The appeal of Central Coast living lies in the unique opportunity to access all the benefits bigger cities offer without leaving the pristine countryside or losing the charming small-town culture. Paso Robles Inn is a classic example of this felicitous position. Built in 1864 at the center of the booming agricultural town, the inn is bolstered by a rich history of cowboys, outlaws, and missionaries, and—over 100 years later—is still at the heart of the region’s modern industries and developments,

This Central Coast wine country hub (minutes from more than 90 premier wineries) looks out onto the idyllic City Park. Bordered by some of the region’s best restaurants and boutiques, the park is the crux of cultural activity in Paso. Here, a farmer’s market unfolds each week, wine festivals and other exciting community events take place, and visitors can lounge on the grass or partake in games of horseshoe or Frisbee between bouts of shopping, dining, and wine tasting.

The inn’s popular Steakhouse and Lounge and 1940s-diner-style Coffee Shop provide a prime view of these daily happenings. The convenience of proximity, however, is not had at the price of comfort or quiet; the centrally located inn is like the eye of the lively Paso “storm.” A soothing stream trickles through the middle of a lush inner courtyard accessed by winding, Oak and brick-lined paths and bridges, and streams into large, mesmerizing koi ponds at one end, and into the pool area at the other. Both the Deluxe Spa rooms and the newest two-room suites (in the Jesse James Building) offer comfortable, Monterey-style décor with mineral hot spring Jacuzzi tubs on private balconies. The Grand Ballroom and other meeting venues allow for tasteful private parties and, to reconnect with the inn’s early bathhouse roots, they will break ground this fall on the construction of a brand new, 8,000 sq.ft., full-service spa—the final touch for this relaxing and convenient oasis from the comings and goings of the bustling downtown right outside.