How I Have Fun In Paso Robles

Everyone Has a Unique Way of Enjoying Paso Robles

For some people, fun in Paso Robles might be watching the local high school football game. For others, it might be riding horses. Still others might like to roam around downtown and window shop. Some prefer to dine in our local restaurants by City Park, see a movie at Park Cinemas, or go wine tasting almost anywhere in the area.

 

 

 

Others, and I am among them, enjoy attending the various free public festivals at City Park, such as the Lavender Festival, which will be on July 8 in 2017.  I used to love the PasoArtsFest, but it disappeared this year. Keep reading and you will see where art lovers get their art fix now.

 

 

The most important community event for most who call Paso Robles their hometown is Pioneer Day. It celebrates the history of Paso Robles with multiple events. The most popular of these events are the morning parade and the free bean feed in the park. I show you my first experience of Pioneer Day in this article. You will see the parade and the bean feed in as much detail as you choose in photos and videos. You will see horses, vintage farm machinery and vehicles, Mexican dancers, and even a fire engine putting its extended ladder away. Pioneer Day is like a homecoming week for anyone who has lived in Paso Robles and still feels connected to it.

How I Have Fun In Paso Robles

I like exploring the outdoors in Paso Robles and the rest of the North County. I enjoy the beaches, the open spaces, and some of the festivals. I enjoy walking through the vineyards and parks that are all over the county. I always take a camera because I seem to see better when it’s along. I also like to hang out at Studios on the Park and other local art galleries. I like discovering new places and finding interesting things to photograph on my photo walks.

 Dark Star Cellars Winery in Paso Robles, CA Poster

 

 

Here are some of the scenes from my favorite vineyards. I often go through the vineyards looking for something unexpected. Sometimes it’s a bird I’ve never seen before, like this acorn woodpecker I found on a walk through the Zenaida vineyard, one of my favorites. Sometimes I just get photos of the changes in the vines by season. In later posts I will share more about specific vineyards and tasting rooms.

These photos from my photo walks are available on postcards, greeting cards, or posters at Zazzle. Some are also available on other products.

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 Postcard: Santa Fe Train Cars at Pomar Junction Postcard Puzzle: Penman Springs Vineyard in Paso Robles Puzzle Poster: Heart Hill, Paso Robles, in Autumn Poster Oak with Wine Barrels, Doce Robles Postcard

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It’s Fun To Explore Art in Paso Robles

There are several places to enjoy art in and around Paso Robles. We used to have an art festival every year, but there are still other events featuring local artists year round. One of my favorite places is Studios on the Park. The first Saturday night of every month is Art After Dark. That’s  when Studios at the Park is open later than usual.  Because it’s a party, snacks and wine are often available for visitors. Sometimes there is special music at Studios on the Park. They often have artist receptions and opening nights for special exhibits. Here is a sampling of all the things there are to do at Studios on the Park from their website. This photo shows the outside of Studios on the Park during an Art After Dark event. You can see the musicians right behind the window.

 

Below is a video I made at the first artists’ reception exhibit opening I ever attended at Studios on the Park. This happened to be sponsored by the Paso Robles Art Association. See what exhibits are current and coming up on their website.

 

I also used make frequent visits to Heritage Gallery West at 840 13th Street in Paso Robles, but it, too is now gone. Below is an exhibit of the paintings of Sheryl Knight which was on display during one visit.

 

I Can Have Fun in Paso Robles Doing Almost Anything If I Have a Camera in My Hand

I take pictures of my garden, its insects and spiders, and what blooms in each season. I record it all at Barb’s Garden Observations. I walk around my neighborhood, camera in hand, to record what the neighbors are growing and to get landscaping ideas from their yards. I explore the open spaces in my community, such as the Snead/Rambouillet Trail not too far from me. Here’s just one scene from one visit there. You will see many more if you follow the link in the last sentence.

Another place I like to go to have fun in Paso Robles is  Lawrence Moore Park. It’s my neighborhood park, but it has river access. I  especially enjoy seeing the river when it has water in it — pretty rare during the drought.

One of my most exciting days at the river was a day I went to see if it had gotten any water after we’d had a lot of rain. Of course, I had my camera with me. As I was walking the riverbed without finding a channel with flowing water,  I was headed back to the park when all of a sudden, the water started to arrive from the dam in Santa Margarita. I recorded the river beginning to fill in this article, My Search for the River and How it Found Me. It shows photos of the park and the dry riverbed and the video of the water coming toward me. The photo below shows how the river looked in March, 2016. That water is gone now, and once again the riverbed is dry.

I  enjoy documenting local history and events by taking photos. An example is taking pictures when wineries get new owners and change their names and character. I wrote about the transformation of Eagle Castle under new ownership in North San Luis Obispo County’s Other Castle: A Pictorial History. I watched as they built Croad, Niner Estates, Eagle Castle (Now Tooth and Nail) and other wineries. Most wineries on the west side of Paso Robles have been built since I moved to Templeton. When I see something new or something changing, I take my camera and go investigate.

How Do You Have Fun in Paso Robles?

Many of you have lived in the Paso Robles area much longer than I have. What is your favorite way to have fun here? If you’ve never visited this area, I hope you’ve an idea now of something you might want to see or do. I haven’t even scratched the surface. The authors of the books below will suggest even more ways to enjoy Paso Robles and offer you insight as to its history and where to go wine tasting.

 The New Wine Country Cookbook: Recipes from California’s Central Coast Paso Robles, California, 1930-1950: When Highway 101 Ran Through My Hometown A Rite of Paso: Paso Robles Wine Country

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There are as many ways to have fun in Paso Robles as there are people who live or visit there. After reading this post, what do you or would you most like to do here? There’s a place to comment below. Meanwhile, if you enjoyed this post, please use those share buttons below. This last photo was designed for Pinterest.

Hope to see you in Paso Robles soon.