www.seekersglass.com is the website for the glass art store in Cambria! I like to purchase the gorgeous ornaments for birthday and Christmas presents! ***kim***

We recently returned from our 3.5 week cross country trip and staying at Cambria's Moonstone Landing Inn... it was our favorite lodging of the trip! After much research we were thrilled with our choice.

We also considered the BW Cavalier and it looked fine when we went by, but for our nights it was close to $300 for oceanfront. The Moonstone Landing Inn was absolutely lovely, new within the last five years, immaculate with excellent ammenities (incl. fireplace and jacuzzi) and approx. $200. Wine, cheese, crackers & dips plus cookies at check in were a great touch, plus their continental breakfast included wonderful FRESH pastries from a local bakery and a fruit bowl a cut above the rest (blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, etc). Yum. I soo wanna go back right now!

Best of all, it had a TOTALLY unobstructed view of the ocean from our balcony. While there's a little street in front, beyond that there are no trees, shrubs etc, unlike many (most) of the other places.

I know this because i had my best run there (back and forth many times) and checked out each property i'd considered (for months, i might add.)

By the way, check out the Shell station for some great sweatshirts etc. at half the cost of the shoppes (thanks for the tip, ***Kim***!)

BTW, thank you JBC411 for excellent advice also re: the central coast. Wow, we had another trip of a lifetime and appreciate all the help from Fodorites. We absolutely hated to coming home and are still re-entering....(full trip report forthcoming!)

LOL, I forgot all about that Shell station. They have some great souvenirs there! Glad you enjoyed Cambria. A couple of years ago we stayed at the Blue Whale Inn, right next to the Fireside. A great little B&B, but no oceanview from the rooms there. Sounds like you had a great time in Cambria! Did you make it to Linn's for some ollalieberry goodies? ***kim***

You're welcome, ellen_griswold, and I look forward eagerly to reading your trip report. I am glad that you found a lodging in Cambria that you really enjoyed.

It is accounts like yours--and of DaveS a little further above--that I take at face value and respect, ones in which you tell about a property you liked and why, without indulging in ridiculous, sweeping assertions that all lodgings in a competing next door community are grossly inferior and that its most expensive and popular property would be recognized by any passerby as an obvious dump.

When I see so many repetitive and predictable posts of the latter type, all having the same elements and talking points, like a couple or three examples above, it does make me wonder if the openness of this forum is being abused by a particular group of property owners.

How paranoid! San Francisco is a great place to visit, Fresno isn't. Ditto with the Cambria vs. San Simeon comparison.

San Simeon does have a very nice pier that we like to walk on and the ocean beach there is nice, I just prefer Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Different strokes for different folks kind of thing! ***kim***

**kim** You always find the bright side. Thanks. I meant to add that I find all the places in the Hearst Castle area to be over-priced.

Thanks, happy! San Simeon or Cambria, it's all a gorgeous piece of coast there. We have stayed at three different properties on Moonstone Drive and my favorite so far has been the Cypress Cove Inn. Their sister property, Fogcatcher was full but I would love to stay there sometime, also!

Still have to make it over to Black Cat Bistro. I heard Bistro Sole closed. We like to tour the wine country in Paso Robles on our way over this area. I think their Fall Harvest Wine Tour is in October. We will probably do this again, if it isn't on our son's wedding day. Cheers! ***kim***

Wow, all you guys are amazing, giving this post a life of its own and providing endless information. I'll be sure to report back when I've made the trip.

Keep the advice coming!!

Just wanted to add that many of the properties mentioned here on this post have winter specials! BW Cavalier in the winter... $79.00 to 130.00. Cambria Pines Lodge and Fogcatcher... $99.99 including wine upon arrival, dinner at the Cambria Pines Lodge, and a continental breakfast in the lobby. Try coming Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb and you'll love the prices!