Central California

We began our trip by flying into LAX and staying with Los Angelinos friends who accompanied us to Solvang for two days, and then Cambria (also for two days). We wanted to see Solvang because it was recommended, affordable, and adorable(sort of like the California's Gatlinburg, TN with a Danish twist). I also wanted my husband to see the view of the Pacific from Highway One and our ultimate destination was Hearst Castle. Wineries and good restaurants were also a priority! We also managed to squeeze in a visit to the original Getty museum in Malibu.

Quick Tips:

If you want to go the original Getty Museum in Malibu, reserve tickets in advance on the Internet. Most likely, you can do this the same day as your visit, but why stress yourself out?
If you want to visit Hearst, you MUST purchase your tickets in advance on their website. There were many panicked people denied entry the day we were there.
Always pick a DD when visiting wineries.
Most B & Bs will say they require a three-day stay, but will negotiate.

Best Way To Get Around:

In Los Angeles (duh), you need a car. In Solvang, however, you can walk to a lot of places in town if you book lodging accordingly. Bikes are available for those who want to ride through wine country, but it's pretty serious highway there-- not heavily trafficked, but I wouldn't want to ride my bike there. However, I am wimpy on such matters. Basically, you need a car.

The Pickford House has a charming theme: all of the rooms are named after early movie stars like Mary Pickford, Norma Talmadge, Rudy Valentino, and Clara Bow. This is an apt theme since the B&B is only 8 miles from The Hearst Castle where many of early Hollywood's stars used to attend W.R. Hearst's & Marion Davies' ostentatious soirees.

The rooms are cute, furnished with antiques and claw-foot tubs, but there is very little ventilation and the room we had backed up to a noisy highway. Also, the owner seemed very stressed out about us ruining her antiques and on occasion would hand us coasters or ask us to be careful which I thought was strange.

Breakfast was served from 8-10 and was solid: sausage, herb salad, eggs, salsa, muffins, jam. The coffee was decent, too. So, I was pleased with that. And apparently this inn was built to be a B&B,so it has an awesome room for dining with a huge, antique bar, a gold-plated tin ceiling, piano, fireplace, all the makings of a cozy scene.

However, I would recommend this B & B to early birds or older people. (I'm forty). I wanted to have cocktail in that lovely aforementioned room and sit by the fire with my friends after ten o'clock and I think it stressed the owner out. We were being very quiet, but I did not feel welcome in that particular communal space. Definitely a place for people who like to stay in their rooms-- I'm more of an explorer myself and like to investigate. This is place for guests who go to bed early. If that matches your preferences, you might really enjoy The Pickford House, but request a room that doesn't back up to the highway.

Also, I would have preferred to stay in Cambria proper and been able to walk everywhere. But again, that is just a personal preference.

We stopped in at The Red Viking for breakfast one morning and it hit the spot. French toast, bacon and eggs, you name it--they have it. They also have a cool place mat that gives you the history of the area and the service was real friendly. It seemed like a place that locals frequented. Not for fussy eaters...a true diner-style experience.

This restaurant was across the street from where we stayed and was recommended to us as one of the nicer places to eat in Solvang, but to tell you the truth, I thought it was pretty ordinary and found the food neither satisfying or distinctive. However, the after-hours version of The Meadows was a great party spot, but I wouldn't spend my money on dinner there again. They had a salad bar, typical fare like steaks and ribs. But the real killer is that their mashed potatoes were fake and not very good. I'm a potato lover (even fake) and found it easy to resist these. Their French Onion soup was also disappointing. Okay. You get it. I don't think you should eat here, but apparently the locals do.

This is a wonderful lunch spot. We lucked into it. I ordered a salad comprised of bibb lettuce, drizzled in a Gorgonzola & balsamic dressing. LUSCIOUS! And I don't often say that about salads. MY husband ordered a pastrami sandwich and was equally pleased. You could also get good local wines there. The chef was very nice and came out to see how we liked our meal. Portions weren't wimpy and the food was quality. You didn't feel overly full or greased-out afterwards. A lovely experience. I am guessing one might need reservations for evening.

This restaurant was recommended to us by the owner of the Solvang Garden Lodge and we're glad we took him up on it! It's a very shabby-chic sort of place with tons of fresh flowers. The indoor area has a cottage-appeal and the outdoor area is like sitting in a wonderful, but un-prissy garden.

The menu was pretty simple, as they were undergoing some sort of transition (expansion?), but it ranged from full meals to appetizers of gourmet cheeses served with walnuts and California figs. I ordered an exotic artichoke/asparagus soup which was delicate and complex at the same time. I also ordered an egg-roll made with sushi that was fantastic even though I didn't realize that I was ordering sushi! My husband tried two of their cheese plates and we all drank divine cappuccinos afterwards.

The service was friendly and unsnobby and I think this restaurant was pricier but worth it. In fact, I was really impressed with Hoppe's and would dare say it is one of the best restaurants I have ever dined in-- and I've been to a few. I'm also a bit of a foodie, so that's a great recommendation.

We were there for lunch, but I imagine you would need reservations for evening. This would be a good place to take a date.

A Western, traditional and sculptural garden, I was really impressed with the art available here and wish I had more money. Fun and funky garden sculptures made from industrial junk were just hilarious and interesting. They also had nice sketches and beautiful Brazilian leather ottomans and chairs. The owner was a real doll, too. I'm not into Western motifs, but if you are, there is plenty of great stuff. Check it out!