All content & photos: Copyright© 2008,
Jan Hight. All rights reserved.
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1997 Jan's Journeys West Coast Roadtrip! Mon. afternoon 9/22/97 thru
Wed. morning 9/24/97 Tue. 9/23/97
>>Next Stop -- Disneyland Pacific Hotel, Anaheim, CA
Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
Published -- September 23, 1997 |
The Blue Whale Inn is our
current habitat...what a fetching B&B it is! Located on Moonstone Beach Drive, just
across the lane from a winding stretch of the Pacific, there are partial ocean views from
the rooms (numbers 2, 3 & 4 are said to have the best outlooks – we’re in
#3). The most spectacular panorama is seen from the main building; generous windows, with
the additional perspective of telescopes and binoculars, offer an ever-changing view of
the 
seascape. The common areas include a
dining room (for the extra-tantalizing breakfasts) and roomy sitting areas (where the
evening wine and tasty appetizers are served). With its cozy seating and invigorating sea
scenes, this shared area is a pleasing space for relaxing, reading, contemplating the
vistas, and (as we’ve found with most of these very special B&Bs) meeting the
fascinating people who are also guests!
Our amply-sized room has a
love seat, armoire with TV, tiled fireplace and hearth with wooden mantle, writing desk,
dressing area and separate bathroom, king-sized bed with a unique fabric latticework
canopy...all accented with wood trim, contrasting paint and coordinating wallpaper. As an
unexpected touch of whimsy, a small vial containing fresh flowers is attached to the
bathroom mirror...how delightful!!
The adjacent shoreline
ranges from a dramatically-rocky rim to a wide sand-strand. We’ve seen sea otters
(our favorite coastal creatures!), seals and cormorants. There are even horse-drawn
carriage rides along Moonstone; the honeymooners in our midst took that excursion tonight,
accompanied by champagne from the Inn!!
Cambria is a cute little
village backed by forested hills and fronted by shops, art galleries, several
restaurants...and none of the tacky tourist trap/t-shirt stores that prevail in some
seaside towns. We enjoyed a great dinner at Ian’s in Cambria last night; tonight we
ventured down The Pacific Coast Highway to Morro Bay (stopping for a breathtaking sunset)
and dined at Hoppe’s, which has a well-deserved reputation as one of the premier
restaurants on the Central Coast (with views of landmark Morro Rock from every table). 
Hearst
Castle is just minutes away from the Blue Whale. I wasn’t too excited about taking a
tour; I thought it was probably an ostentatious example of William Randolph Hearst
flaunting his wealth. John insisted we should go...and he was right (that’s twice on
this stopover; he identified the cormorants that I thought were herons – I hate when
that happens!!!). The castle, sometimes referred to simply as San Simeon (its location),
is named La Cuesta Encantada...The Enchanted Hill. With, in the words of a guidebook,
"construction continuing for 28
years
on an estate containing 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and
walkways" it is indeed a most impressive manor. But even with all of the glamour (and
scandal) surrounding it, the incredible works of art contained within it, the architecture
borrowed from the great palaces of Europe and redefined for this rugged California
hillside...it is most of all, one man’s vision which he wished to share with others.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and these photos convey just a bit of the grandeur which
must be seen to be fully appreciated; words can’t express the feelings evoked by the
castle and its story.
Jane and
George Roach have been our wonderful hosts at the Blue Whale; as professional
"inn-sitters" for the owner, they’ve been terrific sources of reference for
area activities; and their evening appetizers and morning breakfasts have been thoroughly
delicious treats! You may contact the Blue Whale Inn at 805-927-4647 for more information
on this special destination!!
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