Paso Robles is a special place because it is probably what Napa was before it became so commercial. Over the years we visited the area, it was clear many people were finding their way to this wonderful place and enjoying the wines and olive oils that are produced there.
Category Archives: Hotels
We love Pinot Noir: San Luis Obispo
As we continued our exploration of the California wine regions, we drove up toward San Luis Obispo. While not as well known as the Santa Barbara wines, it is worth taking the time to visit San Luis Obispo. There are lots of good restaurants and wineries to enjoy and if you want to go to the beach, Pismo Beach is truly a beachy community that is a throw back in time.
When driving up 101 past Santa Maria, the first place we went to was Laetitia Vineyard.
It is in Arroyo Grande, that is the southern most part of San Luis Obispo. Laetitia grows a number of varietals but they are best known for their Pinot Noir. Their wine is always good and are available at a good price point as well. We belonged to their wine club for a number of years but stopped before we moved to Florida. They have a number of single vineyard Pinots that are just wonderful, full bodied wines but they aren’t usually available outside the winery. Their Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir is readily available and is a good wine to keep around the house for any occasion. They also have a good chardonnay and other wines including a sparkling one. Take the time to visit. It is a beautiful spot to stop.
Talley Vineyards is also a good choice and is located in Arroyo Grande as well. We visited Talley a number of times. It is a beautiful winery with lovely views.
We have also been to Claiborne and Churchill, as well as Baileyana, Chamisal, and Windemere.
San Luis Obispo has a lot to offer visitors. It is known throughout California for being the home of California Polytechnic Institute. It is an amazing university because of all of their offerings including a architecture school and their wonderful school of Agriculture and Natural Resources where the students make cheese and all kinds of foods that are available for sale. They have a cheese making class that is open to the everyday public that I thought about taking but, unfortunately, didn’t get to do it while we lived in California.
The town center has a wonderful downtown with lots of restaurants. It is definitely worth the time to stop and visit if you are in the area. We don’t really know too many hotels in the area but there are two I thought I would talk about.
The first one is the Madonna Inn. It is truly a funny, fantastical, original that only exists in San Luis Obispo.
It is right on the 101 and is worth a stop if not a place to stay for the night.
Each room is different and each is an individual. It is kitschy and just plain retro funny. Want to say in a caveman room? How about Flowers and Hearts or a western room complete with a wagon bed? Oh, and what about a toilet sculpture for a fountain? Think about every idea you ever had for a room and give them a call. They probably have it.
The second hotel is The Apple Farm. It is an institution in SLO.
The rooms were pretty funky. They are decorated a la poster beds and a lot of chintz.
There may even be an old fashion rotary phones with (oh horror) circular dials and a dial tone. I guess the kids today would know what to do with them. They don’t have to because it is a stop on the tour buses with a lot of elderly people going to SLO. Breakfasts are good and old fashioned and they have wonderful baked goods to purchase.
Once you have seen enough of SLO (the town), you can cruise over to Pismo Beach. It is also a throwback in time. Lots of motels and funky restaurants. It is a fun place and we always got a kick out of going there but now we are headed to one of our favorite places: Paso Robles.
We love Pinot Noir: Santa Barbara (Part 4)
As we continue the tour of our favorite Santa Barbara Pinot Noir growers, I thought I would take a minute to talk about the times we have ridden our bikes in the area. It is simply a beautiful place to ride and explore because the little towns are welcoming and so are most wineries.
We love Pinot Noir (part 1)
I have to admit, Mike and I are unabashed and unrepentant Pinot Noir fans. We love the big, chewy and/or tasty pinots. Unfortunately, many people have only had the fairly lean ones.
Final, and best, stop: Hawk’s Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida
Our bike trip came to an end (and a great road trip it was) at Hawk’s Cay Resort. It is a beautiful place located on Duck’s Key. It was a short week ago that we left the car here. They were very gracious and let us leave the car while we went riding.
