Sensorio

Sensorio is perhaps the most talked about full-family experience in Paso Robles since it opened in 2019. We finally went to check it out on a mid-December evening and I’m happy to give my take on the popular attraction.

We arrived just before sunset which afforded the opportunity to see the Field of Light bathed in sunshine before slowly transitioning to the dark of night.

In the meanwhile we visited the Light Towers which were a fun additional experience.

Here we learned a new walk-in style exhibit is on its way - presumably in 2024 which will likely be worth a return visit.

Is it worth it?

For a general admission price tag of around $45/person we spent about 1.5 hours at Sensorio, though that includes the time wen spent in line waiting to get in, which was probably a 20 minute wait. The entry line was particularly inefficient as it would frequently grind to a halt whenever a group of people had an issue with the security screening - usually coming afoul of the no-outside-beverages policy.

The hour plus of walking around the Field of Light and Light Towers felt quite nice. We could have stayed longer and enjoyed dinner at their mexican food truck or the adjacent cafe building. A live musician was also present entertaining diners. For sure you could space your visit out to maybe even spend upwards of 3 hours enjoying the show and the area. We felt satisfied with our one lap around the circuit though, and we had dinner plans already, so off we went feeling good about the experience. One benefit of the December visit is that you can get the full sundown experience before 6 PM and still head off to do something else afterward.

For about double the money, tickets to the Terrace seating area are available. While this premium pass might be the thing for some, we felt pretty good about opting for the General Admission ticket. The Terrace is situated at the ideal spot above the Field of Light to take photos with the sunset in the background, but very similar photos can be achieved with the General Admission pass. To me it felt like the exhibit is best experienced walking around, so even if you purchase Terrace access you’re likely going to want to take a foot tour. If you want to also sit on the Terrace and enjoy drinks/dinner before or after your foot tour, then it might be thing.

Ultimately, I’d pretty comfortably say that Sensorio is a worthwhile experience if you have $45 to spend, but I wouldn’t rush to upgrade to The Terrace unless what you want is to keep looking at the lights while you have dinner or drinks - you can experience the lights themselves plenty with GA. Cheers, and enjoy Paso!