Many people we meet on our travels tell us that a trip down the coastal highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles is on their bucket list. Do it, and you too will sing the praises of the beautiful California coastline.

The only drawback to traveling by car along California’s scenic Route 1 is that it takes a few hours longer than faster alternatives. Of course, enjoy the coastal route at least once in your life.

Consider this to improve the ride.

We frequently drive the 450 miles to Los Angeles from our home near San Francisco to visit friends and attend travel conferences. We recently made the trip to catch a direct flight on Turkish to Istanbul.

On this occasion, we left a day earlier, which allowed us to enjoy the natural beauty of the vast Pacific and ocean environment.

deviations on the way

We stopped for a late breakfast at the Monterey Pier, took a slow drive through Tony Carmel, and took in the magnificence of Big Sur.

We didn’t on this trip, but we also enjoyed an occasional visit to San Simeon and Hearst Castle to marvel at how William Randolph Hearst and his friends in the early 20th century lived the good life in California. Touring the Castle is like reliving scenes from “Citizen Kane.”

When we had driven some 250 miles to our destination, we stopped for dinner and a good night’s sleep at one of several elegant lodges located about halfway through our journey.

On this particular occasion, we went off the road to visit the quaint town of Paso Robles and the famous Paso Robles Inn.

special attractions

The Paso Robles Inn was built in 1864 to take advantage of the city’s artesian mineral springs. Since its inception, travelers have stopped and immersed themselves in what many believe to be therapeutic and magically healing waters.

Jesse James bathed here

One such believer was the infamous outlaw Jesse James. Jesse had been shot in the lung and was in great pain. Seeking relief with mineral baths, he boarded a steamboat and sailed around the Horn to San Francisco. He then took a stagecoach to a ranch near Paso Robles, where he sought and received shelter from an uncle.

According to local folklore, Jesse was taken to the mineral baths twice a week until he recovered from his injury.

He left the area in the summer of 1869.

Hotel with a hundred chimneys

The original hotel building was replaced in 1891. The new inn was much larger and made entirely of brick with a fireplace in every room. The hotel was thought to be fireproof. From the late 1800’s onwards, the Paso Robles Inn became a world famous spa.

sports history

Through the years, sports teams and personalities have made the Inn their home for a time. Heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey was a regular at the hotel. The San Francisco Seals, Chicago White Sox, and Pittsburg Pirates all made Paso Robles their spring training camp at one point or another.

Due to its famous spring dwellers, Paso Robles built one of the best baseball fields in the country. The mineral springs and the diamond ball apparently paid off for the Pirates. They won the World Series in 1925.

The end of an era

The magnificent El Paso de Robles Hot Springs Hotel burned to the ground in December 1940. Only the bathhouse and dining room wing were spared destruction.

A new beginning

Investors wasted no time making plans to replace the destroyed hotel, and in 1942, the current Paso Robles Inn was unveiled to the public. With its unusual center field theme, it was an immediate hit.

Over the years, hot springs have gone from being very popular to not so popular. In the 1990s, there was a resurgence in interest in hot springs therapy, and in 1999, the owners of the Paso Robles Inn re-drilled the famous hot springs well to the great satisfaction of their guests.

Today, 30 of the hotel’s 100 rooms feature private hot tubs fed by the famous mineral springs, a truly unique feature, not available at other local lodgings.

tranquil wine country

One of our greatest pleasures is writing about historic inns and B&Bs. They are generally quiet places, and after a long day on the road, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

This inn is also a member of Historic Hotels of America, and that automatically puts it high on our list of places to stay.

The hotel is located right in the heart of Paso Robles, and right across from the city park.

walk by the city

Surrounding the city park are a number of specialty, antique, and local food restaurants and boutiques. There are plenty of places to sample some tasty cheese alongside your favorite vintage, pick up a bottle of locally produced olive oil, or a souvenir from the wine country for the dog sitter at home.

pet friendly

That reminds us: As of May 2012, the Paso Robles Inn is pet friendly. They have dedicated rooms for people who like to travel with their four-legged friends. So next time, call ahead and plan to bring Rover or Daisy.

tired and hungry

We finished our tour of the city and decided it was time for a libation. We got back to the hotel and luckily it was happy hour.

The Cattlemen’s Lounge on the second floor was packed with friendly people. We took a relaxing end of the day and sat at a small table on the open air balcony off the lounge to enjoy the night air and the view of the city park.

It was a perfect evening and a great spot for a light dinner, so we ordered a couple of the Cattlemen’s famous burgers and fries. we were not disappointed.

The next day

We continue to explore the hotel grounds and discover the soothing murmur of the creek and the Koi pond that is guarded by old oak trees in the central garden of the hotel.

perfect wedding venue

With its sprawling grounds, the Paso Robles Inn is the ideal setting for a wine country wedding. The former Grand Ballroom has been completely restored and is the perfect place for a meeting.

chef’s garden

During our walk, we ran into Chef Kevin Fryburger of Paso Robles Steakhouse inspecting his on-site produce and herb garden. He can’t get fresher tomatoes, zucchini, basil and other seasonal ingredients than when he hand picks them from the garden behind his kitchen! We were impressed.

wine routes

There are about 200 wineries in this region. We didn’t have time to enjoy a wine tour during our visit, but a fellow guest raved about what the inn provided through a wine package that includes accommodations for two, a guided tour of up to six wineries, and a memorable picnic. . Lunch in a picturesque setting of the wine country.

other treats

Each room has free Wi-Fi, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, and specialty toiletries.

The freshwater pool and spa are heated and there is ample free street parking.

For golfers, check out the four championship-level golf courses that are within ten miles of the inn.

delicious breakfasts

Our last breakfast at the Inn was another culinary delight. After drinking most of a huge pot of coffee, we were ready to continue our journey to South Los Angeles.

Resume

Our visit to the Paso Robles Inn was a pleasant break on the long but beautiful drive from San Francisco. Due to our night in Paso Robles, we were in great shape when we arrived at our destination in Los Angeles. This is a relaxing way to tour the California coast and we highly recommend it.

If you go

The Paso Robles Inn is just off US 101 at Exit 230. From State Route 1 it is about 25 miles to the hotel. Take State Highway 46E from Route 1S to US 101N. You can Google “Paso Robles Inn” for more information.

Happy travels!