Lavender, Vineyards, and Little Feet

Our family weekend in Paso Robles — where small-town coffee, lavender farms, and coastal wineries meet.

☕ Quick Sip Summary

• Sip your way through Paso Robles, where craft coffee meets vineyard country.
• From a perfect triple-shot cappuccino to lavender fields and seaside tastings, this family trip offered a fresh blend of flavor and calm.
• Get inspired to plan your own coffee-fueled escape through California’s Central Coast.

Paso Robles has always held a certain nostalgia for me. My husband and I visited a few years back as newlyweds, sipping wine and wandering through its small-town streets without much of an itinerary. This time was different — our first big trip as a family with our baby, Courtland, in tow. Packing felt like a small victory (three suitcases for three days!), and traveling with a little one brought both chaos and sweetness in equal measure.

Still, there’s something grounding about this part of California. Between the lavender farms, mushroom growers, and the deep hum of the coffee scene, it felt like the perfect place to rediscover slow travel. Our stay at the new Cambria Hotel Templeton–Paso Robles gave us a relaxed home base close to everything — from seaside wine tastings to small-town cafés pouring some of the best cups I’ve had all year.

Lavender and Learning: Fields of Regenerative Magic

Even off-season, Hambly Lavender Farm smelled like summer. Rows of soft purple blooms and the earthy hum of the farm filled the air with a kind of calm that instantly reset my pace. I was fascinated by the regenerative practices: pups, pigs, goats, and chickens all tending the soil in ways that make the land thrive.

In the summer, visitors can bring wine and enjoy live music in the blooming fields — a dreamy concept I’m already plotting for the future. Walking through those rows reminded me how care beneath the surface shapes everything above it — much like a perfectly crafted cup of coffee.

If you’re interested in a lavender-inspired coffee recipe, I have an iced honey lavender oat milk coffee recipe you can find here.

Morning Fuel & Mushroom Moments

Paso mornings have their own rhythm — part caffeine, part calm. We started simple with the hotel coffee, bold and reliable for that first wake-up. Later, I found my favorite at H. Cheval Coffee, where a triple-shot cappuccino became an instant go-to. Down the coast in Harmony, Morii – Craft Coffee for Community lived up to its name: every cup was deliberate, balanced, and bright.

We ventured into San Luis Obispo for a few more sips. At Lokum, a Turkish café with jewel-toned desserts, my husband loved a pistachio Turkish coffee while I appreciated that mine wasn’t overly sweet. And although we’d tried Scout in SLO before, this visit’s house-made almond milk was worth the detour — smooth, nutty, and perfectly paired with an afternoon stroll through SLO’s small-town streets.

Back in Paso, the most surprising brew came from Mighty Cap Mushrooms. I’d stopped in out of curiosity and learned that in any mushroom-labeled coffee, the fruiting body — the actual cap and stem — holds most of the beneficial compounds, not the filler mycelium many brands rely on.

I brought a canister home, and it’s been decent compared to others I’ve tried — earthy, a little toasty, and grounding in a way that feels true to the region itself. Every cup now carries a memory of that visit: the scent of soil and lavender, the hum of slow farming, and the quiet lesson that even morning rituals can root you to a place.

Note: If I had to choose one coffee shop in this area, it’s Morii. This hidden gem in Harmony (Population: 18) was 100% worth the extra stop for its true craft coffee with single origin offerings.

Sips by the Sea: Wine and Wildlife

Wine tasting with a toddler might sound impossible, but Ancient Peaks charmed me with its Cabernet Pearl Collection — hands-down my favorite of the weekend. We sampled chardonnay and Suave Blanc as well, but the cab earned a permanent spot on my shelf.

Hearst Ranch Winery’s San Simeon tasting room was unforgettable too — sipping wine by the water was pure bliss. And the seaside meal there? Mushroom toast, ceviche nachos, and salmon cakes that somehow balanced freshness and indulgence. Even with a tiny human at the table, the experience was unforgettable.

We also stumbled upon a herd of elephant seals lounging at Piedras Blancas — surreal, natural theater.

Family Adventures and Tiny Feet

Packing for three days with Courtland was a masterclass in overthinking: three suitcases, countless snacks, and a mind constantly running through what might be needed. We didn’t get everything right, but we survived — and learned that travel with a toddler is always more improvisation than perfection.

Hearst Castle presented a new challenge: an hour-long tour at the top of a mountain. Somehow, Courtland handled it beautifully, curious and quietly observant, while we marveled at the scale and detail around us. The Neptune Pool was a sight to be seen as well as the stunning views from the mountain top.

Dinner Highlights: Brussels and Beyond

Brussels sprouts enthusiasts unite: TASTE! Craft Eatery delivered five stellar variations, and the Savory Sprouts featuring sautéed mushrooms and blue cheese earned a solid 8–8.5/10 in my book. My husband and I judge sprout quality wherever we go, and these did not disappoint.

Hotel dining provided a quieter, restorative experience — a chance to recharge before heading back into small-town exploration, vineyards, and seaside indulgence.

Reflections on a Weekend Well Spent

Paso Robles wasn’t about racing to check off “wine-country” experiences. It was about slowing down, noticing textures, flavors, and small moments: the aroma of freshly roasted coffee, the scent of lavender fields, the fruity and earthy tasting notes of my new favorite Cab, tiny footsteps echoing through grand halls and hotel hallway, and the playful chaos of toddler travel.

From morning coffee to evening wine, from lavender fields to mushroom farms, the weekend was sensory, messy, and wonderful — a perfect reminder that travel, like coffee or wine, is best appreciated when you savor it all, one little detail at a time.