Cambria - Enchantment By The Sea

Just six miles north of Cambria on top of a hill in the Santa Lucia Mountains is a "must see" - Hearst Castle, once the home of newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst. He called the castle La Cuesta Encantada, which translates to The Enchanted Hill. It took nearly 28 years to complete the lavish 165 room complex and furnish it with antiques and beautiful art. Walkways meander through over 125 acres of gardens, terraces, and pools. An assortment of tours can be booked to see this incredible estate. Tour buses depart from a visitor center for the 5 mile, 15 minutes ride up the hill. Allow about two hours for the entire tour, and be sure to wear your walking shoes. If you get a chance to visit in the spring or fall, select the evening tour. Docents in period dress play the part of Hearst's guests and staff. I took this tour in November when the castle was decorated for Christmas. With all the opulence of the period, the lights and magnificent surroundings, I felt as though I had been whisked back in time. Pure magic.

Other things to include on your trip to Cambria - dinner at The Brambles Dinner House, definitely a walk along Moonstone Beach and a visit to Leffingwell Landing, a beautiful park at the north end of Moonstone Beach. This is an excellent place to watch sea otters playing in the breaking waves or perhaps spot the grey whales as they migrate along the Pacific coast (south from late December to early February and north during March and April). If you have time, you might want to tour one of the more than twenty nearby wineries. (Check out California Wines on Suite 101.com).

There are numerous bed and breakfast inns, motels and hotels in Cambria, many along the scenic Moonstone Beach Drive. Rates run about $75 - $200 and several of them have fireplaces, Jacuzzis, ocean views and Continental breakfast.

For that romantic getaway, it's hard to beat Cambria.

For more information on hotels, shopping and points of interests, check out http://www.cambria-online.com/

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