It is a beautiful property. Between the spa, docks, pools, and scenery, it was just the right place for us to land after staying in some funky places along the way. It is one of the most service oriented places we have stayed in a long time. We were there on a shoulder season so our room price was quite good. It is a fairly expensive place to stay but so worth it.
We rode up to the front of the place and dropped off our bags. Then we went to the parking lot and packed up the bikes before we checked in. The room was lovely and the bathroom had a wonderfully large shower. We both really enjoyed it after our ride and after all of the not so great showers along the way.
It was a bit late for lunch and too early for dinner so we went to the tiki bar for a celebratory drink (okay, we were ready for a drink) and some munchies. We had some chips and salsa and some popcorn shrimp. They were so delicious. The bartenders are fun as well. The drink (mojitos) were good. They held us over for dinner.
We walked around the property just to see what is there. It is a great place for families with lots of interesting pools including one that is not quite a pool but a lagoon that has a sandy bottom and filled with some fish so younger children can experience the sea in a safe environment.
There is lots of adult recreation as well with fishing, diving, kite boarding, paddle boarding, sea kayaking, and any other water sport anyone can think of. There is also lots of places to just sit at the dock of the bay.
I would imagine it would be a great spot for a business meeting although who wants to be in a meeting room when they can be outside for all the things to do. I didn’t see a golf course but it may be there. They have a big tennis area with pros that provide lessons.
We had dinner in Alma (their elegantly informal restaurant). Their wine list is quite good. The service is excellent. We shared with the garlic shrimp as an appetizer.
It was just yummy. Basically, we wanted to lick the plate. Mike had the paella and it was very good. I ordered a steak because after all of the seafood and fish we ate, I needed a steak.
While it was good, it was delivered a little cool. I would have sent it back but I was just too hungry so I let it slide but I did tell the waiter. They took the steak off of our bill which I thought was exceptional since I didn’t send it back. They also called us later that evening to offer a bottle of wine because of the cool steak. We thought they were incredibly gracious. We would go back there again simply because of their service.
We had breakfast the next morning in Ocean that had a very good buffet or you can order off a menu.
We left that morning for home. What a trip. We loved the Florida Keys, our excellent adventure, and hope to return sometime soon especially to Hawk’s Cay.
Parmer’s Resort, Little Torch Key, Florida
On the way back from Key West, our next stop was Parmer’s Resort. It is another fairly low-key, funky hotel. We had a couple of calls from them because the day we checked in was going to be their Christmas party. They wanted to make sure we checked in ahead of everyone partying.
Barnacle Bill’s Bed and Breakfast is a must stay place. It is so much fun and doesn’t take itself seriously.
What can anyone say about Barnacle Bill’s Bed and Breakfast. It is definitely an “off kilter” wonderful place on Big Pine Key. They usually require a two-night stay but we were able to stay for one night. It was very special, very eclectic, quirky, or any other odd name we could call it.
It was so amazing to ride into Key West to our next place to stay The Author’s Guest House, Key West
Author’s Guest House was recommended to us by a close friend who lives in Key West. Her daughter worked there. We were told it is nice and very clean. The description was apt. It was very nice, clean, and best of all, they had a place we could keep the trikes that was off the street and under an awning.
Second night: Lime Tree Bay Resort: Long Key, Florida
The second night we stayed at the Lime Tree Bay Resort. Here is what they say about their hotel and I quote from their website. Lime Tree Bay Resort “is an intimate boutique resort which sits on ¼ mile of lush, tropical waterfront property adorned with colorful flowering plants, etc.” “Our upscale resort offers 46 well-appointed rooms and suites all of which have recently been tastefully updated and renovated by professional designer/decorators.”
Continue reading Second night: Lime Tree Bay Resort: Long Key, Florida
Hotels along the way to Key West: First night in Key Largo
Once we decided to ride to Key West from Key Largo, it was time for me to go into reservation mode.
Continue reading Hotels along the way to Key West: First night in Key Largo