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Paso Robles Rolling Hills And Colorful Autumn Colors
Paso Robles Rolling Hills And Colorful Autumn Colors
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Central Coast Food & Wine Journal

Learn about the latest food and wine happenings, as well as our recommendations for dining, wine-tasting, and relaxing.


San Simeon Beach

San Simeon Beach is one of my favorite beaches on the Central Coast – especially when you add dogs. Being one to ever accommodate, we love

Dogs Running On San Simeon Beach

to bring our dogs to San Simeon Beach. This shot is from a few years ago when we still had our beloved “Peaches”, the pretty golden retriever. The brown poodle was still a puppy, happy to let Peaches be his teacher in all things canine, and human (as far as she knew them).

We recently acquired a standard size “parti-poodle”. He’s a gorgeous boy in colors of deep chocolate and white. He loves people and is proving himself to be a much lovable, though most troublesome puppy. Since Wolfgang or “Wolffy” has been in residence we’ve lost 2 pairs of Yules shoes and two of my prized Persian rugs. Not to mention all the “Bully Sticks” and assorted toys we’ve bought to keep him entertained. I thought Charlie was expensive with his $2,500 vet bill from UC DAVIS to yank out his eye (with accompanying MRI’s and other assurances to “dog mom” (me) that we were doing the right thing.)

Well, all this mischief and mishap fall wayside when we land at San Simeon Beach. The dogs are free, and somehow, I feel free, too. We run into the surf and lap it up despite the water’s chilly temperature. Charlie runs from the cold water while Wolffy runs in as if to challenge the water’s fury. This is his first time in the sea. Quickly he understands the water’s power and races into dry territory. Left alone to the sea and my resources what more can I do but smile at my accomplices and…laugh. I am alone, after all.

The horizon’s view is beautiful, the environs of my setting are surreal. I feel as if I have been gifted to discover a most special place. Rarely crowded and often clear of that fuzzy June gloom – San Simeon Beach is a place I return to year after year. It’s gift to me? Well, it’s still here! But also, it’s nature changes from one year to the next. Some of my fondest memories bring me back to this exact spot 26 years ago when my children were so very young.

This year the memory will be of Charlie and Wolff playing on the beach and discovering the power of the surf,