What We Find at the Giving Tree: A Paso Robles Tale

Swanton Berry Farm in Davenport. They’re known for their olalliberry jam and pie, and for everything strawberry.

*Note: This road trip was the foundation for my blog on Black-owned businesses along my travels. I am grateful for the open road, the people I met along my journey, and all the businesses who are true allies to communities of color. I found all of you along the way, or, you found me.

2021 didn’t really begin for me until I went on my first road trip of the year, post vaccine, in June. I connected with nature throughout 2021 in the smallest and realest ways I could: on walks, tending to my plant babies, cooking and baking, but I connected with the world again during my road trip.

What happened to me spiritually in Paso Robles is another story I wish to share with all of you in a travel story, not a blog. But I still want to document the journey and the places along the road that brought me joy, so let’s go back to beloved Highway 1.

When I wasn’t stopping for pie at Shampa's Pies or Nigerian street food at Veg on the Edge, I was on the hunt for California’s much loved olallieberry. I’m not an expert on berries, but when I asked the gentleman at Swanton Berry Farm what this fragrantly sweet berry was, he explained it was a hybrid blackberry/loganberry with raspberry lineage. Ok, he didn’t say “lineage;” I threw that in myself. It doesn’t matter what it’s made from, olallieberries are FANTASTIC!! They’re sweet and powerful little berries yet also slightly tart and therefore make for amazing pie. Perhaps one of the best jams I’ve ever had in my life, Swanton Berry Farm’s Olallieberry jam can be eaten by the spoonful. I bought EVERYTHING: pints of fresh strawberries, a slice of pie, a jar of jam, chocolate covered strawberries, a slice of strawberry shortcake, and a cup of cider. I settled on just eating the slice of pie and cup of hot coffee (for the moment), and enjoyed it in the car because I didn’t want the general public to see me inhale it at the picnic tables out front.

Next stop was Salinas. Let me tell you, dear Reader, a bit about this town. It’s known for strawberries, lettuce, artichokes and spinach, miles and miles of it bordering beautiful Highway 1. One might get the impression that people drive through Salinas, as there aren’t famous attractions to visit in the town, but the entire stretch of farmland visible along the highway IS the attraction at Salinas. It’s captivating and awe-inspiring, and strategically placed by nature between the Santa Cruz mountains and Monterey’s shores. Much of the sweetest berries and freshest greens on our plates are grown and harvested in Salinas, and for that I was grateful to drive alongside those crops with appreciation and respect.

I stopped in at the discrete but beautiful Farm at Salinas where I picked up a lot of summer stone fruit, with its unsurpassed fragrance of sweet peach, that kind from childhood I thought I’d never find again

The Farm at Salinas

I had arrived at Paso Robles in the early evening, and was immediately struck by the mellow and relaxed mood of the town. Even the downtown square, alive and bustling with dinnertime activity, was relaxing. I felt the charm of the small town as I walked from the hotel to the square for dinner. I enjoyed the slider trio from Taste restaurant at the fire-pit courtyard of the hotel, exhausted and grateful for everything around me. The night was clear and the stars were out.

Strolling around the next morning (after a fantastic cup of strong coffee), I stumbled upon the cutest and yummiest gluten-free bakery past the town square called Bless Your Heart Bakery. Another coffee, slice of cake, and breakfast sandwich later, and I was sitting outside enjoying the sun marveling at how delicious gluten-free food really is. Do people who don’t need to eat gluten-free know how great this stuff is? I didn’t know just a few months earlier when I was suffering from my diet. People just don’t know. And that’s fine with me. As with all great things in life, as much as I would like it to be my little secret, I also know that this small local business deserves all the support it can get.

Inside Bless Your Heart Bakery, Paso Robles…a delight for all.

The tricky thing about eating gluten-free (and the wonderful thing, too) is that one doesn’t feel uncomfortable after eating more than one should. I had a lot of energy to walk, and headed back through the small suburban streets back towards the square. I was not prepared to see what I saw hovering over me in the sky—a ginormous horse the size of, well, a horse, sat fixed on top of the Boot Barn sign. I go into detail in my New Years Eve reflection blog post about my experience at this Western wonderland, but here I’ll say I fell madly in love with my new hat, a beige beauty with a Western beaded band across the rim.

Now THAT’S a horse. Boot Barn, Paso Robles

Later that day, I had a reservation for a farm tour at Giving Tree Family Farm in nearby Santa Margarita. I was greeted by two beautiful guard dogs when I pulled up to the long dirt driveway. Tina, the owner of the farm, was the sweetest, realest lady I’d met in a long time. She’s the kind of person a travel writer finds fascinating, as she’s given up the 9 to 5 life and standard, typical retirement for years of hard work and sacrifice on her farm, tending to goats, pigs, her guard dogs, and emus. Yes, emus.

I fell in love with all the farm residents, especially the baby goats. As Tina guided a family and myself around her farm, the high-spirited baby goats followed us all around, attempting to play and jump, but being so small, could barely leap to my knees. I was overjoyed!

My favorite baby bundle of joy!

I was and still am in awe of people like Tina, her story so brave. Despite the unknown of creating this farm life from an entirely different one, she proceeded with fearlessness. There’s so much to learn about this small family farm, and local farms in general. Take a tour, pet a baby goat, listen to stories, and change your life. It’s all worth it.

Goodies from Giving Tree Family Farm

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce. A big thank you to Callie at the Visitor Center, who spent a long time mapping out a route to see attractions on scenic Highway 46, the road I was petrified to drive. Callie, I did it!

Visitor Centers are precious gems, and wherever I go, I always try to find one and talk to locals about my concerns and itinerary. I almost missed out on Highway 46 because of a bad premonition, and I’m thankful that Callie had the patience, insight, and emotional bandwidth to walk me through a plan. The people we meet on our travels are more a part of the trip than the trip itself.

What a journey of gratitude! From my drive along Salinas’ rich and fertile farmland, to my walk along Paso Robles’ quiet streets brimming with history and local kindness, I learned that travel makes you see beyond what you knew and what you thought could be.

I walked into Boot Barn with stereotypes of who should shop there and who didn’t belong there. I thought I didn’t belong there, but that hat was made for me.

I found a small local bakery making gluten-free specialties much better than the many hip, trendy cafes foodie folks love to patronize. And it’s the small bakery who keeps its humility while raising the bar on quality.

I walked onto a farm and discovered the ideal version of a go-getter, of a risk taker and entrepreneur who knows what true success is, because she built a life from a farm, and the life that comes from this farm makes it all worth it. Those few hours on the farm, bonding with the goats, with Tina and with the idea that there’s something more than what you think life has for you, was the greatest lesson on my trip.

I found the world open up at the giving tree, and I hope the lessons it taught me continue to grow forever.

Thank you, Highway 1.