Next week for my birthday, I'll be traveling to the west coast to the fabulous places shown here.
A day trip to San Simeon (aka the
Hearst castle, the indoor pool seen in the top photo) was the catalyst for the whole vacation. I wanted to spend my 30th birthday doing something fabulous -whats more extraordinary than a fairytale castle along the ocean!
Exploring San Franciso, the
Filoli mansion and Carmel are on the agenda, can you recommend any other must-sees or restaurants in particular?
Of course I also plan on staying at a few fabulous hotels that I can't wait to share with you all :-)
Next week for my birthday, I'll be traveling to the west coast to the fabulous places shown here.
A day trip to San Simeon (aka the Hearst castle, the indoor pool seen in the top photo) was the catalyst for the whole vacation. I wanted to spend my 30th birthday doing something fabulous -whats more extraordinary than a fairytale castle along the ocean!
Exploring San Franciso, the Filoli mansion and Carmel are on the agenda, can you recommend any other must-sees or restaurants in particular?
Of course I also plan on staying at a few fabulous hotels that I can't wait to share with you all :-)
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22 comments:
All I ask, is that you return with your heart intact.
pve
Happy birthday Stefan! I loved my 30's, I hope you will too.
Stefan I'm so envious right now! San Fran?! Amazing. I dream of visiting and now you've just introduced me to that pool at the Hearst Castle, well, I'm even keener to visit. Have a blast on your birthday and enjoy the visit. Can't wait to read and see more from it in your future posts. Will
Winchester Mystery House!!!!
Stefan, Make sure you leave enough time for the gardens. Filoli is suppose dto be sensational!! Happy Birthday!!xs
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY Stefan,
You WILL LOVE, the Hearst Castle. I promise you that. Read up on Marion Davies.
If you do stay in the area, stay in Cambria, at the Cambria Shores Inn on Moonstone Beach. Eat at the SEACHEST, fresh fish a few doors down, cash only. When in San Simeon, stop for a fab beef dip sandwich of Hearst Organic beef at SEBASTIANS MARKET, the oldest market on the Central Coast...tell Abby - Regina sent you. This is the West Coasts Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard.
Paso Robles is near and their vineyards are WORLD FAMOUS...you will be happy to be in this region of California for the topography is untouched and IS now forever frozen in its Majesty - gifted by the Hearst Corp to California.
Dine at the Sows Ear or Robins in Cambria, and visit Hauser Bros. Goldsmiths...tell Joel - Regina sent you too.
Filoli ~ all I can say is STUNNING.
San Fran ~ eat at SWANS, there since 1913...Alma Spreckles who built the Legion of Honor Museum ~ would have fresh Oysters delivered to her for lunch...my friend, who is her granddaughter told me of this institution, Old California indeed, and lastly,top the day with a cup of SPICY hot chocolate at BITTERSWEET on Filmore.
In case you wonder how I know these little tidbits...WE own a place here to get away from the drama of the City.
Dress warm, it does get cold here!
xoxo to you, a fellow Petit Trianon devotee
California can't wait for your arrival!
Have a wonderful birthday stefan, and many happy returns.Looking forward to reading your CA posts!
Happy birthday and so looking forward to your San Francisco Chronicles.
Bummy! I wish I'd known you were going to San Simeon. Evergreen just did a fabulous lecture with the chief historian there last week. She was amazing and had all sorts of great stories.
You could ask for Victoria Kastner, she is the Historian at San Simeon, Hearst Castle...she may arrange something for you if there is time.
You will LOVE the pool at HC in person. I took a million photos of all that luxurious tile. The guide had to drag me out! Have a happy birthday celebration.
I'm jealous. This sounds like a blast. Ever since your cherry blossom pics, I look forward to your self-shot images so I'm looking forward to your posts on beautiful Cali more than ever!! Have fun and Happy 30th!
Happy Birthday! I have always wanted to go to San Simeon, sounds like a fabulous way to turn 30. :)
Your must be driving down the coast to Hearst? In Carmel you need to go to San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission..amazing. In Big Sur stop at Nepenthe restaurant over looking the ocean..VIEWS to die for.bring your camera.
San Francisco, Palace Hotel's garden court, Ferry building market place-take a ferry to Sausalito so cheap and beautiful,Portmans Embarcadero complex go inside the Hilton lobby,Pacific Heights mansions of corse,Japanese tea garden in golden gate part and those ugly new museums, Palace of the Legion of Honor (Hitchcocks Vertigo) Delores mission (also Vertigo) Asian art Museum in civic center AMAZING also check out the inside of city hall across the street, hayes valley behind city hall for chic shops and lunch, don't forget to go inside the church while your Visiting the Fremont hotel (ask if the glass elevators are working, what a view) going to coit tower? have coffe on grant in north beach then behind coit tower are famous Filbert and greenwich steps so lovely...ok your exshausted.
thanks for the recommendations everyone! i'm adding them into my itinerary as I type!
Drive the famous "17 Mile Drive", a scenic toll road along the Pacific coast between Monterey and Carmel (goes past Pebble Beach).
In Carmel see the whimsical "storybook" style cottages designed by Hugh Comstock in the 1920s when Carmel was an artists' colony -- the Hansel cottage and the Gretel cottage (http://tinyurl.com/2g3ct5l), the Tuck Box tea room (http://tinyurl.com/2fwmn3n), and others. And there's the Walker Residence built by Frank Lloyd Wright, shaped like a ship and overlooking the Pacific (http://tinyurl.com/2c7b9kr). And of course the Spanish Mission. A nice walking tour is available (carmelwalks.com).
Just south of Carmel, Point Lobos state park has some nice hiking trails with magnificent ocean views.
> Palace of the Legion of Honor (Hitchcocks Vertigo)
Many of the places from Vertigo are still there, including the house Jimmy Stewart's character lived in. Google "San Francisco Vertigo Tour" and you'll find several sites designed for Vertigo fans visiting S.F.
Happy 30th. You are going to LOVE Hearst Castle. Is it strange that I have been there at least 5 times and never tire of it? If you are ever in So Cal, you must stop by and see what remains of his (actually Marion Davies') estate on PCH. Just went this weekend and did a little post about it on 6/1. Have a wonderful time!
Looking forward to all the posts that will arise, especially the Hearst place. Have been fascinated by that since a kid. So hope for one of your series of posts from there!
Have a great time.
Best Wishes
R
Just seeing this now as I've been computerless for a while...but first off, Happy Birthday...your such a youngin, a well rounded youngin though!;)
Second of all...Carmel is my most favorite place to visit...enjoy, it will be wonderful to hear about all your escapades and see what your eyes saw!
Bon Voyage...
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