Solvang

The Central Coast of California is the area roughly between Santa Barbara and Monterey. I spent several days with my son Brett and his wife, Sharon, in the San Luis Obispo County area of the Central Coast. If we drove straight from my home in Pasadena, it would have taken us about 4 hours to arrive at San Luis Obispo. However, whenever we go up to the Central Coast, we always stop off at the Danish town of Solvang (about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive). From Santa Barbara, we took Highway 1, along a 30–mile stretch of undeveloped coastal land having uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean, to Highway 246. This photo shows the famous windmill landmark in Solvang.

Solvang

Solvang

The town of Solvang was established in 1911 by a group of Danish educators. Its Danish architecture and many stores draw many visitors here. Today, on a Thursday, it was almost empty and quite pleasant because of this. Photo is of the other side of the street from the windmill.

Solvang

Solvang

A cross street.

Solvang

Solvang

We also always stop to eat aebleskiver and Danish sausage at the Solvang Restaurant. Aebleskiver is a fried pastry dipped in powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam––quite delicious. Anytime you go to Solvang you can order aebleskiver––interesting, as I was told by a girl who lives in Denmark that aebleskiver is only made at Christmas time in Denmark.

Solvang

Solvang

Some stores on the same street as the Solvang Restaurant––you can see a Danish bakery and a restaurant serving a smorgasbord.

Solvang

Solvang

There are also many stores and restaurants in Solvang that have nothing to do with Denmark, such as the Pearls of Provence, which offers a great selection of French products.

Solvang

Solvang

The Heidelberg Inn with a German beer garden.

Solvang

Solvang

Wine tasting store with an Italian flavor.

Solvang

Solvang

The Olive House for olive oil tasting. There are olive groves near Solvang. The 1661 is a street number, not the year the building was built.

Solvang

Solvang

Feeling stressed–out, you can go to the De–Stress Cafe for a seated massage and reflexology.

Solvang

Solvang

Or laugh at some of the signs in the store windows.

Solvang

Highway 1

We doubled back from Solvang to catch the 101 to San Luis Obispo and then the 1. We passed the very little town of Harmony, population 18. The town is a small collection of buildings and of ranches. We have never stopped there but it is known as an artists’ colony and has some art studios.

Highway 1

Highway 1

View of the California countryside. Usually, you don’t see it this green, so this was a pleasure to view.

Highway 1

Highway 1

The Hearst Castle up on top of the hill. All this land is part of the Hearst Ranch. We did not visit the castle on this trip as we did so a couple of trips ago. If you haven’t toured the castle in a while, it is worth another visit.

Highway 1

Highway 1

Sometimes you can catch a view of zebras grazing on the Hearst Ranch. We didn’t see any on this trip, but we did on our last trip up here this last December. Photo of the zebras grazing.

Highway 1

Highway 1

Close–up of one of the zebras.

Highway 1

Highway 1

Closer–up view of the Hearst Castle.

Highway 1

Elephant Seals

The elephant seal sanctuary is not too far past the Hearst Castle. This is another place that we always return to. It was chilly when we were in Solvang (heavy wool sweater needed), but that was warm compared to the weather here right on the coast (heavy wool sweater plus a down jacket). Not only was it freezing cold, the wind was so strong that it almost could have blown you over. The elephant seals knew what to do––they were sheltering themselves from the wind. Not one of the seals got up to move around or to go into the water.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

The elephant seals on the other side of the beach.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

More of the elephant seals and view of the rugged coastline.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

You can visit the elephant seal sanctuary many times and some of those times never see more than one seal or sometimes you just hit it right, which Brett, Sharon, and I did this last December. Not only were there numerous seals here but also the pups that were recently born.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

An elephant seal pup.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

Another pup.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

A big elephant seal, photo taken in December 2005.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

Cute elephant seal.

Elephant Seals

Elephant Seals

Elephant seal pileup.

Elephant Seals

Highway 1

View of the California coast. This photo was taken on our way back to San Luis Obispo after seeing the seals. If you travel north from the elephant seal sanctuary on Highway 1, you soon will be in Big Sur, on your harrowing way, along Highway 1, to Monterey––harrowing because of all its hairpin turns and because the road hugs the cliffs and if another driver cuts you off or hits your car, you could easily end up in the California surf at the bottom of the cliffs. But I have known a number of people who love the challenge of driving on this stretch of Highway 1––not me and not even as a passenger.

Highway 1

San Simeon State Park

Our next stop was at the San Simeon State Park. We had not been here before. You need to pay a fee to go into the park. Photo of the pier at San Simeon State Park.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

View of the coast through the pilings.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

The other side of the pier.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

I like this “Don’t Trash California” sign on a trash bin near the pier.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

The Old San Simeon School House, located just outside the park, so you can get to it without paying the park fee.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

The Old San Simeon School House with the Hearst Castle up on the hill.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

Horses, the Old San Simeon School House, and Hearst Castle up on the hill.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

The Sebastian Store––the oldest store building along the coast of San Luis Obispo County, built in 1852 at a whaling port 1/2 mile westward from here. It was moved to its present location in 1878 and has been owned and operated by the Sebastian family since 1914.

San Simeon State Park

San Simeon State Park

The San Simeon Post Office located at the back of the Sebastian Store.

San Simeon State Park

Highway 1

Farther along Highway 1 heading back to San Luis Obispo. Sea gulls and very heavy surf. The wind is really blowing.

Highway 1

Highway 1

Farther along––the famous Morro Rock in Morro Bay.

Highway 1

Pismo Beach

We drove back through San Luis Obispo to Pismo Beach where we would spend this night and the next at the Spyglass Inn, a very nice hotel on top of a cliff but not at a location where you could walk down to the beach, as there was no beach here.

Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach

Another thing that we do each time we come up to the Central Coast is to eat a dinner at the Cracked Crab, which has excellent crab bisque and mouth–watering dungeness crab. We were there by 5 p.m. to beat the crowd. All the good restaurants in Pismo Beach fill up very early in the evening, every night, and most don’t take reservations.

Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach

Inside the Cracked Crab. We beat the crowd (the last time we ate here we had to wait about 1 1/2 hours to be seated). Our dinner was the end of our day.

Pismo Beach