I would love your recommendations for Central Coast lodging and activities

I am planning a trip sometime in the next few months so you all have lots of time to help me find the best places to go/stay.

We do want to go to Hearst Castle but that is the only definite. We could just stop on the way to somewhere else or stay nearby in Cambria or somewhere else close.

It will only be a two night thing.

Romantic is good...not too expensive is very good.

We love wineries, bookstores and nature reserves.

We love Carmel and Monterey - hell I love the whole damn coast!

OK- let me know your secret special places you have found!

in Lucia, California, north of Hearst Castle - but I'm not sure of the prices. Lower in this season though. That would be my first choice. Cambria has Bed and breakfast type places. Also go to Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park in the Big Sur area and see the waterfall that empties into the ocean

just now checked and the cheapest room is $100 per night, rather steep, but the setting is magnificent
http://www.lucialodge.com/mall/c121/s14406/default1.htm

I'm figuring it will be hard to spend any less than $100 so the price there is OK.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. As I recall, it's about 30 miles or so south of Monterey. Ask the locals how to get there, as the road is unmarked/semi-hidden.

It's a breathtakingly-gorgeous beach with a private feel to it.

As for lodging, I camped in Big Sur, so I'm not much help there (although if you're into camping, it's really neat to put your tent between two huge redwoods).

Enjoy.

I really do want to do Big Sur.

try Castroville. You're still near the beauty, but the motels are cheaper -- and you can eat all the artichokes you want. I used to love to stay in a motel there, eat at The Giant Artichoke, and drive over to Monterrey.

And if driving up Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, drive into Pescadero and eat at Duarte's Tavern. Cream of artichoke soup, great seafood, topped off by ollalaberry pie.

that would be fun!

It's been many years, but the state took over a 1930's girl scout camp named Asilomar and turned it into a convention resort. When all the rooms are not booked, the rent out to the general public. Meals are served in a cafeteria, but are pretty tasty.

I was going to suggest this, too!

It's not high tech, so if you're one who wants/needs a TV and phone in the room, you may want to pass. The rooms are great, otherwise. We go every year with my inlaws and usually stay in one of the historical buildings, designed by Julia Morgan.

If you want to be in the Pacific Grove, like being right by the beach, and are into simplicity, Asilomar is a good choice.

up north of Santa Cruz in Ben Lomond is (or at least was when I lived out there) the Tyrolean Inn. Beautiful place: cottages in a redwood forest, and a good German restaurant, to boot (not das boot). It used to be quite inexpensive. Close to Big Basin State Park.

It's been years. It was very inexpensive for the area when I stayed there.

What I would recommend is just stopping at lots of places. At this time of year, they need business. You will find good rates. Do check out the state parks mentioned above. Everyone needs to see these.

Not very well marked--but look for a scenic view turnout. We saw hundreds and hundreds of elephant seals when we stopped by!

I was there with my parents (YIKES) and we got some very interesting video. I think it must have been mating season.

I can't help with accomodations because we camped out, but I would recommend checking out the poor man's Hearst castle in downtown Cambria called Nitt Witt Ridge. It's a structure that is truly hard to describe other than to say it is the antithesis of Hearst castle. A walk-by might suffice, but the tour guide/owner is most eccentric and makes the tour worthwhile. Cost is an odd nonprofit donation status thingy that involves buying a special coffee cup, or something? (Just go with the flow). Hurry, before he is committed to an institution :).

