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!