What is your favorite Central Coast Winery? We're making our picks before the Paso Robles Wine Festival on May 21-23, 2010.
Tell us about your favorite winery in the comments box below. If you don't see a box, click on the "comments" link below or click on pick your favorite winery.
Perhaps the most dog-friendly town in California, Carmel welcomes you and your pooch with its charm and hospitality. Filled-to-the-brim water dishes for your best friend are found in front of the many shops which line the narrow streets. In this friendly town, the locals might stop and chat with you even if you visit without a dog.
Quaint is the term often used to describe Carmel-by-the-Sea. At the edge of 17 mile drive and located near Pebble Beach, the term expensive often comes to mind as well, but you can enjoy Carmel without spending oodles of cash. Take a stroll through town and visit the many art galleries and garden shops. Meals can be a little pricy but you can always picnic at the beach. We enjoyed breakfast and friendly service at an English Tea Room, the Tuck Box, on their garden patio. (http://www.tuckbox.com/default.html) Their tasty Olallieberry Spread was so good we had to buy a jar to take home.
GASOLINE CONSUMPTION: Hardly any.
WINE CONSUMPTION: Plenty.
OVERALL VALUE: Cheaper than a trip to Napa!
DOG FRIENDLY?: Maybe. . . but not the best for your four legged friends.
(Reprinted and edited from May 2009.)
Take an artistic journey down the back roads of east side Paso Robles. At local wineries, enjoy the creativity of not only the wine makers but the artists displaying their works. Paso Robles’ east side is known for the commercial winery powerhouses like Meridian, but is home to many fine limited production wineries. Sculptera, Vina Robles and Clautiere each present their own unique wines and aesthetic experiences.If you prefer the robust Rhone varietals typically found on the west side of Paso, you will not be disappointed by the rich reds available at these wineries. However, if refreshing whites are more to your liking, the east side wineries know how to please. Relax and chat with the knowledgeable staff pouring everything from the lightest Savignon Blanc to the deepest purple Syrah.
When: Spring
Directions: From Hwy 101, take Hwy 58 approximately 20 miles to Shell Creek Road. (From Atascadero, you can take Hwy 41, and then go right on La Panza to Hwy 58.)
Dog Friendly? Yes
Even the best professional florist cannot duplicate the beauty of nature's floral arrangements found on Shell Creek Road, east of Creston. This trip is a photographer's paradise. Take a leisurely drive east on Hwy 58 and immediately after you turn left onto Shell Creek Rd., stop and get out of the car. Most visitors will stop briefly, just long enough to snap their photos.
You should spend some time at this first stop near the intersection with Hwy 58. A path will guide you on a short stroll along side the creek, east of the roadway, amidst the wildflowers. This area is the best place to stop if you brought your canine friends with you. They will enjoy romping in the meadow. Bring a picnic lunch or just a snack and water.
More beauty is in store for you further up the road. As you continue your journey north, look out for cattle roaming onto the road and other tourists making quick stops. The opportunities for photographs are endless. Shell Creek is a genuine treat for the senses.
More photos: Click Here
Where: Cayucos State Beach
When: Year Round
Dog Friendly?: Yes!
Reprinted from April 20, 2009
Only the beach offers the chance to soak your feet in cool, crisp, salt water while a gentle breeze tugs at your soul. You still have time to soak up the sun before the gloomy summer fog covers SLO County beaches come June. Pack your dogs in the car and head to dog-friendly Cayucos State Beach. What could be better than spending a day with your best friend under clear skies, listening to the waves crash as the sand squeezes between your toes?
Pack a picnic if you bring your dogs. During our visit, we found only a couple places had dog-friendly outdoor tables. One of the locals recommended Duckies Chowder House, but no shady outdoor seating was available to accommodate Kaylee and Astrid, our Labrador Retrievers. Our girls scored a tasty hot dog at Skippers which was better than the mediocre fish and chips on their menu. Dogs are not allowed in their beach side patio, but we found a shady table out front.
Kaylee was eager to greet all the off-leash dogs running across the beach. Astrid jumped excitedly up and over the small waves, her front paws extending wide as she flew high into the air. On the ride home, Kaylee leaned her head upon my shoulder to say thank you as Astrid looked out the window probably wondering why she had to take such a long ride just to get a hot dog.
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