Just as the Central Coast beckons as one drives north along Highway 101 and the road turns inland from the ocean, ascending into Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara Wine Country, so does the Santa Ynez Bed and Breakfast, ForFriends Inn. The landscape changes to a pastoral setting filled with oak trees, letting us know
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along Highway 101, lies the Central Coast town of San Luis Obispo. A city that is increasing in popularity partly due to its agricultural roots giving way to grape growing, expanding the city’s desirability for fine dining and wine tasting. There is more to San Louis Obispo than
Paso Robles, which means The Pass of Oaks, is located in San Luis Obispo County along the Salinas River. In the early days, people traveled to Paso Robles for its Mineral Springs. Cattle ranchers, almond and apple growers, and dairy farmers were the first to settle the area. Today the city is becoming an exciting
Today the farm to table dinner concept is the culinary mission for many restaurants throughout the country. Chefs and foodies are always taking the idea a step further by practicing sustainability in the kitchen as well as utilizing every portion of a food staple. Carrying the notion of using local ingredients, further wineries are joining
Thinking about a summer weekend getaway, the California Coast offers some wonderful escapes. If you are looking for that idyllic locale with charm and quaintness that lives up to its name, Carmel by the Sea is the place to go. Around every nook and cranny, there is something to be found. From its fairytale cottages
There is something to be said about visiting a city car free. Hoofing it, breathing in the local culture and taking local transportation can get you right into the spirit of the location you are visiting. Santa Barbara has made it easy for you to discover the city without having to get yourself behind the
To some, the Central Coast is a wine lover’s best kept secret especially when most people generally think of the California wine scene as primarily Napa and Sonoma. The wines from the Central Coast are equally as outstanding as those from their Northern counterparts. The Central Coast now plays an important role in the production
An excellent bottle of wine is like music to one’s ears. In the case of Silvestri Vineyards, the meaning is twofold. First owner Alan Silvestri is a composer of film music. His creativity for the melodic line carries into his passion for making wine. Like the music he composes, his wines create their own melody
The McBride sisters’ story has many firsts, and their two wineries are built out of the love they have for each other. Andrea and Robin Mcbride are not only women winemakers, a challenge in itself, but also they are the first African American women winery owners/winemakers. Their latest endeavor is Truvée Wines, a Central Coast
Each year the wines from Crawford Family Wines get better and better. I first discovered Crawford wines at the Sta. Rita Hills Wine and Fire event in 2013. The growth and development of both the wine and the winery are impressive as the Horvath’s continue through their pursuit of balance. Since that time, they have