This place is obscure and out of the way. It's not easy to find but I'm glad I took the time…read more A fan from Japan paid for and built this memorial and it's both sad and makes you feel good to know that there are individuals that will memorize a great actor who died young and tragically.

James Dean Crash Site Memorial James Dean was an American…read moreActor. Everyone that knows me well knows I have his image on the walls of my apartment. I've been a fan since I was a teenager. At the time I lived near the crash site this memorial was not there. Every year I remember him on this day. He died at the age of 24 in an auto accident on September 30, 1955, near Cholame, California. He had previously competed in several auto racing events, and was traveling to a sports car racing competition when he was involved in a car crash at the junction of what is currently State Road 46 and SR 41. My dear friend May from Sacramento took photos and did a review. Thanks to May I have a page to visit annually on this James Dean Remembrance Day.

We absolutely adore the charming little town of Cambria. Settled around the 1860s by European…read moreAmerican settlers, with Jeremiah "Jerry" Johnson often recognized as one of the first settlers, Cambria takes its name from the classical name for Wales. Nestled along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this quaint seaside oasis is the perfect place to unplug and decompress. The downtown is very walkable and super relaxing. It's lined with art galleries showcasing local artists, along with cozy cafés, coffee shops, and cute eateries that make it easy to spend an entire afternoon just lingering and cruising. Moonstone Beach Drive is dotted with small hotels, charming inns and restaurants. No high-rises. Totally small coastal town vibes One of our favorite pastimes is hunting for moonstones along Moonstone Beach. A true moonstone has a soft, milky glow that seems to float within the stone, and searching for them is sooooo addictive. It's easy to lose track of time and spend hours wandering the shoreline. Even if you don't find a moonstone, the colorful pebbles scattered along the beach are beautiful and make perfect little keepsakes. Pro Tip: bring a little sandwich bag or paper cup to hold the pebbles. Pro tip 2 : Visit early in the morning or during the golden hour--both times are absolutely magical. As a bonus, Hearst Castle is just 15 minutes away, Morro Bay is about a 30-minute drive, and the renowned wine region of Paso Robles is only around 45 minutes away, making Cambria an ideal home base for exploring California's stunning Central Coast. This was our second visit and we're already planning the third. Happy Travels! 16

Cambria is an adorably quaint little seaside village in SLO county. It's mostly known for its art…read moregalleries, beautiful coastal views, and proximity to Hearst Castle. There are lots of cute little historical buildings and restaurants, shops and museums. As well as tons of cute B&Bs and boutique hotels - especially along the coastal waterfront. The name Cambria is Latin for Wales - and it's home to a native forest of Monterey Pines - which is significant bc there are only three total in the US - and they're considered "critically imperiled" due to a type of fungus :( It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area - and Linn's Olallieberry pie is a MUST! The town gets super crowded in the busy seasons and on weekends. Parking is mostly street parking (and mostly free) but it can be hard to find a spot when it's busy. It's definitely a little touristy and gets way too busy for my liking. But the town is extremely walkable and there is an extensive boardwalk system along the coast. And Linn's pie is worth fighting the crowds for!

Visiting SLO and my wife heard about this trail. I checked online on how to access...unfortunately…read morethe article was from 5 years ago and seemed to be outdated. Make sure you have plenty of time as there is quite a bit to see. We had a little over an hour and weren't able to see everything. We parked at the parking village drive parking garage, which was $10. There are 2 trails that head to the entrance arch shown in the picture..the first we ran across connected to the living quarters as was a narrow trail in the grass leading to the woods. This is a tad more challenging as the other trail is a gravel road with a slight incline and this route is a small path through the woods ( incline, decline, over branches and roots, etc). After about 14 mins it connects the gravel travel. To access from the gravel trail start from the parking garage opposite of the parking garage entrance there is a sidewalk path leading to a bridge, cross the bridge and you'll be on your way. Immediately, we saw some horses wandering around and crossing us on the trail. They were calm and a pleasant surprise. I won't post much of our photos, but there are lots of interesting structures that gave me a burning man feel. Lots of graffiti too, not sure if that is welcome or just vandalism. This was a nice change of pace trail and I would recommend.

If you've heard of the Architecture Graveyard, this is the way to get there! Other reviews have…read moregood directions but I highly recommend going on a weekend so you don't have to worry about finding parking. There's also a parking garage that isn't too far, in addition to the nearby staff lots. Trail is a fire road, and occasionally there are cars/trucks on it, so stay aware. You'll eventually come to a route to your right with a bridge for a hidden trail, but keep going to the left to get to the graveyard - plan to spend an hour or two if you really want to wander around and see all the structures. The trail itself is shady, but several of the projects are out in the open - take sunblock and water, and use common sense. For better or worse, most of the architecture displays are run-down, broken, and/or vandalized with graffiti - it lends a cool dystopian vibe to the area but it's a shame that the university let them get so damaged. Still cool to explore, though, stop by to take a look and get in some steps on a nice day!

Ask my husband - as we pulled into the main heart of the Village, I kept saying, "I want to live…read morehere!" The charming mix of unique architectural styles with varied textures and accents is reminiscent of many of the old Gold Rush-era towns in the Sierra foothills. I definitely prefer vintage character to contemporary glass and steel, so felt right at home. We grabbed a sandwich at Branch Street Deli, then wandered several blocks to check out the window displays and real estate postings. We even ventured out onto the swinging bridge, and noted the gazebo nearby. Free parking is also a plus. As we left the business district we cruised on several adjacent residential streets. It seemed like each cottage was cuter than the one before. The Village of Arroyo Grande is loaded with character. Can't wait to go back and explore more.

