Niner Wine Estates, a family owned and operated labor of love, produces a wide range of highly sought-after vintages while also maintaining a rigorous commitment to environmental sustainability. Visit the tasting room any day of the week between 10 A.M. and 5 P.M. to enjoy the fruits of the season’s latest crop. The expert staff will be happy to help you find the bottle perfectly suited to your tastes as you sit back and marvel at the breathtaking views of Heart Hill Vineyard. You can also enjoy lunch at Niner Wine Estates’ award-winning restaurant, where ingredients are sourced from local farms, orchards, and ranches. If you would like to schedule a tour of the vineyard itself, call ahead to make a reservation. The friendly Niner folks will help you choose from three different tour options to ensure you have the best experience possible.

Address: 2400 CA-46, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Today, the Sunken Gardens park of Atascadero stands as a testament to Lewis’s extraordinary vision and a perennial source of civic pride for the city’s residents. Visitors will enjoy the well-manicured park as they stroll the paths traversing the length and width of the grounds and converging at the stately central fountain designed by renowned San Francisco architect Walter Danforth Bliss. The historic Atascadero City Hall, which is located on the edge of the gardens, is open for tours Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. As another added bonus, on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 P.M., park visitors will also enjoy the weekly farmers market, bringing you the best local, organic produce all summer long.

Address: 6505 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422

The zoo comprises approximately five acres and can be zipped through (on foot, that is) in about an hour if you’re a power walker or enjoyed leisurely over the course of an entire morning or afternoon. With over 200 animals and some 45 unique species, Charles Paddock Zoo features several attractions that make it stand out among zoos of comparable size, including lemurs, meerkats, red pandas, a Malayan tiger, and some furry fossa (don’t worry, we had to look up that last one too). The zoo also prides itself on providing a comfortable experience for both its animals and its many human guests, which includes strollers for your little ones and an array of refreshments and commemorative merchandise available for purchase. Fun for the whole family, the Charles Paddock Zoo is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon connecting with delightful creatures both familiar and exotic.

Address: 9100 Morro Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

Containing the highest concentration of threatened and endangered wildlife in California, the Carrizo Plain stretches for 250,000 acres along the base of the Temblor Mountains, 60 miles east of San Luis Obispo. Its vast grasslands, woodland habitats, and vernal pools sustain 15 of California’s threatened and endangered plants and animals. Here may rest the future of such species as the California jewelflower, San Joaquin kit fox, mountain plover, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, pronghorn antelope and giant kangaroo rat. The Carrizo Plain is also the largest protected habitat along the Pacific Flyway, making it a birder's paradise in winter months. In the spring, Carrizo’s rolling grasslands thrill wildflower enthusiasts with a breathtaking assortment of colorful blooms. The Carrizo Plain National Monument makes for an unforgettable day trip and is a must-see for anyone visiting us in Atascadero, during any time of the year!