Where to Go and Who to Do?

[OneFinger]

I'm currently finalizing plans for a business trip to Santa Barbara. I've never been there before and am clueless about the area. Would appreciate info and suggestions for the 2-3 days I'll being staying AFTER I complete business.

 

Specific questions I have are:

 

[li]Do LA escorts travel to Santa Barbara or are there escorts/agencies in the area?

 

[li]I'm thinking of traveling to San Simeon to see Hearst Castle. Is this worth seeing? Are there other things to do in the area?

 

[li]I noticed there are some islands that are designated as National Parks. How do you get to the islands and is there anything to see or do out there? Are there in-land parks that are "must see"?[/li]

 

I've lived in Orange County/San Diego County but am clueless about anything between LA and San Francisco. I'm not a club/party person so I'm not interested in bar hopping. I enjoy seeing new things and love taking pictures. Any suggestions appreciated.

[BigK]

I loved San Simeon...highly recommend a visit there.

 

The Ojai valley is beautiful also including the small town of Ojai.

 

Have a great trip.

[+ friendofsheila]

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My visits to SB were mostly to visit a friend, so I can only talk about a few things there. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and sometimes a little tone-y, but a good place to walk slowly through the shopping district and sit around in, especially the beach (and I was NEVER interested in the beach all the years I lived in LA).

 

Hearst Castle was great if you're into architecture and art that's meant to impress you by their immense presence. I'm not putting it down; it was stuff I liked. I just think it reflects Hearst & his personality. When I went there were 3 different tours, it's so big. and it's a fair drive from the coast road to get there.

 

the area around the castle, i.e. the little towns, were quiet. I really enjoyed camping on the beach and watching the sun go down. *sigh*

[+ deej]

If you have several days, why not take a drive up PCH to Monterrey and back? It's some of the most remarkably picturesque coastline anywhere. You might even want to consider checking out of your hotel and spending a night in Monterrey so you can be relaxed about the drive and make frequent stops. There will be plenty along the way to catch your interest.

 

For someone who likes to take pictures, it would be just about a perfect vacation.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Santa Barbara

 

>Specific questions I have are:

>

>[li]Do LA escorts travel to Santa Barbara or are there

>escorts/agencies in the area?[/li]

 

Potentially and no (there are no agencies in Santa Barbara). It is a long drive, so if you are going to hire in SB, contemplate a potential travel fee or hire for several hours to make it worth the drive for the guy.

 

>[li]I'm thinking of traveling to San Simeon to see Hearst

>Castle. Is this worth seeing? Are there other things to do in

>the area?[/li]

 

I vote with those that recommend San Simeon and I also second Deej's suggestion about driving up to Monterrey. There is a lot of hiking and scenary in the area and some wine makers who may offer tours, that I do not know for certain. Otherwise, it is a very sedate, low key, monied area.

 

>[li]I noticed there are some islands that are designated as

>National Parks. How do you get to the islands and is there

>anything to see or do out there? Are there in-land parks that

>are "must see"?[/li]

 

Go to the web site: http://www.nps.gov/

 

You can get passes for most of the places you decide to visit and many are well worth if you like scenary.

 

Enjoy!

[Trixie]

OneFinger,

If you are even remotely interested in that old slut, Mother Nature, the must-see destination in central California right now is a place called the Carrizo Plain. It's a rather desolate place, an empty, windswept valley where the San Andreas Fault rises up out of hiding to form a jagged suture across the scenery. But ev'ry Spring, the Plain erupts into blazing color as California's wildflowers burst into bloom. It's an amazing, transcendent sight, and this year, because of the late, heavy rains, promises to be a once in a lifetime spectacle.

It's a long day trip from SB, because it's really in the middle of nowhere! You could combine it with a visit to Hearst San Simeon, and the lovely, quiet Mission San Miguel (about 40 miles north of San Luis Obispo), if you overnight once or twice in San Looey O.

Of course, if you're to spend the night in SLO, choose the campy, fabulous Madonna Inn, a "honeymoon" hotel with theme rooms! Find yourself a nice top and reserve the Caveman Suite (It is actually a cave!)

BTW... the wildflowers come and go rather quickly, so this info about the Plain is only pertinent if you'll be in the area in the next 2 weeks or so.

 

Trix

[RM]

If you stop at the Madonna Inn, don't forget to check out the men's restrooms. Even the women want to peek in.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Onefinger-I cannot recomend the California central coast as a destination strongly enough.Its sheer majesty and scale are world class.And YES YES YES to hearst castle.Ojai is quaint and quiet-fun to get lost on the road that cuts through the hills from Santa Barbera to Ojai.Ventura is nearby and a trip to the channel islands is never to be forgotten.

Santa Barbara itself is lovely-and the eye candy will drive you crazy }(

[OneFinger]

I really appreciate all the great responses. I'm definitely going to Hearst Castle and plan on taking a leisurely drive up and down Highway 1.

 

Looks like finding someone to hire is not a reasonable possibility with my current budget. But, I plan to have a wonderful drive and enjoy the view.

 

I really appreciated the link to the National Parks. Didn't know that site existed and it has lots of great info. Thanks for the link!

[BgMstr4u]

I second all the above suggestions, and add the possibility of a wine tasting tour of the Santa Ynez Valley, across the mountains. Recently made famous by the onderful film "Sideways", it is worth a day at least.

[doctordoctor]

not an expert, but I remember some places from family trips years ago...San Simeon: very worth it, but plan on several hours up there...I think you park down along the highway and ride up in a bus as part of the tour...they may still have one tour that is better for first-timers...if driving north from San Simeon, the scenery gets better and better as you near Carmel/Monterey...drive carefully around the curves and stop when you feel like it...does anybody know if a restaurant called Nepenthe is still operating in the Big Sur area?...it was a casual hippy-dippy sort of place with healthy food and a spectacular view out the back...very California...when we there years ago, a kitchen employee threatened another employee with a knife in front of everybody...whatever...don't rush the drive...the one suggestion to spend the night up in the Carmel/Monterey area is an excellent one...you may want to go back on inland 101 if you need to move along back to SB...

[sncalif]

A trip up Hwy One to Monterey is well worth the time. The most beautiful scenery you'll see anywhere. There's a great restaurant between Big Sur and Carmel called Rocky Point. Great view (sunsets can be unbelievable) and the food is good too. If you do get up this way there's a pretty cool aquarium on Canery Row called the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Happy travels!