Girls’ Trip to SLO CAL: Wine, Beaches, Brunch, and Just Enough Adventure

I’ve taken girls’ trips all over the world. I’ve sipped wine in Tuscany, explored charming villages in Germany, and spent weekends laughing with friends from Montana to the Caribbean. So when I tell you that SLO CAL deserves a spot at the top of your girls’ getaway list, I don’t say it lightly.

What surprised me most about San Luis Obispo County wasn’t the wine (which is excellent), the food (also excellent), or the scenery (ridiculously beautiful). It was how effortlessly everything came together. One minute you’re sipping wine in a historic town, the next you’re riding e-bikes along the coast, ziplining over vineyards, or enjoying a champagne brunch overlooking the Pacific.

It’s California without the stress. Wine country without the crowds. Beach towns without the attitude. In other words, it’s pretty much the perfect girls’ trip.

Day 1: Welcome to Edna Valley

Our adventure began in Edna Valley at Old Edna, one of the most charming spots in the region. Established in 1909 as a railroad town, Old Edna feels like stepping back in time. The historic General Store now houses Sextant Wines and The Gourmet Deli, making it the perfect place to start a girls’ getaway. Sandra and I enjoyed lunch while overlooking rolling vineyards and sipping Sextant wines. (I tried five of their wines during the tasting, and they were all excellent.)

One of the coolest things about Old Edna is that just steps away sits MacGregor Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in Edna Valley, planted in 1974. Yes, they own it now, and some of the wine is grown right there.

The entire area feels peaceful, authentic, and wonderfully uncrowded. After lunch, we headed into Downtown San Luis Obispo.

Exploring Downtown SLO

Downtown SLO is exactly what every small-town downtown wishes it could be. The streets are walkable, the shops are locally owned, and there are enough boutiques, bookstores, coffee shops, and wine bars to keep you occupied for hours.

Of course, we had to stop by Bubblegum Alley because apparently covering an alley with thousands of pieces of chewing gum somehow became a tourist attraction. Is it weird? Absolutely. Did we visit? Of course.

We also wandered through local shops, explored the historic district, and soaked up the relaxed California vibe.

Stay at Hotel San Luis Obispo

If you’re planning a girls’ trip, book a stay at Hotel San Luis Obispo.

Located right in the heart of downtown, the luxury property somehow manages to feel sophisticated without taking itself too seriously. The location allows you to walk to restaurants, bars, shops, and the famous Thursday night Farmers Market.

My room had a lot of amenities that I appreciated, including a clothing steamer (I hate hotel irons), a robe, slippers, local soap, a Nespresso, and more. The way you can close off the bedroom created extreme darkness, which I loved!

For a girls’ getaway, that convenience is priceless because nobody wants to volunteer as designated driver all weekend. Here’s a tour of my room:

Dinner in Pismo Beach

Dinner at Giuseppe’s in Pismo Beach was the perfect first-night meal. Known for farm-to-table Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizzas, the restaurant combines fresh local ingredients with a welcoming atmosphere that immediately makes you feel like a regular.

We read some reviews ahead of time that mentioned how great the starter bread was with a garlic and olive oil dip, and I am happy to report that it’s incredible and it’s complimentary! Then we split the Messicana pizza:
linguica, pineapple, cilantro, jalapeno, and bianca sauce. It was phenomenal. We paired it with the Sextant Zinfindel because when we had some at lunch, it was so good, we had to have more. We really had planned on eating more, but this was surprisingly filling!

Day 2: Brunch, Beaches, and Bikes

One thing I learned in SLO CAL is that breakfast isn’t just a meal. It’s an event.

Champagne Brunch at Lido at Dolphin Bay

Our morning began with a three-course champagne brunch at Lido at Dolphin Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This may have ruined normal brunches for me forever.

I ordered the Coconut + Matcha + Chia Parfait with yuzu-macerated blueberries, house-made granola, & whipped cream. It was ridiculously good. Sandra chose the Brioche French Toast with whipped mascarpone, almond florentine, lemon curd, and seasonal fruit syrup. After one bite, she declared it the best French toast she’d ever had.

For our main courses, I went with the Chorizo Chilaquiles Rojo, while Sandra ordered the Duck Confit Hash. Both were packed with flavor and somehow managed to be indulgent without sending us into an immediate food coma.

And because apparently restraint isn’t part of the brunch experience, we finished with dessert. I had the white chocolate blueberry bread pudding of the day, while Sandra chose the crème brûlée. At this point, saying we were full would be an understatement.

Spyglass Beach Tide Pools

After brunch, we explored Spyglass Beach. The tide pools are filled with fascinating marine life and provide a wonderful excuse to spend time wandering the shoreline pretending you’re a marine biologist.

E-Biking Along the Coast

One of my favorite experiences of the trip was renting e-bikes and riding the Bob Jones Trail. If you’ve ever wanted to feel athletic without actually working very hard, e-bikes are your answer. Granted I could figure it out for several miles so I got in a lot of exercise.

The scenic ride winds through beautiful landscapes connecting Pismo Beach and Avila Beach. Along the way, we stopped at Avila Valley Barn and enjoyed the relaxed pace that makes this part of California so appealing. We had lunch here. Nashville friend chicken sandwiches and canned Paso Robles wine.

