T in Transit III: California’s Central Coast

I enjoy summers in California. Whether I am eating through the Bay Area’s impressive array of restaurants, visiting the vineyards of wine country or the mountains of Lake Tahoe, or lying on a sun-warmed beach in Malibu.

---

This summer, I travel from Oakland to the Central Coast, a part of California populated by vineyards and lush fruit farms. Handmade signs on the highway invite buyers to stop at sprawling avocado orchards and strawberry farms. Undulating hills and green grass plains stretch far past what my eyes can see and make for a picturesque scene. 

We make stops in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles–two quaint towns with panoramic mountainscape views. Unlike Oakland, where summer temperatures peak in September, the Central Coast is sun-soaked and warm in July.

During the day, we take advantage of the weather to spend time outside. We stroll to and from restaurants where we eat tasty meals on breezy umbrella-covered patios and drink pours of red, white, and rosé wine grown on the verdant vineyards of the central coast.

At night, we enjoy intimate dinners and the peaceful quiet that settles over a place where nearly everything closes at 11pm. Two days pass in a romantic haze, and I feel unhurried. Like we can take our time being alone together in this beautiful place.

---

I have visited the Central Coast four times now, each time by car from Oakland, and I intend to keep coming back. The 4-hr drive is worth it. 

---

Good to Know:

My favorite restaurants

San Luis Obispo (SLO): Novo, Ox and Anchor, Bon Temps 

Paso Robles: La Cosecha, Fish Gaucho

Atascadero, ~20 mins away from Paso Robles: The Nest

My favorite bars and wineries

1122 Speakeasy 

DAOU Vineyards 

Tablas Creek 

Where we stayed:

San Luis Obispo: Hotel SLO

Paso Robles: https://abnb.me/lJuvlZas0vb

It’s good to make reservations at least 24-48hrs in advance (especially for the Speakeasy) as restaurants get booked out quickly. 

To read more stories from the Central Coast, you can click here.

“T in Transit” is an 8-part series featuring stories from some countries I enjoyed visiting this year. Click the “follow” button to subscribe to this blog and receive part IV as soon as I hit publish.

As always, thank you for reading!

---

Same footprints, Different sands