http://cambriapineslodge.com/

Whether you have planned your menu months ahead of time or are simply bringing a side-dish to this all-American holiday, there always seems to be something that complicates what should be an easy and delicious day.  One way to take the stress out of Thanksgiving is to have it catered!  Here are a couple of local catering companies that just might be able to help you out this Turkey Day (or Christmas, or that upcoming special event).

Here are a few places to get your mouths watering:

Catering Unlimited
805-782-8070
http://www.cateringunlimited.com/main.php

Central Coast Culinary & Catering
805-541-2253
http://centralcoastculinaryandcatering.com/pages

Fabulas Catering
805-598-9428
http://www.fabulascatering.com/index.html

Hospitality Catering
805-238-7386
http://hospitalitycatering.net/

Happy Holidays!

The beautiful Mission Inn of Pismo Beach is located in a beautiful area, nestled in the hills overlooking this fun and beautiful area.   Winter is often the best time to get the most amazing deals on lodging, and the Mission Inn doesn’t disappoint!

Shopping Stimulus Package

$101.00 Sunday-Thursday

Valid through November 24, 2009

You know we’re in a recession, when you need a stimulus to SHOP!

Well, we all know that shopping is way more fun when you’re on a trip, so stay at the Mission Inn and shop all day long at the Pismo Prime Outlets! Upon check-in, you will receive a Power Savings coupon book with amazing discounts and a relaxing welcome gift from our dear friends at Prime Outlets.

Of course, our world-famous breakfast buffet is included, as is an evening wine and beer reception in our sunset-view lounge and high-speed internet access.

A California Welcome Center is also located at Pismo Prime Outlets, with maps, brochures and assistance in making your journey to the Central Coast a memorable one.

Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance.

ENTER RATE CODE: SHOP

Rate reflects Sunday-Thursday stay only. Reservation must be made at least 72 hours in advance of arrival. This rate is not valid with any other discounts or promotions. Rate reflects a Deluxe Room with One King Bed or Two Queen Beds. Some restrictions may apply. Coupon book retail value: $7.00. Welcome gift retail value: $12.00.

 

Now This is a Suite Deal!

$159.00 per night, Sunday-Thursday

Valid through December 22, 2009

We have some amazing suites at the Mission Inn, with sunset views, a king bed, a wet bar and a huge living area with a comfy sofa-sleeper and an LCD flat-screen television

But you’ll never know how amazing our suites truly are unless you stay in one! So, for a limited time, we are offering our Deluxe Suites at an amazing price of $159 per night, Sunday-Thursday. That’s beaucoups bucks off the standard midweek rate!

This deal also includes our evening reception, high-speed internet access and our world-famous hot breakfast buffet.

ENTER RATE CODE: SUITE

Rate applies to a non-smoking king suite. Valid Sunday-Thursday only. Not valid on weekends. Only four suites available at this price. Other restrictions may apply.

Be sure to check out the upcoming concert next month and in January 2010!

A fantastic way to kick off the holidays this year!

Holiday Concert – “Making Seasons Bright”
The Central Coast Children’s Choir will perform their Holiday 2009 Concert, “Making Seasons Bright”, at St. Williams Catholic Church on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. This concert will also be repeated at United Methodist Church, San Luis Obispo on Sunday, December 13th at 3:00 p.m. Experience the magic of hearing 110 local boys and girls’ voices raised in celebration of music. Singers ages 6-18 will perform songs from a challenging program certain to be enjoyed by all.

Please contact CCCC for ticket reservations or print out the advance ticket sales form below and submit to our office. Tickets are $8 for general seating and $12 for premium seats, while they last. Seniors and students under twelve may purchase general seating tickets for $6. The concert is recommended for children over the age of four.

Read the original article here.

Experience Paso Robles’ famous hot springs at River Oaks Hot Springs & Spa (800 Clubhouse Drive, 805-238-4600).

