Just returned from a 10 days in Pismo and 10 days in Santa Barbara. All of you who are sharing informations and taking the time to answer questions on the forum are so precious. Tried to find you Kibblesmom in Grover, looking for your beautiful cat, AH AH!!! You are lucky to live in Grover.
Third time in California and I still in love with this beautiful place. People are so friendly, only good service from everybody in hotels, restaurants and attractions (except TY Warner Sea Center admission Spanish lady in S. Barbara).
We took Amtrak from LA Union to Grover, I paid for the business class, doesn't worth the extra charge, one service employee slept half of the time. With business class, you're supposed to get a reserved seat. We had problem to find a seat, we had to ask and wait, wait. Finally, we got a place but the lady sitting there before us was sick, but nothing else was available (it is a 5 hour trip), she was vomiting in the toilet so I didn't know if she had gastro and didn't want to be sick during my vacation. We had no other choice to take these places. Return Grover to S. Barbara with regular service, cold temperature, nothing special to add. TIP: If you live in Canada and your departure is from a station without service (Grover), Amtrak will send your ticket by mail only a few days before, as we were already in CA, I had to call them and they sent me the scan code to print my tickets in LA.
We had a rental car from Enterprise, good service, would recommend them if you need a car.
We visited wineries (SLO, Edna and Paso Robles) that I choose according to the suggestions on the forum. My favorite was Wolff Vineyards, the best wines to our taste, and I will always remember the chance I had to meet and make a visit with the owner, he's a wonderful person and so generous, involved in many projects to protect the environment, not only thinking business and money, not many persons like him.
We visited many places around (Avila, SLO very nice town, coastal villages, Moonstone area nice sidewalk, many parks, Morro Bay, Cambria, Hearst Castle highly recommend, Paso Robles nothing to do in the village, and a lot of shopping with my daughter).
In Pismo, we stayed at Kon Tiki Inn, will write a review, this is a WONDERFUL place, with WONDERFUL staff and service, this is the place you don't have to ask for something they will offer it before, very quiet (you don't hear your neighbor). Location: you have to be there to see no word can describe. TIP: if you want sunshine while sitting on your balcony, choose room between 1 and 15 (last digits). There is 2 washers-dryers. Now, all rooms are equipped with a microwave, very useful to heat leftover or take-out at Giusseppe. Good breakfast included.
We eat at many restaurants, I wrote all my reviews, they are pending, will be post in a few days. Less expensive in Pismo than S. Barbara. TIP: Good take-out for a picnic or to eat in your room at Giusseppe Take-Out. For a good italian diner, Rosa is a very good value, less expensive than Giusseppe.
For S. Barbara, I will write my reviews (forum, hotel, restaurants, attractions) in S.Barbara.
We just want to go back and visit the Northern Part of CA (SF, Napa, Yosemite and surroundings).
