United States, California, San Luis Obispo area

Coastal Living At Its Best
More than just a pretty face, California is a hub of enriching activities.

SLO Cal is the perfect moniker for San Luis Obispo County, where easy, relaxed and stress free is the name of the game. I now understand that this is the part of the Golden State where all the typical, modern day California depictions come from: laid back surfers, giant redwoods, long walks on the beach, wine tasting, fresh seafood, smiling people, etc. For my first, but not last, visit to this scenic area, I opted to take the tourist route and do a few things that would be on the fun list of anyone, coming from anywhere.

Hearst Castle, http://hearstcastle.org/ located in San Simeon, boasts 68,500 square feet and 38 bedrooms. Designed by architect Julia Morgan and paid for by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, this is a spectacle to behold. During the early 1900’s, in his heyday, Mr. Hearst was worth $30 billion, an amount in today’s dollars that would make even the richest person cry with envy. My weekday visit was a pleasant one, which avoided the large tour groups of weekends and made for a relaxed guided tour, followed by a serene, unguided meander of the grounds afterwards.

The Grand Rooms Tour is recommended for first-time visitors and was the one I attended. For $25 and about an hour, I felt immersed in the era and opulence of the time and the space and very much enjoyed learning the history of the life of Mr. Hearst and his family. I will more than likely return to enjoy the other tour options in the future.

The view from the castle grounds.

One of the “small” cottages on the property.

After a fun, interesting and educational experience at Hearst Castle, I had to commit my new knowledge to memory by having a drink. After all, one cannot visit wine (and beer and spirits) country without having a few libations this area is known for. Krobar Craft Distillery http://www.krobardistillery.com/ is about a 40-minute drive from Hearst Castle and proudly offers various gins, whiskeys, rums, vermouths, and bitters. As a lover of gin and whiskey, I tried them all, with some help, of course. One of my takeaways was the rye whiskey. It had strong notes of port, spice and a sweet finish. It was surprisingly smooth, even at cask strength, which was very impressive. The knowledgeable staff were also incredibly friendly, easy going and didn’t mind if one lingered on the grounds on their outdoor patio.

Krobar’s patio outside the tasting room.

Once a nice tipple went down, my stomach started making its presence known. One may not think about barbeque in wine country, but barbeque was the thought that came to mind. I was happily satisfied to find a fantastic place in downtown Paso Robles. I followed the smell of smoke to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ https://jeffryswinecountrybbq.com/ down an alleyway, which seemed very appropriate. This outside space between two buildings was set up to give just the right kind of atmosphere to enjoy wine or beer, along with some fine smoked meats and sides. The scratch-made sauces and pickles also added to the experience of good eatin’ and the meal ended with a smile on my face. The sleep that followed was a deep slumber in my hotel by the beach and the next morning I was lulled awake by sunshine and the soothing sound of crashing  waves.

Tri-tip sandwich and sesame coleslaw.

Since this was a short weekend trip, I had to be choosy about where to have breakfast, as there would not be time for more than one. I opted for a waffle place that operated out of a cute shack next to a public park in Cambria called, The Hidden Kitchen https://hiddenkitchencalifornia.com/. Their newer, larger location in Cayucos will open in March of this year, but the experience at the Cambria location should not be missed while the opportunity still exists. The menu was simple, with one delicious gluten-free blue corn waffle as the forefront of each dish, topped with a variety of organic options. Each of their smoothies can match whatever mood you may be in, and the coffee was hot. Casual outdoor seating was made a bit more comfortable with multi-colored fabric overhangs, potted succulents and ivy that crawled up the walls around the open space. The soft background music and ambiance reminded me of a meditation retreat, and I immediately felt welcomed and relaxed.

The entrance to the Hidden Kitchen in Cambria.

For an area that is almost in between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this would be a great weekend getaway for city slickers who need some not-so-crowded ocean therapy. To help plan your trip, feel free to visit: https://www.slocal.com/ for ideas and information. As I write this, I’m internally wagging my finger at myself for not visiting this area sooner. As a California local, I think I will be making a better effort to explore more of my own home state.