Editor’s note: This the second part of a two-part series on travel writer Tarmo Hannula’s recent trip to Paso Robles. To see part 1, click here.
On a recent overnight road trip to Atascadero, after exploring the innards of the Salinas Valley, my wife Sarah and I checked into the historic Carlton Hotel in the downtown Atascadero.
Much like nearby Paso Robles, we noticed the downtown area was festooned with wine bars, tasting rooms, microbreweries, wineries, beer gardens and the like. Then add a bunch of cafes, coffee houses and ice cream shops.
Our big night out, by plan, was a dinner in Paso Robles with our longtime friends Brett and Lucia, who live there. They suggested Catch Seafood Bar and Grill, 836 West 11th St. We met them and were lucky to squeeze in for a fine dinner.
The area was abuzz with life and the Downtown City Park across the street was charged with people milling about.
After dinner we walked around the town and wandered into a large art gallery—Studios on the Park—dedicated to scores of artists who stacked the place with everything from neon lighted art to photos, paintings, ceramics, weavings, quilts and on and on.
Our night at The Carlton proved to be a quiet and comfortable spot with ample parking right outside on surrounding streets.
The following morning started at JonnyBoy’s Bagelry & Jewish Delicatessen for bagels and lox, a short walk from The Carlton. We wandered past the Historic Atascadero City Hall which was completed in 1918 before catching Hwy 101 north.
Our drive back to Watsonville took us through endless vineyards, rolling farms and vast stretches of dramatic green pastures and hills punctuated with oak and eucalyptus trees.
On many of our road trips up and down California, we’ve made efforts to visit most of the 21 California Missions. On this trip we stopped by the missions at San Miguel, built in 1797, Mission San Antonio de Padua (1771) and Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (1791).
Just south of San Ardo, we went west off of Hwy 101 on Jolon Road to Mission Road past Fort Hunter Liggett to the majestic San Antonio de Padua. Adding to the drama were the snow-dusted Santa Lucia Mountains as a backdrop. The historic displays inside the building, the chapel, the outdoor “kitchen” and remains of crumbling outbuildings painted a rich picture of life 255 years ago.
Years ago we stayed at a hotel, The Hacienda, on the grounds of Fort Hunter Liggett. Our room was called The Cowboy Room. There was even a bowling alley nearby and a restaurant. Now, on this trip, when we approached the fort, we were met by two soldiers armed with assault rifles at the sentry booth. Their tone was serious and plainly unwelcoming. So, of course, we left.
Again, taking as many backroads as possible, we passed King City and Greenfield and got on San Ardo Road to the mission at Soledad. The cactus, the tile roof, aged walls, surrounding flowers and wild birds put a colorful cap on our short journey.
