Brian Smith's Photos

For this trip we flew into San Jose, drove out through Los Gatos for lunch at Fleur do Cocoa and a wine tasting at Testerossa, before heading to the coast and a walk around Santa Cruz before heading along to Capitola and out hotel.

The next day, after breakfast at Verve Coffee, we headed down the coast on Highway 1, stopping of for views and wildlife along the way at Andrew Molera State Par, Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park, Limekilns State Park and the Elephant Seal Vista Point and lunch at Hearst Ranch Winery. In the afternoon we continued down to Avila Beach for dinner at Blue Moon Over Avila, then our overnight stay at Pismo Beach, and the Spyglass Inn.

The next day was spent around Pismo/Avila, with breakfast at the Shell Beach Brew House and dinner at the Lido Restaurant, Dolphin Bay Resort.

After picking up the girls from San Luis Obispo County Airport, and wine and a snack at Sextant Wines, we had a beach trip back to Avila before heading inland to Paso Robles.

The next day was mainly spent in Paso. Coffee from Spearhead, breakfast at AMSTRDM Coffee, lunch at Odyssey World Cafe, out for a wine tasting at Adelaida and dinner at La Cosecha.

From Paso we head Southwest down to Santa Barbara, stopping for lunch in Los Olivos at Petros Winery. Then an unplanned stop at Ostrichland USA (who knew!) and a short stop in Solvang, before getting down to Santa Barbara, some beach walks and a wonderful meal at Loquita.

A day in and around Santa Barbara. Coffee from Dart. Breakfast from Lower State, a morning visit to the Botanical Gardens then Lunch at Chads. The day rounded off with dinner at bouchon. And more wandering the beach taking photos…

Last day, and breakfast at the Santa Barbara Roasting Company, an excellent lunch at Santo Mezcal before a trip out to Butterly Beach and Montecito. An early dinner at Mesa Verde Restaurant before heading to the airport and home.