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Paso Robles, Big Sur and Monterey
(FAST FACT: Held each September, the acclaimed Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world.)
Paso Robles
Paso Robles, the other California wine country, with its access to 170 local wineries, is quickly stealing the “wine-light” from Napa and Sonoma. Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the natural beauty of the prime central coast makes clear why folks like William Randolph Hearst would build a castle here.
Santa Barbara couple Robert and Sherry Gilson, first time hoteliers, used the beautiful surrounding country as a canvas when creating their equine-inspired castle in Paso Robles—a 16-room, luxury boutique hotel called Hotel Cheval. Appealing to a wave of discerning foodies and wine connoisseurs hitting the Central Coast, the hotel is the first of its kind in the region’s downtown. www.hotelcheval.com.
The Pony Club, a classic European-style hot spot serves celebrated wines of the region. Bistro Laurent and Villa Creek are the two long-standing restaurants that set the foodie-culture bar in the area. Bistro Laurent is a classic upscale French Bistro where duck breast in red-wine-and-blueberry-reduction sauce is paired with Paso cabernets. Villa Creek is California to the core with local organic foods. In addition, semirecent newcomer Artisan is also making some culinary noise. www.bistrolaurent.com, www.villacreek.com, www.artisanpasorobles.com.
No visit to the Central Coast is complete without a stop at Hearst Castle, a stunning journey back in time complete with home film footage of W.J. Hearst, Charlie Chaplin and friends enjoying the opulent property. www.hearst-castle.org.
Big Sur
From April through October, take a three-hour guided moonlight tour of Big Sur’s historic stone Point Sur Lighthouse, a working 1889 monument listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Forewarning: Ghost stories abound. 831.649.7139, www.pointsur.org.
Every January and February in this picturesque coastal city, you can take an Eagle Watch Tour by boat to observe wintering eagles. The 17-mile-long Lake San Antonio is one of the largest Central California winter habitats for bald and golden eagles. 888.588.2267, www.lakesanantonio.net.
Monterey
This idyllic seaside city offers more than the peace that meets the soul –specifically, a wealth of film and literature history in the form of movies filmed in and books written about the area.
Did you know nearly 200 films feature the county of Monterey? Tour some of the shooting locations in a luxury coach via Monterey Movie Tours. 800.979.3370, www.montereymovietours.com.
History Fest Monterey, Oct. 3-19, features in-depth tours, films, history, music and workshops.
Along with many haunts of modern writers that populate the area, the National Steinbeck Center provides literary inspiration. 831.796.8388, www.steinbeck.org. Also for Steinbeck devotees, on Aug. 7-10, 2008, the city will hold its annual four-day Steinbeck Festival, replete with tours, lectures and events commemorating the famous author’s legacy. If you can’t time your travel then, you’ll find numerous guided and self-guided tours available throughout the year. www.steinbeck.org and www.canneryrow.org (festival and guided tours); www.historicmonterey.org (self-guided).
