Yes, it’s Extravagant, Astonishing and Unrestrained. It’s Inspiring, Surreal and Indulgent. It’s Wealth, Power and Privilege.

It’s in the middle of nowhere…

Don’t get me wrong. The California countryside around Hearst Castle is beautiful. San Simeon stretches with ocean and farmland as far as the eye can see. But getting to the area takes time and planning. Advanced reservations for this popular attraction are a must and at least an overnight stay is required to see everything.

Cambria, California is a popular jumping off point for Hearst Castle and it is beautiful. Some would call it a “one horse town” but that is part of the charm. The coastline is spectacular and I can’t get over how good the food is in California. Everything is extra fresh and minimally prepared. A chef friend of mine once said, “food should taste like itself”. Now I get it. (I had the best trout ever at the Sow’s Ear Cafe.)

Folks in Cambria are very helpful and sincere. A great base camp for my adventure to Hearst Castle.

The City of Morro Bay, California is mostly known for the huge Morro Rock rising up from the ocean. It’s a working fishing village and I had a great fish sandwich there on the way to Hearst Castle. I also visited their funky little Aquarium.

This family owned attraction is dedicated to rehabilitating sea creatures since 1984 and the sea lions greet you right at the entrance. Boy, are they loud. The inside room is dark and small with murky tanks filled with a variety of animals. A huge octopus was very popular along with a good local shark exhibit. The rest of the waterfront is filled with fun shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to hang out and at the end of the road you can see the fishing fleet come in with their daily catches. A nice slice of local California north of Los Angeles. Totally.

The charming Danish town of Solvang is just north of Los Angeles, California. It lies near the wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley and offers great hospitality including some amazing bakeries. The town was featured in the movie “Sideways” and their claim to fame is a taste of Denmark.

Here you can stroll the European streets, horseback ride, balloon, glide, bike, tour or visit the Hans Christian Anderson museum. Lots of events make this a wonderful place to visit. One of the highlights is the seasonal outdoor festival theater where top notch performances take place.

North of Los Angeles in the self-proclaimed, “Home of pea soup”, known as Buellton, California is Ostrichland. When you see the small black and white sign, pull over. Not only can you buy some fresh produce but for just $4 you can hang out with Ostriches and Emus. These curious animals pose for photos and you can feed them. Inside you can buy bird related products. Enormous eggs, purses, hats and yes…even meat. Give Ostrich a try. Tastes like lean beef if you don’t over cook it. This is a classic roadside attraction that harkens back to another time. If you’re on the road to Solvang or the Santa Ynez Valley wine country do yourself a favor and feed the birds. You’ll be glad you did.

I’ve always been a John Wayne Fan. I love his Westerns mostly. So here I was standing outside Sid Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California and wondering why John Wayne’s feet were so small. I mean really tiny. Like fall over when you take a step small. I couldn’t believe it. On the screen he looked ten feet tall.

That’s a big part of the appeal at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Reading the inscriptions and seeing the size of the celebrities hands and feet. Really. Of course, the interior is Hollywood glamorous but the action is outside where the crowds gather and with the crowds all manner of street entertainers. It’s like a circus. Freddy vs Jason. Superman and Wonder Woman. Charlie Chaplin and Captain Jack Sparrow. What a hoot-a-nanny.

When you need to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, California then hop on board the Catalina Island Express shuttle and head for Avalon. In less than an hour on this high speed boat, you will be a world away on Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean. The ship is very comfortable, serves food and makes trips throughout the day. Hotels are available on the Island, too. So are tons of activities. Tour, fish, scuba, snorkel, glass bottom boat, kayak, camp, hike; the list goes on and on.

The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California is huge. Over 1000 feet with more than 2,000 portholes! The anchor chain alone weighs 45 tons and fuel economy. Howsa bout 13 feet to the gallon…

But this attraction is so much more than a ship’s tour. You can do a guided or self-guided tour of the ship filled with old photos and artifacts from days gone by when royalty and celebrity stood on these decks but the cool thing is how parts of the ship have been converted. You can even spend the night.