Formerly the Paso Robles Hot Springs & Spa, the spa recently underwent a renovation that added new mission-style décor, various spa amenities and a refurbished entrance with fountain. Soak in the outdoor therapeutic mineral tubs while gazing out at the rolling hills ($12 an hour), indulge in a massage, facial, wrap or “glow” ($45-$125 including a mineral tub soak), then relax in the lakeside gazebo. Packages also available.

Thanks to the SLO Chamber of Commerce for posting these events!

The Carlton Hotel presents Wine Tasting
Date: 10/27/2009
Time: 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM

Address:
6005 El Camino Real
The Carlton Hotel
Atascadero

Phone:
(805) 461-5100

Event Description:
An evening of wine tasting hosted by the Carlton Hotel and Restaurant featuring Indigene Cellars. Paintings by Ronald Ray Rogers. Music by Rocky Logue from 5:45-7:45 pm. Enjoy complimentary appetizers prepared to compliment Indigene Cellars featured wines!

Old Vienna’s Oktoberfest
Date: 10/29/2009 TO 11/1/2009

Address:
Old Vienna
1527 Shell Beach Road

Phone:
805-773-452

Event Description:
Thursday is a more traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere with music from the Mudskippers. friday and Saturday night is live music. Sunday is family night from 5-8. $7-37

El Dia de Los Muertos
Date: 10/29/2009

Address:
Arts Space Obispo
The Creamery
San Luis Obispo,

Phone:
(805) 544-9251

Event Description:
DATES: Exhibition: Oct. 29 – Nov. 13, 2009 Reception: 6 – 9 PM, Fri, Nov. 6 (Art After Dark) Artist’s Talk: 3 PM, Sun., Nov. 1 CONTACT: John E. Garcia y Robertson, Artist, johng600@aol.com Mark Bryan, Artist, mbryan@kcbx.net Marta Peluso, ARTS Obispo director@artsobispo.org, (805) 544-9251 EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT ARTS SPACE OBISPO The diverse El Dia de Los Muertos offerings at ARTS Space Obispo feature a traditional ofrenda (altar), contemporary paintings based on Loteria cards and a talk by a celebrated Oaxacan weaver. The exhibition will be on display in the SLO Creamery space 165 from October 29 through November 13. An Art After Dark community reception will take place from 6 to 9 PM on Friday, November 6th.

Eberle Winery presents The Haunted Caves
Date: 10/30/2009 TO 10/31/2009
Time: 4:00 PM TO 8:00 PM

Address:
Eberle Winery
3810 Highway 46
Paso Robles,

Phone:
(805) 238-9607

Event Description:
The Caves at Eberle Winery have been transformed into The Hunted Caves! Tickets $5 at the door. Dr. Magic will be there to entertain the young ones. Ages 10 & up.

SLO Blues Society Presents Ronnie Baker Brooks
Date: 10/31/2009
Time: 8:00 PM TO 12:00 AM

Address:
SLO Vets Hall
801 Grand Ave
SLO, CA

Phone:
(805)541-7930

Event Description:
Dance Concert Costume Party $20 $17 -members dance lessons at 7:30 21 + over please sloblues.org

Halloween X-Ball
Date: 10/31/2009
Time: 7:00 PM TO 12:00 AM

Address:
Chorro Lodge 168
520 Dana St.
San Luis Obispo, CA

Phone:
(805) 783-2007

Event Description:
Your Highway to the Dead Stars! Featured Band: The Bootleggers A fundraiser for Oddfellows charities What Happens at the X-ball Stays at the x-ball! $20 plus a $2.50 handling fee pre-sale/ $25 at the door Tickets available at BooBoo Records in Slo and Costume Capers Spirits, Food, and Fun! 21 and over please.

The Enchilada Fiesta
Date: 11/3/2009
Time: 5:00 PM TO 8:00 PM

Address:
SLO Veterans Memorial Building
801 Grand Ave
SLO, CA

Phone:
(805) 543-7968

Event Description:
The Community Counseling Center presents: The Enchilada Fiesta A Fundraising Dinner featuring Chef Maegen Loring of Maegen Loring Catering Dinners Include choice of 2 Diestel Turkey, Hearst Ranch Beef or Butternut Squash Enchiladas with rice, beans and salad. $12 (Beverages and baked goods available for purchase.) Dine in to enjoy raffles and entertainment or take your dinner to go. Take out trays of 6 enchiladas also available $15 (must preorder by 10/27/09).

