so this was a match made in heaven for me. Their shrimp empanadas are amazing and their Mezcal Shrimp was delicious! If you’re looking for something a bit more casual, they have a sister restaurant called Los Agaves which has some similar menu items.

• Explore State Street! If you’re looking for a more casual sports bar, try The Neighborhood. They even have beer pong in the back room. If you’re looking for something a little more unique, try Test Pilot. They have a menu of fun drinks, Tiki Bar style!

Day 2 Santa Barbara to Solvang

Solvang was just a quick 45 minute drive north of Santa Barbara. We took the Chumash Highway to get a little change of scenery and drive through the beautiful foothills.

• Lunch at The Succulent Café. Their cheese and meat board was AMAZING. That, and a glass of local Pinot Noir, I was one happy girl.

• Walk the streets of Solvang! The buildings are so cute, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Switzerland.

• Wine tasting at SevTap. Thanks to The Blonde Abroad, we decided to check out this cute tasting room. The owner was really nice and accommodating. He played a little bit of Spice Girls, JT and Britney while we tasted his red selection. If you name one of your wines after a popular Spice Girls song, I automatically like you.

• Check out the ever popular Mortensen’s Danish Bakery and get some goodies for your drive to Carmel By The Sea!

Day 2 Solvang to Carmel By The Sea

Next stop is Carmel By The Sea. The land of picturesque homes and fine dining!

• Check in to The Carmel Village Inn. This little Inn is at the very beginning of Ocean Ave (the main drag) so it was an ideal location! This property has actually been taken over by Plump Jack and will be undergoing renovations this year. I’m already excited to go check it out once they’re complete. Plump Jack is known for their boutique hotels and delicious wines!

• Dinner at La Bicyclette. This restaurant was a gem! We shared a salad and one of their infamous wood-fired pizzas. We ordered the mushroom pizza and decided to add pepperoni. We were hesitant to do something we would normally do at our local pizza joint at a fine dining establishment but our wonderful waiter overheard our discussion and confessed he does the same thing so we knew we were golden!

• Walk off dinner with a walk down to the ocean. Our waiter recommended we take Seventh St down to the ocean rather than Ocean Ave for more to see. And let me tell you, the houses here are so cute. I felt like they were all occupied by fairies, actually I know they are, how else can they be so green and have so many gorgeous flowers blooming?

• Listen to some live music at La Balema. If this is Carmel’s idea of a divebar, then I’m at a loss for words what to call them back home. They had a banjo player playing and he had the crowd rocking! Oh and guess what? They had a mezcal drink! The Mexican Mattress. Get it. That is all.

Day 3 Carmel By The Sea to Monterey

You just can’t go all the way to Carmel and not drive the 15 minutes to The Monterey Bay Aquarium.

• Explore the beautiful Monterey Bay Aquarium. Tip: Bring your student ID if you for some reason kept it like I have, and get $10 off admission! Make sure you’re there for all the feedings. Those were my favorite to watch and the commentators gave some really interesting facts.

• Lunch at the legendary 19^th Hole at Pebble Beach! Sit down and get yourself a huge burger and a pint of their local draft and you’ll be the happiest little clam. There’s also a restaurant downstairs that overlooks the course that looked beautiful but we opted for a more traditional clubhouse meal.
• Check out the 18^th green! No wonder this is the #1 public golf course in the world, this place is what golf dreams are made of. Next time I have $500 to spare, I’m coming back and playing.

• 17-mile drive. Looking for more of the classic northern coast views? Look no further, on this drive you’ll get all the views you’ve ever dreamed of. We didn’t do the whole drive, for lack of time, but we went a few miles in and then turned back around to head back to Carmel. I can only imagine what this drive would look like on a sunny day. I’d imagine pretty dang dreamy.

• Head back to Carmel and if you’re able to fight off the mid-day nap, head out to a couple of the wine tasting rooms around Carmel. We stopped at a couple but Scheid Vineyards was my favorite.

• Dinner at Little Napoli. Holy moly guys. Best Italian food I’ve had in a while! Their infamous garlic bread was top notch as well as their veal scapolini. Pair that with a couple glasses of Super Tuscan and you’ll be on cloud nine.

Day 4 Carmel By The Sea to Carlsbad

• We woke up early, packed up, had some complimentary breakfast at the hotel and headed off for one last lap around Carmel Village before we headed home. Make sure to walk down a few hidden alleyways, you’ll never know what you’ll find at the end! And if you’re an art lover, there’s tons of art galleries to roam around as well.

• Lunch at High Street Market and Deli in San Luis Obispo. Ok, hands down best damn sandwich I’ve ever had. I got the Dutch Punch and heyoooo I’ll never be able to enjoy a regular sandwich ever again.
• Check surf at Rincon, because as you do.
• Check surf at C Street in Ventura because you’re desperate to find a good wave. California isn’t known for having that great of surf in the summer. Poor guy, he really tried this trip. Bless him.
• Drive into Carlsbad and go straight to your favorite poke bowl spot, PokeWan, get your order to-go, go home and reminisce on your fabulous 3-day weekend!

Hope you enjoyed reading about my 3-day coast trip as much as I enjoyed living it! Please let me know if you give this a try or if you’ve done something similar. Always looking for a new way to explore the California’s coast!

The post San Diego to Carmel A California Coast Road Trip appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.