Cayucos, twenty miles down the coast, is another interesting place to visit for an afternoon. Wharf/beach town that has a little Santa Cruz feel, only sleepier. If thrift shops (antiques shops?) do much for you, you're in luck because some sterling ones await you at both Cambria and Cayucos - Hey, I can spend an entire day scouring them with enthusiasm without spending a nickel.

thanks!:hi:

edit: Look what I found-

Nitt Witt Ridge
The State Historical Landmark No. 939 plaque reads as follows:

Nitt Witt Ridge, one of California's remarkable twentieth-century folk-art environments, is the creation of Arthur Harold Beal (Der Tinkerpaw, or Capt. Nitt Witt), a Cambria Pines pioneer who sculpted the land using hand tools and indigenous materials, remarkable inventiveness and self-taught skills. A blend of native materials and contemporary elements, impressive in its sheer mass and meticulous placement, it is a revealing memorial to Art's unique cosmic humor and zest for life.

and this
http://www.centralcoasttourist.com/San_Luis_Obispo_CO/SLO_Area_Info/Cambria/Cambria_Features/NittWit/nitwit.html

is where we like to go. We like to stay at the Sea Crest Resort which runs about $115/nite for a full ocean view. Lots of great food in and around Pismo. Highly recommend renting quads and cruising the dunes. Nearby San Luis Obispo has Thursday Night Street Markets and the food is aplenty. The drive to Hearst Castle isn't too long and the trip there is very scenic. It'll be 80 or so when Sacto is at 100+. Right now is usually a great time for that region

thursday night in SLO could work.

Neat little shops and restaurants.

on Higuera St., downtown. Rudolph's, across the street, is a good spot for coffee and walk along the creek. Have fun.

thanks for the tips. Keep em coming!

as you can go, 12 miles. It ends in the coastal Montano d'Oro State Park. Nice ride..it's whale migrating season and from the bluffs you might seem some as they make the sea turn to 'round Points Sal and Conception.

is closed at about Lucia right now. Probably be open in a couple of months...or less.

The Inn at Morro Bay is right on the Bay and just inside the State Park.
I was there Sunday for Brunch.(Full disclosure:I live 1/2 block away). Excellent and well priced at 19 bucks. They also have a spa for massages, etc.

There's the golf course across the road from the Inn; the Museum about two blocks south in the park and next door to that is the Marina with a good restaurant and kayak rentals. In town and on the Embarcadero are a ton of shops and more restaurants. I like Dockside for lunch. Am going there for breakfast tomorrow -1st time. It's owned by a local fisherman and his family. Old timers here. Very friendly and if they're unloading catches, you can watch from your table.

Morro Bay bookstore on main Street is Coalesce. New, used and unusual. Ask to see the Chapel out back. It's special.

MB's about 24 miles so. of Hearst Castle. There are some nice motels in Cambria on Moonstone Beach. Cambria Pines is one. Robin's Nest in the East Village is super for a leisurely not expensive lunch.

If you like wineries, Edna Valley is on Biddle Creek Rd. off Route 227 beyond the airport. There's another one further up BC and to the left. Can't remember the name. Nice though. If you go south on 227, there's Old Edna and Churchill and Claiborne (in a sod house) and several others. Keep going south and you end up in Arroyo Grande - another fun little town with old buildings, shops, farmer's market Saturdays (10-12, I think) and it's just about directly east of Pismo.
I haven't even scratched the surface...there's lots to do here.

I wonder if there will even be any roads to drive on by the time we take this trip.

I am so sick of the rain!!!

We never stayed there, but the writer really liked it
They have rooms with Fireplaces and Spas-(I think)
Morro Bay is much better than Pismo Beach-

The central California coast is really so beautiful.

AND


I just found out I get a nice new years bonus- totally unexpected. SO now we can stay in a much nicer place!!!

Keep the tips coming.

Where? I'd love to read the article if it's online.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-escape9jan09,1,7761955.story?coll=la-travel-weekend

You have to register but you only need a user name and email. use that email addy that you use to send all spam to.

Enjoyed reading that.

Makes you sink right in. When I worked for Corrections, staying at the Inn was one of the saving graces of occasional meetings at the prison. That and the golf course across the street. Morro Bay Golf Club. "The poor man's Pebble Beach".

when I first visited Morro Bay, the Inn was a motel called the Golden Tee. Ramshackle is a kind description.