From the San Simeon Chamber of Commerce:

Fishing
Fishing off the public pier at William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach does not require a fishing license. Anglers can pull in barred surf perch all year long, but concentrations increase in December and January. Rainbow, rubberlip and walleye perch are common, and in late summer three kinds of croakers add to the action. Surf fishing is permitted with a valid California fishing license. For current information, refer to California Fish and Game regulations, or access their Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov. Both San Simeon and Santa Rosa Creeks are closed to fishing most of the year.

Camping With two campgrounds, this 541-acre park provides the closest camping to Hearst Castle. San Simeon Creek Campground has 134 developed sites for tent camping or recreational vehicles no more than 35 feet long. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, and water spigots are available throughout the campground. Restrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers. A dump station, recycling bins, and pay phones are also available. The camp host sells firewood. Please burn only firewood purchased at the campground, as transporting wood can spread pine pitch canker and sudden oak death. The Washburn Primitive Campground has 68 hilltop campsites approximately one mile inland from the beach. Each of these sites, reachable from the entrance kiosk at San Simeon Creek Campground, is furnished with a fire ring and picnic table. Water faucets and vault toilets are available nearby. From mid-March to the end of September, advance camping reservationsare highly recommended. To make reserva-tions call (800) 444-7275. During the rest of the year, camping is available first-come, first-served.

Hiking
A 3.3 mile trail runs through the park. It offers a number of route variations, including scenic overlooks, rest-stop benches and interpretive panels with information on wildlife and habitat. Hikers may be rewarded with occasional glimpses of Hearst Castle , as well as pastoral slopes and the unspoiled beauty of the southern Santa Lucia Mountains. Hikers reaching Leffingwell Landing will find small knoll and a tidepool area, with benches overlooking the shore. It is a beautiful meeting land and sea, with cliffs, rocky tongues and churning waters. The California Conservation Corps, in collaboration with California State Parks, has created the Moonstone Beach Board-walk, an accessible trail with benches along the way for relaxing and enjoying the view. The trail protects the delicate bluffs from damaging foot traffic. Beginning at Leffingwell Landing Boat Launch, it extends a full mile along Moonstone Beach Drive to Santa Rosa Beach.

Boating Boating and kayaking are popular activities along the coast. Leffingwell Landing Day-use Area and William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach allow easy access to hand-launch watercraft. Surf conditions can change rapidly, so use caution at all times. Personal motorized watercraft are not allowed in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Junior Rangers Junior Rangers (age 7 through 12) learn about nature and the people of the past on special walks and through participation in other fun activities. The Junior Ranger Cubs is a nature program designed especially for children age 3 through 6.

Campfire Programs
Campfire programs have a long tradition in California State Parks, and you are encouraged to keep that tradition alive. Throughout the summer the one-hour evening campfire programs are scheduled regularly at the campfire center in San Simeon Creek Campground. Programs vary each week but usually feature singing, storytelling, an interpretive slide program and some good old-fashioned fun. Dress warmly and bring along a flashlight to help you find your way back to camp.

Bird Watching
For bird watching enthusiasts, the park shelters a large variety of species. At the beach you will see birds such as brown pelicans, gulls, terns, snowy plovers and sandpipers. In spring the blue breeding pouches of cormorants are eye-catching. Further inland hawks and turkey vultures soar overhead. Magnificent great blue herons as well as egrets, mallards, cinnamon teal,harriers, killdeer, goldfinches and kingfish-ers are plentiful. Red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, kestrels, western bluebirds, quail, great horned owls and the western meadowlark inhabit the plateau at Washburn Primitive Campground.

Thanks to Veronica Hill of California Travel Tips for this excellent recommendation!  You can check out the original article here.  Be sure to check out the rest of her site, as she offers a wealth of information not just for the Central Coast, but for the entire state of California.

