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.

One thing to note: the directions on Google Maps are a bit off and the location is poorly marked,…read moreso it can be a little confusing to find the first time. Once you know where it is, though, it's definitely worth the stop. Someday I'll find it !

Nitt Witt Ridge. I never got around to take a tour. Alas all good things must come to an end. The…read moreNitt Witt Ridge home was permanently closed in June 2022. It's fenced off with private property signs posted. It's privately owned now. The once impressive, folk art monstrosity of a home, has fallen to disrepair. It's sadly dilapidated and has lost all of its lovely, quirky charm. The house is a crumbling heap. It looks as if a strong stiff wind can take it all down. The gardens are long gone... weeds are blooming now. Sad. Nitt Witt Ridge is California State Landmark #939. The marker is still on the property, viewable . The bourse in its glory days was an example of 20th century folk art. Created by homeowner, Arthur Beal. Mr. Beal bought the 2.5 acre lot in 1928. He lovely kept up this place and gave tours. He died in 1992. In its hey day, the house and gardens were spirited folk art and part wacky off the wall lunacy. He sculpted the land using hand tools and local materials. I'm glad I came to see it before who knows what will become of it. Your guess is as good as anyones. Future mega mansion is my bet. But f you want to check NWR out, there is a small dirt area across the street which makes for a perfect makeshift temp parking spot.

I love Cambria, it reminds me of Santa Barbara, Carmel , San Luis Obispo…read more Very quaint town to stroll , admires antiques, beautiful views and you take your own time. Walking in the main streets you enjoyed cafe, shops and restaurants.

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.

Chapel Hill is one of those rare gems in the world. For the longest time I never knew it was here -…read morebut looking North one day while traveling along the 46 I noticed it. I did some research and as Jamie S mentioned below, there is some interesting history here. Chapel Hill was renamed Serra Chapel after Father Junipero Serra. Supposedly there's a relic of Junipero Serra's bone here that they bring out during mass. I had full intention of attending mass a few Sunday's back but was about 15 minutes late. I didn't want to disturb the other parishioners so I opted not to enter, instead hang out outside and taking in the awesome views. The actual church is only open during Sunday Mass and a few special events. Parking on top of the hill is via the back entrance that is closed except during mass & events. You can park in the front and take the trek up the hill any time though.

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.

It's basically what the name is. A small alleyway full of people's left over chewing gum and stuck…read moreto the walls. Guess something that crazy could make a big impact to have a spot in the city. It's similar to the one in Seattle's. Same concept obviously. It's right in the heart of SLO Town where it's among all the shops, restaurants and bars. Not big at all but decent. When we stopped by, it wasn't to crazy busy but people were starting to work their way there. All for pictures and to check out what the fuss was all about. Like anything, it's just some weird thing that happened to make a name for itself. Don't know how it all started but it left a lasting impression for it to be known in town. You literally can walk through it in 10 seconds or so. PS, just don't lick....lol...

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!