Fun Things to Do in Paso Robles With Family

Paso Robles has plenty to do beyond a wine flight. Families spend an evening under the glowing bulbs at Sensorio, an afternoon at Pioneer Park, a morning walking vintage aircraft at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, and a few hours about nine miles south in Templeton at 46 Ranch, our 250-acre working farm opens its gates for select seasonal events, including our first-ever Pumpkin Patch, opening September 18.

That's the short version. Here's what each of those looks like up close, and why our working farm belongs on the same list as an art installation and a museum full of warplanes.

What Can Families Do in Paso Robles Besides Wine Tasting?

Paso Robles wine country gets most of the attention, and fair enough, there are more than 200 wineries within a short drive of downtown. But the region built a lot more than tasting rooms, and a good chunk of it is built for kids.

Start after dark at Sensorio, the immersive light art exhibition at 4380 Highway 46 East. Its flagship installation, Bruce Munro's Field of Light, spreads more than 100,000 solar-powered glass spheres across the hills, and the grounds also hold newer pieces like DIMENSIONS and Fireflies. September hours run Thursday through Sunday, 6:30 to 10 p.m., with adult tickets starting around $65 and kids' tickets starting around $30, both plus fees. It's a walk, not a ride, so bring a stroller if you've got a toddler along.

During the day, Pioneer Park at 19th and Riverside Drive covers close to seven acres with a softball field, a full basketball court, and a skate park open dawn to dusk with no admission charged. The Paso Robles Pioneer Museum sits right next door if anyone in the group wants a break from the sun.

History buffs, especially kids who like anything with propellers, do well at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, a hangar full of restored military aircraft and vehicles at 4251 Dry Creek Road. It's open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and walk-up tickets are available at the door.

Where Can Kids Meet Real Farm Animals Near Paso Robles?

For the animal part of the day, most families end up at our working regenerative farm, 46 Ranch, set on 250 acres at 11995 Santa Rosa Creek Road in Templeton. The land was a dairy operation more than a century ago, and today we have pasture-based Highland cattle, goats, and heritage chickens alongside seasonal crops.

46 Ranch isn't open to the public every day. We open for specific seasonal events, and those are the days worth planning a visit around. We already held one this year, an Open Farm Days event in June with demos, tastings, and hay wagon tours, and our next big event is the Pumpkin Patch this fall.

Is 46 Ranch Only Open for the Pumpkin Patch?

No, 46 Ranch is a year-round working farm first. The Pumpkin Patch is our biggest public event, but it isn't the reason the ranch exists, and our farm keeps working through the rest of the year.

That said, the Pumpkin Patch is well worth building a trip around. It opens September 18 and runs through November 1, Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for ages 3 through 12, $15 for ages 13 and up, and free for kids 2 and under. No ticket is needed if you're only there to buy pumpkins. Admission covers most of the grounds, including hay wagon farm tours, a train ride, an interactive petting zoo, a witch's walk, and a jump pad, with a few extras like gem mining and animal feeding sold separately. Dogs aren't allowed inside the event, though there's a shaded waiting area for pets outside the gate.

If you want a taste of the ranch to take home, our pasture-raised eggs, honey and produce are sold daily at our sister property, Cambria Nursery's Farm Stand in Cambria, about 30 minutes west toward the coast.

How Far Is 46 Ranch From Downtown Paso Robles?

46 Ranch sits in Templeton, about nine miles south of downtown Paso Robles by way of US-101, an eleven-minute drive with no traffic. That makes it an easy add-on to a day that already includes Sensorio, Pioneer Park, or the Warbirds Museum, since none of it requires backtracking through the wine country traffic on Highway 46 West.

Pack sturdy shoes if you're headed to the ranch. The ground is uneven working-farm terrain, and strollers and mobility aids can have a harder time than on paved paths. A signed waiver is required for entry to the Pumpkin Patch, and please leave pets at home as they are not allowed at the Ranch for animal safety.

Family-Friendly Paso Robles, Beyond the Wine List

Paso Robles wine country is the region's biggest draw for a reason. But a family trip built around wine tasting alone leaves out a light installation that runs after dark, a skate park with no entry fee, a hangar of restored warbirds, and a working farm you can visit in the fall.

Plan the wine part of the trip for the adults' evening, and build the rest of the day around Sensorio, Pioneer Park, the Warbirds Museum, and 46 Ranch. Check each one's current hours before you go, since seasonal schedules shift, and if you're coming for the Pumpkin Patch specifically, you can buy your tickets at the gate when you arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to do in Paso Robles besides wine tasting? 

Sensorio's Field of Light art installation, Pioneer Park's skate park and ball fields, the Estrella Warbirds Museum's collection of restored military aircraft, and 46 Ranch, a 250-acre working farm in nearby Templeton with a seasonal petting zoo and Pumpkin Patch.

When does the 46 Ranch Pumpkin Patch open in 2026? 

September 18, 2026, running through November 1, open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 11995 Santa Rosa Creek Road in Templeton.

How much does it cost to visit the 46 Ranch Pumpkin Patch? 

Admission is $10 for ages 3 to 12, $15 for ages 13 and up, and free for children 2 and under. No admission is required if you only want to buy pumpkins.

Is 46 Ranch open to the public year-round? 

No. It's a working regenerative farm that opens to visitors only during select seasonal events, like Open Farm Days and the fall Pumpkin Patch. Check 46ranch.com before planning a visit.

What animals can you see at 46 Ranch? 

Highland cattle, goats, and heritage chickens, all part of a working pasture-based herd rather than animals kept only for display.