Southern California 'scapers, I could use your advice

[jayelsee]

My daughter & I are heading for the west coast about a week before the Farscape convention in Burbank, and we're planning to spend most of that week in the CA central coastal area. Probably based in/around Santa Barbara. We have a couple of ideas about what we'd like to do.....1, a day trip to the Channel Islands....2, wine country tour. Any advice about that, or other kewl places to go, things to do? We will have a rental car.

Also would welcome any info you might have about "lodging" ... reasonable/cheap .... we've backpacked and stayed in hostels in Europe, so luxury is not essential, "picturesque", interesting people to talk to would be nice.

And, we'll head back to LA a couple of days before the con, so what should we do there?

[LT Garrix]

Monterey is a really pretty area to visit. There are a ton of vineyards in that area Ventana, Bernardus, Chateau Julien, San Saba, Durney. All offer tasting and have fantastic wines. I find that the Montery County wines have more character than the Napa Valley wines as they are generally much smaller batch. Besides, the people are friendlier because there aren't as many tourists. At both Cannery Row in Monterey and the Steinbeck Center in Salinas there is a "Tast of Monterey" where they do a limited tasting of Monterey County wines and they have maps of all the county vineyards. There are vineyards in the Central Valley, but the ones I mentioned are mostly in the Carmel Valley and can all be done in one day, assuming you take your time and watch how much you sample. Some may charge a tasting fee, but they will refund it with purchase. Some places you can keep the glass, others there's a small fee.

While there you can kayak in the Bay and go see Sea Otters, drive 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach, shop the really neat shops and sample great restaurants in Carmel, Big Sur is great for outdoor hiking.

On the way back south is San Simeon and Hearst Castle, a truly amazing piece of architecture. Plan a day for that one and take a picnic lunch.

I really can't comment too much on lodging as I lived in Monterey and used it as a base of operations. Let me know if you want more information on the Monterey area. Unfortunately I don't live there anymore, but it is the one place in California I would willingly choose to live.

[jayelsee]

Thanks Lt Garrix! That was a quick response.

[LT Garrix]

You just got lucky on that one that I happened to be poppint through. :D The nice thing is it's all north of LA and really the drive from Santa Barbara up isn't that bad. As can be gathered by the quick response with vineyard names, I'm big on wine. :wine: A good chuck of our collection is Monterey wines and I will always pick one of them first at a restaurant.

There is a really great restaurant in Salinas that has monthly winemaker dinners where the chef pairs food with a vineyard's wines. I was never disappointed even though I had never hear of half of the food on the menu. They're regular menu is awesome to. It's Hullabaloo and I'm trying to see when the dinners are. It's been over a year since I was last up there and I forgot what day of the month it is.

[trubador]

If you're doing Central Coast, and will be near Santa Barbara... here's a few ideas:

1) Solvang - Danish little community with a big windmill and pastry shops out the wazoo. The architecture makes you swear you're in Europe, and not in California. link (http://www.solvang.org/)

2) Santa Ynez valley (includes Santa Maria) - Many of the big name central coast vineyards/wineries here. Those with tours: Gainey (with a mini-vineyard where you get to taste the different grapes), Firestone (gorgeous view and great tour), Fess Parker. link (http://www.santabarbara.com/winecountry/), and link (http://santabarbara.winecountry.com/wineries/alphalistings.html?inktomi), and link (http://www.santaynezwineries.com/)

3) San Luis Obispo - is a small little town. Coastal area is more college-centered due to CalPoly-SLO. But it has a quaint little downtown, and the architecture is diverse and amazing (due to many of the buildings being designed by students). link (http://www.slocity.org/)

4) Santa Barbara - very expensive area. But downtown "State Street" has tons of stores/shops (including an "outside" mall), and the local art museum. And the "bottom" of State Street takes you right to the coastal promenade.

[trubador]

Oh, and the Channel Islands thing usually is out of Ventura's Harbor or the Channel Islands Harbor (in Oxnard). There are several types of tours that you can take. Island Packers is known for their tours. link (http://www.islandpackers.com/) and link (http://www.channel.islands.national-park.com/)

[jayelsee]

Thanks for all the good ideas, guys! Keep 'em coming. This is going to be such a GREAT trip.