Founded as a utopian community in 1913 by the magazine publisher Edward Gardner Lewis, Atascadero is a bustling city located between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It centres around a monumental city hall and is home to the Central Coast’s only zoo while it’s also on the doorstep of several wineries.
Things to do in Atascadero
In the heart of Atascadero is the Sunken Gardens, an elegant green space watched over by the Atascadero City Hall. You can relax on one of the benches that surround the centrepiece fountain or coincide your visit with the Farmer’s Market to pick up locally sourced produce and ready-to-eat goods.
If you’re travelling with kids, spend a day at the Charles Paddock Zoo, which was established by a county park ranger in 1955 for nursing injured animals back to health. It’s home to more than 100 animals representing around 45 different species, including titi monkeys, African-crested porcupines and white-fronted marmosets. One of the zoo’s most famous residents is a Malayan tiger named “Menderu”, who was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2008.
Atascadero is an ideal base for exploring the wineries of the Central Coast, with the region specialising in the cultivation of Chardonnay grapes. Enjoy a tasting at the castle-like Tooth & Nail Winery, sample Zinfandel wines at the Turley Cellars or learn about the Bordeaux and Rhône grape varieties grown at L'Aventure Winery.
Getting around Atascadero
Atascadero is a 20-minute drive from San Luis Obispo and 30 minutes from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Buses connect Atascadero to both Los Angeles and San Francisco while the downtown area is compact enough to explore on foot.