chaley

Hi everyone, I recently joined the website and need your help! I'll be in LA in less than 2 weeks and would like to plan a few days to tour Santa Barbara, Los Olivos, and all of the wineries possible up to San Luis Obispo and San Simeon to see Hearst Castle. Is it reasonable to do all of this in 4 days? If so, how should we allocate our time and in which areas should we plan to spend our 3 nights?

Also, I got tickets to see a taping of Ellen as I have a slight obsession. But, will call starts at 8:30 and the show doesn't tape until 4. Has anyone ever gone? Does the line move quickly and if so, what do you do in between pick-up and taping? Any strategies to getting into the main audience instead of the Riff Raff Room?

thanks so much in advance for all of your advice!

socialworker

Hi--not to be obtuse, but do you mean 4 days for your side trip *not* counting any of the time you spend in LA?

chaley

Yes, you're right - that doesn't count our time in LA!

socialworker

We did a similar trip but I may not be a very good resource, b/c I am one who likes a lot of down time. However, I would suggest 2 nights somewhere around SLO for the first leg followed by 1 night in SB, so that your return trip to LA is less taxing. You will also need to plan around which, or how many, of the Hearst tours you want to do. Sorry that I am not familiar w/Los Olivos and so am not sure where that fits in....There are lots of wineries inland from the Central Coast in the Paso Robles area. There is also a vineyard--Gainey--near SB. I am sure many others can give you many pointers. When we did our trip, we did 2 nights in Cambria--near SLO-- and 2 nights in SB. But, as I said, I am not one to pack a lot into everyday.

bear900

If you have never been to SB, I would stop and enjoy that for the afternoon, evening and the next morning.

http://www.sbchamber.org/visitors/attractions.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4484982

The following day you could meander through the wine trails from Los Olivos to Santa Maria along the Foxen Canyon wine trail. If you plan on sampling, all the more reason to get a fresh start.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jimbatterson/ccwineries.html

Foxen Canyon will become Bettaravia exit in S.M. and you can head towards SLO and Edna Valley. There are wineries around Edna. I would suggest taking Price Canyon (Pismo Beach) exit from 101N and turn right at the first light which is hiway 227 (2 lane road, some bicyclists). You will end at Edna Valley Road. There are wineries to the left and right as shown on this map.

http://www.goamericanwest.com/califo...leywines.shtml

For more and greater variety of wineries, take 101N from SLO and exit at Vineyard Ave in Templeton. Turn left and cross the overpass and follow this trail. That is one of my favorite rides this time of year. You will exit near Paso Robles.

At this point there are a couple of directions you can go. Both east and west on hiway 46 have wineries. Here is a good map of the Vineyard exit as you travel north and the surrounding wine trails.

http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/P...-wine-map.html

Hiway 46 west will put you near Cambria which is a good start for Hearst castle.

bear900

Sorry, one link didn't work.

Here's the link again for the Foxen Canyon wine tour:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jimbatterson/ccwineries.html

Click on the map for a larger view.

If the link fails again, Google Foxen Canyon wine tours.