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One more note:  Hotel Cheval is not the most economical place to stay, but sometimes you just need to treat yourself!

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Hotel Cheval, a luxury boutique hotel situated just off the charming and historic Paso Robles town square, offers a bit of Old World charm in the city.

Rooms at Hotel Cheval Paso Robles are thoughtfully designed with all the modern comforts. Stylish and classic, but with a contemporary edge, many rooms feature fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, window seats and outdoor patios & sundecks with teak furniture.

Sophisticated and intimate, Hotel Cheval Paso Robles California features personalized service amid thoughtfully designed, refined accommodations.

Rooms feature California King beds, down comforters with luxurious 400-thread count sheets, luxury bamboo/cotton blend towels, complimentary WiFi internet access and Ethernet connections, 37-inch flat-screen televisions, CD / mp3 Player,  in-room spa treatments, complimentary bottled water and gourmet organic chocolate turndown amenity. Many rooms feature vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, window seats, outdoor patios and/or a sundeck. A daily complimentary breakfast delivered to your room is another nice touch. On weekends, guests are invited to the Pony Club for a hot buffet breakfast.

After dinner in the country, unwind in the stylish Hotel Cheval lobby, relax outdoors by one of the intimate wood-burning fireplaces or find solace with a quiet respite in the library.

You can also enjoy a glass of local wine at the Parisian-inspired Pony Club bar at Hotel Cheval.  The Pony Club, a wine bar specializing in wines from the Paso Robles region and beyond, serves wine, beer, and champagne and light refreshments along its zinc-topped, horseshoe-shaped bar. Pony Club also provides guests with a beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy drinks. Every Thursday evening between 5 and 7 p.m., Pony Club features an intimate tasting with a local winery, the winemaker and hors d’oeuvres.

Famous for its world-class wines, Paso Robles boasts a charming downtown scene with boutiques, art galleries, tasting rooms, excellent restaurants and a welcoming ambience. Hotel Cheval’s equine mascot, Chester, is available to guests for complimentary carriage rides to restaurants around the city park on Friday and Saturday evenings. Concierge services include staff fluent in German, French, and Spanish.

Paso Robles features a long list of attractions such as wine tasting at more than 200 local wineries, olive oil tasting, farmer’s markets, lavender farms, multiple golf courses, and perhaps the most renowned:  Hearst Castle, which attracts almost one million visitors a year and is located just 45 minutes from Hotel Cheval.

For wine tours around Paso Robles, the Hotel Cheval luxury SUV is available daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for private wine tours from two to four people. Hotel Cheval will customize your itinerary based on preferred varietals, winery location, or simply a sampling of Paso’s finest. Tours are conducted by Hotel Cheval’s in-house wine guide, and are $75 per hour with a two hour minimum.  Gourmet box lunches are available for an additional $15 per person.

Hotel Cheval also has a jewelry collection featuring one-of-a-kind sterling silver English medals, gold and semi-precious stones, hand-wired and perfect for all occasions.  The unique necklaces and accessories in the collection are available for purchase at Hotel Cheval in Paso Robles.

Hotel Cheval features a variety of in-room spa services including massage and couples massages, body scrubs, reflexology and facials.  Advance reservations strongly advised. A private conference/event room is available on site with a reception capacity of up to 20 people. With a full buy-out of the hotel, catered dining and outdoor events of up to 50 people are possible in the courtyard.

Nearby attractions close to Hotel Cheval include downtown Paso Robles boutiques and restaurants; wine tasting; olive oil tasting; farmer’s markets; lavender farms; art galleries; Hearst Castle; San Miguel and San Antonio Missions; Coastal California (Pismo Beach to Monterey County); Horseback riding
Bike riding; Fishing; Sulfur/Geothermal Spas; Lake Nacimiento & Lake San Antonio; and golf.

Hotel Cheval is located at 1021 Pine Street in Paso Robles.  The hotel can be reached by phone at 866-522-6999 or online at  www.hotelcheval.com.