Paso Robles, California

Lovely Paso Robles (also known as El Paso de Robles), located amid rolling hills about half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is a sleepy city that is starting to wake up, thanks to its growing reputation as the center of an up and coming wine-producing region. Originally known for its hot mineral springs and once a favorite resting stop for outlaws Jesse and Frank James, this bucolic spot is surrounded by 26,000 acres of vineyards and nearly 200 wineries, producing more than 40 varietals, everything from Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel. Paso Robles (population 30,000) also sports a quaint downtown, safe neighborhoods and a quiet ambiance. The town has been growing, roughly 20% in the last 10 years, and the cost of living is 28% above the national average, thanks in part to the high quality of life enjoyed here.