Butler and sugar daddy...Nice!

LOL LucieV: I was all about signing up until I got to the sugar daddy part. :) A friend of mine and his wife bought a dive resort in Fiji - and was going to get over there, but never did - and then they sold it. Some of the best diving in the world.

sms406: Always a wise choice to get the official decision from the little lady. You really can't go wrong either way - and even if you don't stay in a Paso Robles winery - there are also some around Cambria.

BTW - the Moonlight Beach area by Cambria is cool.

Geesh - all this travel talk has reminded me that it's time to pay the piper. Off to workout - but love reading about travel planning. Keep it up.

Uno Mas: It's Moonstone beach by Cambria. Something didn't quite sound right about that.

http://www.central-coast-travel.com/...one-beach.html

sms406, I certainly did not mean to pour cold water on your plans: your trip sounds fabulous, and I know you will enjoy VI, despite my nitpicky comparison to PRI. (Since I can't afford to go to either place at this point, I envy you!)

I much prefer to save on lodging and spend the rest of the travel budget on great meals, helicopter flights, diving, whatnot. :)

Thanks again for the great advice. The place I'm tentatively booked to stay in Cambria is on Moonstone Beach.. so cool! I can understand the effusive praise of PRI. It really looks like a special place. I'm sure if I went there I'd get to hang with Brangelina or Beyonce. However, if I can't find a way to enjoy myself at VI, then there's probably something wrong with me. I'm currently in the process of switching careers, so maybe PRI is in my future. Then again, I may be lucky ending up as a butler!

Thanks again for the great advice. I can understand the effusive praise of PRI. It really looks like a special place. I'm sure I'd end up bumping into Brangelina or Beyonce. However, if I can't enjoy myself at VI, then something's probably wrong with me. I'm working on a career switch, so maybe PRI is in my future. Then again, I may be lucky to end up as a butler!

One other thought. When leaving Manhattan Beach - I trust you are considering driving up scenic PCH/1 toward/through Malibu? You could be in Santa Barbara in a fairly leisurely hour and a half.

From SB - if you wanted to spend two nights at say Moonstone Beach or Justin Winery - you could drive another 45 minutes or so to Solvang - http://www.solvangusa.com/ - have a snack/Danish pastry/lunch/visit a winery (the driver going lightly on the "Excelsior of the Gods" of course) - and then be off on a fairly straight shot up to Cambria/Moonlight Beach or Justin - in maybe 3 hours (it's only about 90 miles - most of it not along the ocean) - even with a stop in Morro Bay - where you might also sample the Saltwater taffy. :)

Just a thought - as it might be easier/more relaxing to spend two nights in the same place while you are heading up to Big Sur.

see: http://www.distance-calculator.co.uk...to-solvang.htm

Uno Mas: Have you seen the hilarious movie Sideways? About a couple guys on a bachelor party trip to wine country. Several of the wineries shown in the movie are in the greater Santa Ynez Valley, around Solvang/Los Olivas, etc. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/

Sounds like the ride isn't nearly as bad as i was lead to believe by a friend of mine. As bon voyage mentioned, i probably didn't need to rearrange my trip and add the santa barbara night. What you suggest might be a nice alternative. I'll let it marinate a bit. btw, i did see sideways. Looks like beautiful country over there.

Marinte away. :) My sister used to drive to San Luis Obisbo in about 5 hours from here - pretty regularly - when my niece was going to college there. And we're an hour and a half south of Manhatten Beach.

fter the morning rush hour - you might take the 405 freeway up to say the 10/Santa Monica area - and take a short jaunt over to the Coast and head up PCH from there. A beautiful drive along Malibu, past Pepperdine up on the hill, etc.

Play around with this map for example: http://www.hw.com/abouthw/DirectionsMaps.aspx

That whole area around Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo has morphed from cow country into a food and wine destination--award-winning vineyards and olive oil farms plus local seafood. There are cute shops in Cambria, more shops and a leafy central square in Paso Robles, and lovely seaside hiking in Montaña de Oro State Park.

We did seven days down Highway 1 last summer and it was incredible. We traveled less than 100 miles per day, taking time to hike, explore, etc. Look for the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas (just a pull-out area along the coast side of the road) -- amazing! We also enjoyed San Luis Obispo. The California Fodorites are always so helpful!