Estrella Warbird and Auto Museum, Paso Robles

If you're in Paso Robles and you don't care about wine-tasting, this museum saves the day! It is a winner, and its name doesn't describe how many interesting exhibits it has. For airplane lovers, it has mostly jet fighters, not warbirds, and they are beauties. Inside, it has an excellent exhibit hall with items from World War I and II. It is so interesting to read about the people who owned the items, and to see things such as nurse uniforms, bomber jackets decorated with patches, cockpit instruments, trench art (metal art made on leftover artillery), and all manner of personal items like compasses, cigarette packets, ration tickets, family mementos. In another building were transport vehicles like jeeps and tanks decorated with designs, one of Snoopy! Another hall had bombs, missiles, and hand grenades of all kinds, plus communications equipment. Lastly, there was a huge hall full of automobiles from the earliest at the turn of the century, to race cars. These were beautiful and colorful, and the docents were eager to talk about them if you're a car lover. The gift shop has lots of fun stuff for kids, so check it out too.
After, eat a burrito or bowl at Finca, a counter-service Mexican restaurant in a historic house with a wonderful patio decorated with pleasing, modern decor. The wooden patio has tables and chairs of pale wood, in the shade. The outdoor area has orange chairs in the sun, surrounded by lavendar bushes and flowers. Next door is the Paso Market Walk, a public market with a great coffee shop, gelato, a cheese shop, and more. After, walk Oak Street and Vine Street, and check out the pretty Victorian houses and gardens. You can walk twelve minutes to Paso Robles City Park which has a good playground and gorgeous trees. This area is wonderful at Christmastime.

Directions

Estrella Warbird Museum and Woodland Auto Museum (same location) are located at 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446. There is a free parking lot. Open Thurs-Sun 10-4. Entrance is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for military veterans, $10 for students, $8 for students aged 6-12, and free for younger kids.

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