Thursday Night Farmers Market

That evening we headed back to Downtown SLO for the famous Farmers Market. Calling it a farmers market almost feels misleading. This is more like a giant weekly street festival filled with food vendors, produce stands, live music, local products, and thousands of happy people.

If your girls’ trip lands on a Thursday, make this a priority. Come hungry. Granted, we ended up having a sit down dinner at Bear & The Wren where we split the Bee Stang pizza and another amazing bottle of wine, The Halter Ranch Cabernet Savignon.

Then we went and grabbed Sugar Lips mini donuts for dessert at the farmer’s market. They were so freakin good.

Day 3: Wine Country Adventure

Brunch at Seeds

Before leaving San Luis Obispo, we grabbed breakfast at Seeds. If you are in a hurry this is a great place to grab breakfast. Bright, cheerful, and packed with healthy options.

Ancient Peaks Winery

Lunch at Ancient Peaks Winery introduced us to another side of SLO CAL wine country. Located in Santa Margarita, Ancient Peaks produces wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. The ranch-to-table menu perfectly complements the tasting experience. We split the barbacoa tostadas and the charcuterie while enjoying the tasting. We ended lunch with their spectacular Cabernet Chip Ice Cream and vanilla bean ice cream infused with Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon, shaved dark chocolate, and an oatmeal lacy cookie

It’s one of those places where you plan to stay for an hour and somehow end up lingering much longer.

Ziplining at Margarita Adventures

Right across the street from Ancient Peaks sits Margarita Adventures. Because apparently wine tasting and ziplining belong together. Who knew?

The tour includes six ziplines soaring over vineyards, forests, and rolling hills. It’s thrilling enough to make you feel adventurous but accessible enough that most people can enjoy it.

Plus, nothing bonds girlfriends faster than collectively screaming while suspended hundreds of feet in the air.

Paso Robles: Where Wine Lovers Belong

After ziplining, we headed to Paso Robles and checked into Allegretto Vineyard Resort. The resort feels like a Tuscan villa somehow landed in California wine country.

With beautiful grounds, luxurious rooms, and a relaxing atmosphere, it’s an ideal base for exploring Paso’s wine scene. If possible, attend the art tour of the hotel. Sadly, we were not there long enough to do it, but the art was everywhere, so I know it had to be good.

They have a pool and hot tub. We never got to use the pool, but we did manage to squeeze in some hot tub time despite barely being at the resort. I think if you are going to spend the money to stay here, you should plan at least one afternoon to just enjoy the hotel.

Dinner at Junction Tapas and Wine Bar

We made a last-minute decision to have tapas for dinner. There are several tapas restaurants in town, but we could only get into Junction Tapas and Wine Bar, and I am so glad we did. It was fantastic, and I discovered Derby wines there thanks to our brilliant waiter who seemed to know everything about the region’s wines

Sensorio

That evening we visited Sensorio, and it was freezing. We were dressed inadequately, so even if you think you don’t need to bring warmer clothes on your trip, bring them!

Photos don’t do this place justice. Thousands upon thousands of lights transform the hillsides into an immersive art experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s magical, surreal, and the perfect way to end an evening in Paso Robles. If you are a couple, then this place would be super romantic.

There are areas towards the back that are so dark that if you do not see well, it could be an issue. We got lost, and a worker walked us back to an area so we could find our way out.

The Wineries You Can’t Miss

Austin Hope

If you’ve followed MommyTravels for any length of time, you probably already know my feelings about Austin Hope wines. They are one of my all-time favorites, so I could not visit this area without adding in a stop here.

The tasting rooms are beautiful, the hospitality is exceptional, and the wines consistently rank among my favorites. We did an outdoor tasting. Outside, they have it set up so that every tasting is private. There was a family fairly close to us, and they enjoyed their tasting while their little boy played. Other than that, we really didn’t see anyone else during our tasting.

Derby Wine Estates

Full disclosure; I didn’t visit here, but I had their Tempranillo at the Junction Tapas restaurant, and it knocked my socks off. According to things I read on TripAdvisor: Derby offers a more intimate wine tasting experience with outstanding wines and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where conversations flow easily, and tastings never feel rushed.

Bella Luna Estate Winery

Bella Luna Estate Winery combines fantastic wines with gorgeous vineyard views and a laid-back atmosphere that perfectly captures what makes Paso Robles so special. The drive to this location is just stunning. We had a little extra time to pop into a winery before our lunch and randomly found ourselves here. Their Fighter Pilot Red is great, and I loved the logo.

Why SLO CAL Is the Ultimate Girls’ Trip

The beauty of SLO CAL is its variety. You can spend the morning sipping champagne overlooking the Pacific, the afternoon riding e-bikes along the coast, and the evening wine tasting in Paso Robles.

There are luxury hotels, incredible restaurants, charming downtowns, outdoor adventures, beaches, wineries, and enough excellent food to justify loosening your jeans by day two.

Most importantly, it never feels overwhelming. Unlike Napa, it isn’t crowded. Unlike Los Angeles, it isn’t stressful. Unlike many destinations, you don’t spend half your vacation sitting in traffic.

SLO CAL offers everything you want from a girls’ getaway: great wine, amazing food, beautiful scenery, memorable experiences, and plenty of opportunities to laugh until your cheeks hurt. Honestly, the hardest part of the trip was leaving. I really wish we’d had one more day.