"Paso Robles is more of a weekend trip than a day trip - it’s a bit over three hours from LA - but it’s still highly worth visiting for Firestone Walker Brewery. Firestone’s campus takes up an entire street, just off the 101, and you can get some of the best - and first truly great - California craft beer. They’ve got a restaurant on site, too, so take your food and (ideally numerous) beers with you up to Lake Nacimiento, in the northern part of the town. You have to pay $15 to get into the lake’s recreation center, but it’s worth it for the Shoreline Trail, which goes through campgrounds along the lake and has some excellent views. And if you’re there for a weekend, spend the rest of your time drinking at the number Central Coast wineries in the area." - brett keating
