A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
Inna had pre-purchased two tickets to the Hearst Castle's Grand Rooms Tour for Saturday, May 2, at 11:20. We arrived at 11:15, and our tour bus was already loading. We ended up being seated in the back. . . A Visit to Hearst Castle: Grandeur, Art, and the Collector’s Trophy Room . Big Rooms Tour Experience. . Few places in America capture ambition, extravagance, and…
Read More: Hearst Castle, Cambria
Friday, May 1, 2026 . After returning from work, Inna and I quickly packed and set out on our long drive to Cambria, CA (on California's central coast). We had planned to visit Hearst Castle and enjoy the area for the weekend. . Our route was mostly on US-101, and there was heavy traffic. We arrived a bit later than we expected, at around 19:40.…
Read More: A Trip to Cambria
When I noticed a considerable heatwave headed to the Bay Area during the July 4th holiday weekend, I looked for nearby places where daytime temperatures would be more moderate. After looking at Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and Lake Tahoe, Inna and I decided to book 2 nights at the Inn at the Pier Hotel (a Hilton Property) on Pismo Beach. . . Initially, only Inna…
Read More: Relaxing at Pismo Beach
For our 20th Wedding Anniversary, Inna reserved the Avila La Fonda Hotel, located on the beautiful Avila Beach, California, for the two-day weekend, from Friday, October 15 to Sunday, October 17. although we have stayed at Pismo Beach multiple times, we have never stayed at Avila Beach. . . . Friday, October 15, 2021 . We started our drive to Avila Beach on Friday, October…
Read More: Relaxing at Avila Beach
Friday, July 31, 2020. . It was finally time for our small mini-vacation to Pismo Beach for surfing and relaxation. Inna and I woke up at 07:30 and loaded the Toyota Sienna minivan with our surfboards, wetsuits, and beach toys.. . After a delicious breakfast (Inna made some crepes with caviar), we embarked on the 3-hour drive to Pismo Beach. The drive was uneventful. At…
Read More: Relaxing at Pismo Beach
With July 4, Independence Day (a 4-day weekend) rapidly approaching, Inna and I were considering various travel options. We really wanted to get away from San Jose, but the increased incidence of COVID-19 made planning for a getaway difficult.. . Considering various alternatives, including Mendocino, Lake Tahoe, Bear Valley, and Morro Bay, we decided on Morro Bay. Having never visited Morro Bay, we liked exploring…
Read More: Exploring Morro Bay
It's been a long time since we last visited Santa Barbara (September 1, 2012), and we decided to revisit the beautiful city during the July 4 Independence Day weekend.. . Since I had loaded the car the previous day, we could depart early (before 08:00), avoiding the usually heavy holiday traffic.. . . . On the way there, we planned to stop at various scenic…
Read More: Road Trip to Santa Barbara
For the Labor Day weekend, we decided to go back to Santa Barbara. Since hotels in Santa Barbara were costly, we decided to stay in a modest Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn from August 31 to September 3, 2012.. . On the way to Santa Barbara from San Jose, we stopped by for lunch at Pismo Beach. An eatery there called the Splash claimed…
Read More: Sunny Santa Barbara