Not
far from Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria
valleys are home to more than 60 wineries, some offering
tours, picnic sites and tasting rooms. The county
is home to more than 1,000 local artists, translating
into many galleries and displays of public art. In
Santa Barbara, every Sunday and select Saturdays and
holidays, the Arts & Crafts Show runs along Cabrillo
Blvd., showcasing the work of over 250 local artists.
For
more information, call the Santa Barbara Conference
& Visitors Bureau and Film Commission at (800)
549-5133 or visit the web site at www.santabarbara.com
San
Luis Obispo County - This county, located halfway between Los Angeles and
San Francisco, is home to one of the most popular attractions in California, and
so much more. The Hearst San Simeon State Historic Monument in San Simeon was
once the opulent home of media magnate William Randolph Hearst. Visitors can join
one of four daily tours to some of the 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, pools
and fountains on the estate.
In
downtown San Luis Obispo, stop by historic San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the fifth
of California's missions, founded in 1772. Inside the mission, find a rare collection
of early California photographs. Outside the mission, stroll through Mission Plaza,
which hosts outdoor events. Every Thursday night, the city holds the San Luis
Obispo Higuera Street Certified Farmer's Market, featuring blocks of food, entertainment,
and a wide assortment of fruit, vegetables and flowers.
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Hillside
Vineyards / San Luis Obispo
Photo: San Luis Obispo County VCB
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The county
is home to over 80 wineries, 12 golf courses, and one hundred miles of coastline,
with some ten beaches along the coast. Animal lovers can spot gray whales, sea
otters and elephant seals along the coast, a wide variety of birds, and, as they
migrate, monarch butterflies.
Visit
Morro Bay to see 576-foot-high Morro Rock and the more than 250 species of birds
that make their home in the bay. Pismo Beach is known as the "Clam Capital
of the World", has miles of beaches and a 1,200 foot pier to accommodate
fishing enthusiasts.
For
more information, call the San Luis Obispo County
Visitors & Conference Bureau at (800) 634-1414
or visit the web site at www.SanLuisObispoCounty.com
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