I saw 11 turkeys on the first green this week - not one was carrying a golf club. :hi:

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And all this rain is going to make this spring one of the greenest. Southern Cal's hills are green already; I can just imagine how beautiful the Central Coast and points north are.

I flew from LA to Santa Barbara last week to get to work around the mudslide, and from the air it looked like Ireland!

Julia Hunt Morgan designed the Milpitas ranch house prior to designing San Simeon, and it served as a rustic getaway for Hearst and his buddies at the northern end of his ranch. I think it's about 40 miles as the crow flies from San Simeon.

Not too many people know about this place -- it's located on Ft. Hunter-Liggett (so it's a bit out of the way). The surrounding area is beautiful (it's in a valley on the other side of the Santa Lucia mountains from the Big Sur coast) and adjacent to Mission San Antonio. You can get some thrills driving to the coast over the Nacimiento road from there.

So if you're looking for someplace special to stay, I'd say you couldn't do much better than this. Rooms in the tower can be a bit noisy, but the beds are comfortable and the showers have plenty of hot water. Tower rooms start @$65/night. I think you can find more information at www.usawines.com.

http://www.usawines.com/hacienda/

ok- why does it scare me that the rates there are so cheap?

first. I believe I read a month or so ago that they were closed. They couldn't find a concessionaire to run the place.

There's probably some agreement about pricing it so the enlisted folks can afford to spend a night or two there.

I'd also recommend giving them a call ahead...it had been closed for a couple of months, but was back open around Christmas. (This I know, because my wife and I just spent a couple of nights there at the end of December.) I don't know if the restaurant was open or not, though, so bring some groceries if you go. They have microwaves and refrigerators (and color TVs with cable) in the rooms.

I'd recommend an upstairs tower room, but as I mentioned, they're a bit noisy. The building is made from poured concrete, which makes the walls echo a bit. If you can swing it, go for one of the two suites; they're pretty good size. The cheapest rooms don't have bathrooms.

Furnishings are comfortable but nothing extraordinary; what is extraordinary is that you can stay at an out-of-the-way residence where a lot of celebrities have spent the night. And if you like nature, the San Antonio valley and the surrounding mountains are gorgeous. Lots of deer and other wildlife around, and the base seems almost deserted.

Moonstone Beach! It's my favorite place to go when in the Cambria area. There are many hotels along that strip which is right across a street from the ocean, which is a preserve so there are lots of seals etc. I've stayed at the northern-most hotel, which has a mini-golf course on site (can't recall the name) and the Best Western Fireside Inn, I like them both.

Also, when near Pismo we always stay at the Spyglass Inn around Shell Beach. Great ocean view rooms! And they have recently remodeled so there are fireplaces in the rooms.

Central Coast is awesome.

I can't believe I can only do a short trip. (My boyfriend can't take any days off so we have to go on his normal days off which are thursday and friday- we may sneak in saturday, too)

All of your suggestions are great. I think we are going to go in early march.

love all the suggestions so far. Who has more?

I have been there and love it.

Need more places to go/see.

Moonstone Beach is beautiful with a boardwalk for a relaxing stroll. If you like wine tasting head over to Paso Robles and Templeton http://www.pasowine.com One of my favorite places to eat is Taco Temple in north Morro Bay, in front of Spencer's Market. Very casual. Love their fresh salmon tacos. Check out http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/california/ for more ideas of places to eat. You can rent kayaks in several places in Morro Bay. If you'll be in the area on a Thursday head over to SLO for Thursday (evening) Farmer's Market.

Have a great time. I love the Central Coast.

and thanks for the links.

and a hearty welcome to DU!!! :hi:

Watching the movie Sideways gives a visual feel for the Central Coast. It was filmed in nearby northern Santa Barbara County.

http://www.visitslo.com has good information on things to do around the city and county of San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo County has about a hundred wineries, most with tasting rooms. I left out the link to wineries close to SLO http://www.slowine.com

A walk on the beach is fun. Here they're uncrowded. Many choices. Moonstone, where you're staying, Cayucos, Morro Bay, the Bluff Trail in Montana do Oro State Park south of Morro Bay is spectacular (and free because the county, not the state, owns Pecho Rd. in to it).

