San Luis Obispo County is a California road trip classic. Situated roughly halfway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, it’s no coincidence that the first motel had its home here. If ever there was a place made for exploring behind the wheel of a car, San Luis Obispo County is it. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s my favorite place to be when I’m roadtripping in the Golden … [Read more...] about San Luis Obispo County: A Jewel of California Central Coast
California Central Coast
Lone Cypress Letdown in Pebble Beach, California
If you want to see the famous Lone Cypress in Pebble Beach, you should know one thing: it's going to cost you. If you don't do your research and show up in search of the solitary Monterey Cypress standing sentinel on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, what sticks with you after your visit may not be the warm memories of a leisurely drive along a spectacular stretch … [Read more...] about Lone Cypress Letdown in Pebble Beach, California
Big Sur: Natural Beauty on the California Coast
Big Sur is a big deal. Think of it: rocky cliffs with long, luscious views of the Pacific Ocean, magnificent mountains cloaked in fog and covered in evergreens, and nature in perfect harmony with itself. I sincerely can't think of a more visually captivating place than this stunning stretch of the California coast between San Simeon and Carmel. A big part of Big Sur's … [Read more...] about Big Sur: Natural Beauty on the California Coast
Hearst Castle: Scenes from San Simeon’s Shangri-La
This is Hearst Castle: opulent, obsessive, and almost obscene. It's a must-see stop in San Simeon along California's Pacific Coast Highway. I'd wanted to visit Hearst Castle for ages, having first heard about it because of my appreciation for Orson Welles' cinematic masterpiece Citizen Kane. For those in the dark, the film is based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, the … [Read more...] about Hearst Castle: Scenes from San Simeon’s Shangri-La
Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Just a few miles north of Hearst Castle along the Pacific Coast Highway--if you're driving with the windows open--you may catch a bit of a strong, "organic" scent on the wind. I'm not talking about the salty, seaweed-y aroma of the ocean. The smell I'm describing is worse. Much worse. What you're probably experiencing is the awful stench of the elephant seal rookery at … [Read more...] about Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas