My husband and I are taking a weekend trip to see the Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and the wine country. We fly into Burbank Friday, September 9th around 10:00 am and fly out Sunday, September 11th at 1:30 pm. We really want to see the Hearst Castle but we like to visit the wineries. Please recommend where we should stay and should we rent a compact car or can we get a full size.

I recommend driving Hwy 1, Pacific Coast Hwy, the whole way (otherwise known as the PCH). Zaca Mesa has a vineyard around there somewhere. Good Chardonnay.

beautiful time of year to visit! the landscape will be golden and lovely!

Sparker, can you get a flight from Burbank to SB? Or change your flight and fly into SB? Your time is very limited and the drive from Burbank to SB is dull and congested on the weekends. Next, it would be important to know which wineries you are interested in. Santa Barbara County/Santa Yzez Valley or Paso Robles area? Third, what is your price range for lodging? Those three things will greatly help any suggestions you may recieve on this board. I will try to check back and answer your questions in more detail.

The reason why are going is because we got very inexpensive airfare. Phx to Burbank $23 each way. I think flying to Santa Barbara would defeat the purpose. We dont have a preference for the area's wineries. We dont want to spend over $250.00 a night. Thanks for your response.

In Santa Barbara, don't miss Gainey and the little tasting rooms around the Los Olivos Cafe.

If you're going to the Paso wine region, I could give a nice list of places to visit there. ***kim***

Go on the 101 North all the way to S> If you're lucky... you might make it in an hour and a half... if not, could be up to 3 hours. Drive through SB and take the 154 (San Marcos Pass) into Santa Ynez. You can google on the Foxen Wine Trail or the Santa Maria Wine trail and find what interests you. (Firestone, Foxen Canyon, Fess Parker's, Rancho Sisquoc, Gainey and Zaca Mesa are favorites and all within 20 minutes of each other. There is a market in Santa Ynez that will pack a great picnic lunch for you... call ahead. ( I will try to remember their name and post again soon.)

Drive an hour north and your $250.00 will get you a nice room at the
Shore Cliff or Seaventure in Pismo Beach or Sycamore MIneral Springs in Avail Beach.

From there it is only a hour and 10 minutes, a beautiful drive to Hearst Castle... take a morning tour and start back down the coast.

Depending on how long you want to be in the car Sunday, you could opt to stay in Pismo again, Santa Ynez or Santa Barbara.

That should give you a start. I'm kind of suprized that no one else is responding to your post because there have been a lot of past posts on this area. Do a search and get some ideas.

SOunds like fun although you will be in the car a lot. Sunday is kind of out because you have to get back fromt he airport. Maybe skip Hearst Castle and go for a winery tour?

Hi Sparker1,

I live nearby and recommend the following:

B-line it north on the 101 as soon as you land, as the northbound traffic out of LA on the 101 on a Friday is a killer. Try to make it to Santa Barbara by 3:30 to avoid stalls on the freeway. After that, it should be fairly open. The idea to take Cachuma Pass (hiway 154) will save you about 20 minutes, and will take you nearby Solvang.

Considerations: Most of the area wineries close at 5:00, including Saturday.

Knowing that, I would head towards the direction of Hearst Castle Friday evening possibly staying close by in Cambria. On your way up, you can visit Solvang or Chumash Casino on 154 if those interest you. I recommend eating dinner in San Luis Obispo. A restaurant named “1865” on Monterey Street is excellent. (That is the name and the address). Here’s a list of fine restaurants in SLO:

http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com/l...ine=0&locid=17

From SLO, take the Morro Bay exit, hiway 1 to Cambria (about a 45 minute drive) and set up for the next morning to Hearst. (I have the opportunity to swim in the Roman pool there the following week…shhh!) After your castle tour (buy tickets in advance), drive south on hiway 1 a short ways to hiway 46 East, Paso Robles. Just before Paso, you will come to several good zinfandel wineries.

From Paso, take the hiway 46 West Wine Trail which will hook you up to hiway 101 via Vineyard Ave in Templeton.

http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/p...ineries-1.html

That will take up most of your Saturday. You might want to bed in Pismo Beach area.

The next morning take the Foxen Canyon tour (click on my name for details of the area and back roads). You may wish to breakfast at The Hanging Gardens at Sycamore Springs Inn on Avila Beach Drive. We always enjoy that! Then head back to LAX, all doable.

Enjoy!

Addendum: I just noticed your 1:30 fly out time from Burbank. It looks like your Sunday will be dedicated to commute. sowwy…