Best things to do in Paso Robles with kids
Paso Robles children’s activities
There are a lot of great things to do with kids here. Paso Robles has museums, beautiful parks, and fun places to play. Whether you are local raising a family, or visiting wine country and looking for kid-friendly activities, there is plenty to do. We’ve taken our children to all of these places and we’re happy to share the best of them with you. So here’s our list of the best things to do in Paso Robles with kids:
Lake Nacimiento
The lake is great place for kids of all ages. It’s a top destination for camping and water sports like skiing, wake-boarding, kayaking and paddle-boarding. Fishing is also popular at Lake Nacimiento. The lake is fully stocked and supplies are available at the marina store. Enjoy hiking over 100 miles of designated trails among Lake Nacimiento’s surrounding pine and oak groves and taking scenic leisure walks along it’s shoreline. The lake is a great place to cool off with the temperatures start heating up. Click here for a map to Lake Nacimiento. Reach the marina at (805) 238-1056.
Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum a is fun and interactive educational facility for children and families. It’s perfect for kids 2 to 12 years old. There are several fixed exhibits and a variety of arts and crafts projects available. The Children’s Museum is a great place for hosting birthday parties. It’s located at 623 13th Street in downtown Paso Robles. Call for hours and more information, (805) 238-7432.
Estrella Warbird Museum
Estrella Warbird Museum hosts a collection for wartime history with planes, guns, flight simulator and interactive displays. A new addition is the Woodland Auto Display with a large automobile collection. Kids of all ages will enjoy the exhibits here. The museum is located at 4251 Dry Creek Road near the Paso Robles Airport. Call (805) 238-9317 for more information.
Paso Robles Pioneer Museum
The Paso Robles Pioneer Museum has a great collection of visual and written history. It’s a good place to take kids for a 1 to 2 hour tour of local history. It has an old school house on the grounds so children can look back into a classroom more than 100 years old. It’s located at 2010 Riverside Avenue in downtown Paso Robles. Narrated tours are available to groups. Call (805) 239-4556.
The Ravine Water Park
The Ravine Water Park is the closest thing to an amusement park in Paso Robles. It’s the local answer to Raging Waters. It has a several fun and exciting water rides, like the Kamakaze drop slide, Vertigo body bowl, lazy river and wave pool. It offers cabanas and food and beverage service. It’s only open in the summertime from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It’s located at 2301 Airport Rd on Highway 46 East in Paso Robles. Call (805) 237-8500.
Studios on the Park
Studios on the Park is an art center with open studios at real artists at work. Unlike a traditional gallery, this is a working studio. Many of the artists in their studios enjoy talking to kids about art and what they are creating. There are six studios with 15 working artists and four galleries. Make art a part of your children’s life by witnessing the creative process in action, enrolling in a class or workshop and viewing their quality themed exhibitions. It’s located at 1130 Pine Street across from the downtown City Park. Call (805) 238-9800.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s Markets are a great experience for local kids and those visiting Paso Robles. Come and experience the many agricultural products this area has to offer. Introduce your children to new flavors as the vendors let you sample a variety of their fruits, vegetables and offerings. Paso Robles has a farmers market on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and one on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are hosted in the City Park under the trees at 11th & Spring Streets in downtown Paso Robles.
Play at city parks
If you are looking for a place to let kids run around and play, Paso Robles has a few great parks that children will enjoy. The downtown city park has swings and a play structure at 11th and Spring Streets. The Sherwood Park located off Creston Road at 290 Scott Street has the newest and biggest play structure in town. It also has an adjacent dog park. For bigger sports activities like soccer and baseball, check out Barney Schwartz Park at 2970 Union Road. It has lots of wide open space. At the top of the park there is an excellent play structure and a pond where kids can catch tadpoles.
Atascadero Zoo
It’s a 15 minute drive south of town, but totally worth it if you are looking to entertain children for a couple of hours in this smaller-sized local zoo. The Charles Paddock Zoo is home to hundreds of animal species from around the world. Some of the species include fossa, red pandas, Malayan tiger, lemurs and meerkats, as well as many other exciting and interesting mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. The zoo is family friendly with the opportunity for children and adults to experience animals up close. Gifts, refreshments and strollers are available at the gift shop. Find the zoo at 9100 Morro Road in Atascadero. Call (805) 461.5080.
Zoo To You
Paso Robles has a small rural zoo that is open for guided tours and animal encounters. Come visit a mountain lion, bear, alligator, eagles and more. Located at 2445 Adobe Road in Paso Robles. Call (805) 391-0604.
What are your suggestions for the best things to do in Paso Robles with kids? Please add them to the comments below.
Editor’s note: The Best of Paso Robles is a special section of the Paso Robles Daily News. The series recommends local places that writers and editors have personally visited. If you would like to suggest a local business for consideration in the Bets of Paso Robles series, click here to contact the Paso Robles Daily News, or call Access Publishing at (805) 226-9890. For more ideas, check out the Best things to do in Paso Robles.
You forgot about Zoo To You….tours every weekend at 3:00pm. Call to confirm and let them know you will be there. 805-391-0604
Thanks, Janet. I added them in the recommendations above.
Thanks for the great ideas!
I am sorry, but I really do not know how you could recommend the zoo in Atascadero, that place is horrible by any standard and should cease to exist.
You forgot about Zoo To You….tours every weekend at 3:00pm. Call to confirm and let them know you will be there. 805-391-0604
Thanks, Janet. I added them in the recommendations above.
Thanks for the great ideas!
I am sorry, but I really do not know how you could recommend the zoo in Atascadero, that place is horrible by any standard and should cease to exist.
You forgot about Zoo To You….tours every weekend at 3:00pm. Call to confirm and let them know you will be there. 805-391-0604
Thanks, Janet. I added them in the recommendations above.
Thanks for the great ideas!
I am sorry, but I really do not know how you could recommend the zoo in Atascadero, that place is horrible by any standard and should cease to exist.
You forgot about Zoo To You….tours every weekend at 3:00pm. Call to confirm and let them know you will be there. 805-391-0604
Thanks, Janet. I added them in the recommendations above.
Thanks for the great ideas!
I am sorry, but I really do not know how you could recommend the zoo in Atascadero, that place is horrible by any standard and should cease to exist.