The Village of Arroyo Grande is always a pleasure to visit. Be it for the harvest festival, the…read morestrawberry festival, the farmers market, or ... Every time it is a fun stop and the stores and restaurants are so welcoming. Come on in and take a walk and enjoy

Dinosaur Park is stunning. Sadly after years of shopping happily at the art show, I just got…read moreconned out of $150.00. A jewelry vendor from Santa Barbara sold me a silver ring. After I got home I found because of its design, it slips around on the finger to an unattractive position. I located the vendor and she said she doesn't give credits or refunds, and I should bring in it and she would adjust it a second time. Next she told me she will won't be at Dinosaur Park until Easter day. When I said I would try to be there she said she actually won't be there at all this year. She suggested I take the ring to a jewelry store and try to use it towards buying something there since the price of silver is high right now.

The view is amazing! It's a perfect spot for taking younger kids, and I know that I really enjoyed…read moreit. Perfect photo op and amazing weather when we went. Such a fun place to visit, no matter how old, if you're in the area!

So if you know me a little, you know I always love checking out local flavor…read more I travel to this area of California every summer. Last summer I had seen this chapel from Highway 46 as I entered wine country. It caught my attention so I decided to check it out on the way home. Location is easy to find and it's on McMillan Canyon Road. You can easily miss the turn so use your GPS. Once you turn onto the road the chapel comes in full view. It's like this beautiful beacon standing the middle of the foothills of central California. I pulled into the parking lot with not a soul in sight. We hiked the 300 feet up to the chapel with gorgeous vineyards keeping us company on the way up. For those that are unable to complete the steep walk, there is a paved road entrance behind the chapel but only open on Sundays. The chapel was not open but it still had a lovely exterior. The chapel was built by Judge William Clark a local Shandon resident in 1993. It was built in the style of English architect Christopher Wren who also worked on St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It is open for mass on most Sundays at 8:00am and once a year they host Festival Mozaic. The chapels name was changed to Serra Chapel in 2015. If you enjoy local flavor, this is a must stop I highly recommend.

Such a beautiful place. The small hike up the hill along their vineyards is so calming. The view is…read moreamazing from any location there. Sunset is awesome. Very convenient parking and safe path to the chapel on top of the hill.

San Simeon is my absolute fave little town on the central California coast. People often pass it up…read morefor Cambria and mostly only visit for Hearst Castle - but there's SO much more to it so don't sleep on this hidden gem of a town! I visit the area annually for some research we have been working on over the years and have grown to love San Simeon immensely. I actually much prefer it over Cambria and stay here exclusively when I visit. It's smaller, much quieter, and so easy to relax with its much slower pace. There is a historic part of town too with lots of interesting info signs and historic buildings, Hearst Winery, and Sebastian's General Store which sells Hearst beef and has the BEST meatloaf sandwich I've ever had in my life (Seaside Foods - it's a MUST)! The Elephant Seals are another big attraction here and if you can visit in the winter for their breeding season, it's an unforgettable experience. They've become one of my favorite creatures and a must see! And if you like to hike, be sure to hike the Boucher Trail at the north end of the elephant seal vista point for even more seal viewing opportunities and for excellent views of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse (and if you're lucky enough to be visiting when they offer a tour, DO IT - it's so worth it)! WR Hearst Memorial Beach is also a must visit - especially at low tide bc of all the tide pools - and sunset is excellent too for photography under the dramatic San Simeon pier. The views of the rolling green mountains surround you everywhere you go here - with Hearst Castle always watching over you on the mountain tops. And the sunsets are unrivaled from almost any point along the PCH. The local area has been settled for at least 11,000 years, inhabited by the Chumash people and eventually settled by the Portuguese as a fishing village, and then rebuilt and maintained by the Hearst family from the 1800s into present day.

San Simeon is a small village located a few miles north of Cambria on scenic California Highway 1…read more The town was founded in 1836 and became an early whaling center soon afterwards. Several years later George Hearst began purchasing ranch land around this area. His son, William Randolph Hearst began constructing his famous Hearst Castle beginning in 1919. There are many activities near San Simeon to partake in. Whale watching, Hearst Castle tours, visiting the Zebra Viewing Area, the Piedras Blancas lighthouse (at present, tours must be arranged in advance), as well as the well-known Elephant Seal breeding/viewing areas at the Elephant Seal Vista Point. The San Simeon area also offers many wonderful expansive scenic coastline views on numerous hiking trails. The rugged, beautiful beach coastline is a postcard-perfect place to enjoy the Pacific ocean while sipping wine at Hearst Ranch Winery or kayaking through the San Simeon Cove. In San Simeon, there are several eateries and lodging possibilities in this quiet coastal village.

Ewww, but it's something to see!…read more There even is a smell wafting the corridor. Almost like a community work of art/sculpture. Watch out when walking, one just might miss it.

We came, we saw, snapped a few selfies, and left. It's oddly fascinating, yet still a bit gross…read more But since it's considered art, it's worth checking out at least once!