The Sierra Club leads free hikes http://santalucia.sierraclub.org/calender.html

P.S. Glad to help make your BF happy. One Taco Temple salmon taco makes a very good meal. The carrot cake at Taco Temple is delicious, too. Plenty to share between the two of you.

P.P.S. Have been a lurker at DU for a long time. In my my angst over the election it's therapeutic to offer you, your BF, and DUers in general ideas to help us all recuperate.

My BF likes salmon more than I do...that's why I said he thanks you for the tip.

I'm trying to figure out how to get to plan our trip...we check in on Thursday in Cambria and leave on Saturday. Trying to decide which day to do the Hearst Castle and how to fit in the SLO Farmers market on thursday night. There is so much to do in that area.

Trying to find the time to go see Sideways. Maybe we will try this saturday night.

Glad you decided to start posting after lurking for awhile here.

There is much to do in SLO. Too much for just two days. Come, relax, explore. Return another time for a longer visit.

SLO is about a 40 minute, pretty, drive south on Highway 1 from Cambria. If you have a long drive to get to Cambria, and arrive later in the day, for your short vacation I'd skip the SLO Farmer's Market. If there's time to do it comfortably, go for it!

With your schedule I'd do Hearst Castle on Friday. Then, maybe, drive up Hwy. 1 to see the elephant seals near Piedras Blancas. Or over Hwy. 46 to Paso Robles for wine tasting. Or south to Morro Bay for lunch/dinner at Taco Temple.

More suggestions for places to eat in Cambria. Robins http://www.robinsrestaurant.com , the Black Cat, the Moonstone Bar and Grill on it's outside patio before/after strolling the boardwalk along Moonstone Dr., Sea Chest Oyster Bar (people often bring their own bottle of wine), Linn's Restaurant for ollalaberry (sp?) pie.

You're likely staying at one of the http://www.moonstonehotels.com inns. They have local info. and links on their website. The Cambria Chamber of Commerce has a nice one too http://www.cambriachamber.org/

On the web site for Sideways http://www.foxsearchlight.com/sideways/ there's a button "Miles and Jack Wine Tour" showing locations where they filmed the movie. More inspiration for exploring the California Central Coast.

I can't recommend too many things to do around there since when I go I usually spend the whole time either in town or on the beach. I have such fond memories from Cambria -- I once wondered into a used bookstore and happened to find a very rare book that I had been looking for (pre- biblio.com). In fact, every time I've visited there, something unusual/synchronistic has happened. Even the way I discovered it was odd. I was driving down highway 1 and it was dark and late. After passing San Simeon, I was thinking that I'd better turn back because I didn't want to drive anymore that night. So, I pulled off the highway to the right down a road and immediately found a hotel hidden away (San Simeon Pines) and figured I'd see if they had a room rather than drive back up to San Simeon (which isn't much of a town to stay in). It being dark, I really didn't know where I was but OH BOY the next morning when I went outside, WOW what a delight! It was like I had found a hidden treasure. I had driven up and down highway 1 many times, and never had taken that turnoff to Moonstone Beach before.

Yeah, that's it, Cambria/Moonstone Beach is like a hidden treasure.

Have fun, I hope the weather is good for you!

PS: if you happen to pass by the Fireside Inn in the morning when they have their Continental breakfast, please go snag me a coconut scone, they are the best! Wish I knew where they got them (it's probably just the local grocery store, lol). Now that I think about it, the best blueberry scones I've had were in Paso Robles -- wonder what it is about scones and the central coast?

the trip is next weekend so I'm making final preparations.

thanks everyone for your tips so far. I know I may seem a little overthetop excited about this but I have been wanting this trip for 4 years - and it is FINALLY happening. :loveya: