Monterey Countys Offbeat and Outback Ideal Escapes for Families Adventure Hounds Romantics



May 11, 2005 -- Pachyderms delivering breakfast to your safari suite, elephant seals serenading the stars above your yurt, Buddhist monks adding the final touches to your tatami cabin... Monterey County sets the stage for a variety of outback adventures with a cache of creative inns awaiting exploration. Whether fanning the flames, tapping off steam or recharging with nature, romantics, families and the out-of-touch urbanite will find solace by slipping away along coastal and inland Monterey.

Shaken Not Stirred in Parkfield
As you slowly drive over the white bridge with a crick in it that creeps nearly an inch annually, a small sign reads "Now Entering San Andreas Fault, North American Plate." Welcome to Parkfield, the self-proclaimed "Earthquake Capital of the World" where residents prefer their eggs scrambled and their martinis shaken, not stirred - thank you. Just 23 miles from Highway 101 in the southernmost region of Monterey County, this rustic town of lodge pole cabins and expansive outback is officially the most studied spot on earth for earthquakes.

Bed down in the rustic six-room Parkfield Inn or its new suite (previously the Post Office, circa. 1905) or saddle up for a city slicker's adventure at the V-6 Ranch where riders round up 1,000 head of steer and camp in the wilds. Enjoy a hearty meal at the Parkfield Caf, festooned with hanging branding irons, a giant wild boar head (this is hunting country) over the rock hearth, and sign stating "If you feel a quake or shake get under your table and eat your steak." Then, walk over to the state's last functioning one-room schoolhouse or meander to the United States Geological Survey information kiosk across the street. Real-time monitoring systems for seismic activity are installed some two miles underground to record and analyze earthquakes.

Sidetrip
James Dean devotees can get their East of Eden fix in Cholame, just 17 miles south of Parkfield. Here, Dean's memorial stands along with the time-warped Jack Ranch Caf offering cards, magnets and other Dean memorabilia. For the riding set, the Parkfield Rodeo hits full stride the first weekend in May.

Wake Me When the Elephants Arrive
For a true romantic walk on the wild side, bed down in one of four safari tents at Vision Quest Ranch, a one-of-a-kind bed & breakfast where resident elephants deliver breakfast. This magical site, tucked deep in Steinbeck Country on 50 acres, is also home to Wild Things, an exotic animal training facility with 100+ critters including Josef, the live model for the Lion King and MGM Grand icon. The upscale canvas-walled suites include a full bathroom, tv and expansive wooden decks to watch the sizzling sky fire up behind the Gabilan Mountains. Step out of the Big Cat House or Zebra Zone African-print suites and a grassy savanna unfolds with Lisa, Butch and Buffy vying for your attention in an enormous elephant play yard. In the distance lions, tigers and bears (and a few oddball reptiles, servals, sloths and zebras) wrangle for attention. For the ultimate turn-down, clock out to the sounds of roaring lions and trumpeting elephants against the sweeping grass.

Ideal for sparking romance (accommodations are for adults only), Vision Quest Ranch also offers special programs for kids. The kids' Roar & Snore overnight camp offers nocturnal safaris, a campfire dinner and wake-up call from the animals (seasonal). Guests and visitors can also enjoy daily guided tours ($10/adults; $8/kids) V.I.P. tours for adults including full contact with the animals, or the Pachyderm Package where kids can bath the African Elephants.

Sidetrip
New and definitely tasty is the River Road wine trek beginning a few miles south of Vision Quest Ranch. Meandering along the Salinas River, seven wineries will be on tap by April 2005 including award-winning Hahn Estates, Paraiso Vineyards, Pessagno Winery, Marilyn Remark Wines, San Saba Vineyards and Richard Boyer Wines. Newly Renovated: Barlocker's Rustling Oaks Ranch Bed & Breakfast located along the River Road with a brand new bunkhouse for cowboy wannabes, two-bedroom cottage and three renovated interior rooms. The Ranch farms its own beef and pork; settle in for an awesome country breakfast with fresh-cured bacon.

Catamaran Bed Please, Slough Safari to go
Cozy up in a quaint catamaran-cum-bed complete with keel and tiller headboard as the expansive arms of Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough unravel in the panoramic view. Kicking up the nautical theme a notch, the Captain's Inn in the seaside fishing village of Moss Landing is the ideal respite for adventure seekers who love scouting off-the-beaten path. Built in 1906, the 10-room inn exudes all the charm of a bed and breakfast without grandma's lace and chintz. Rooms are open and airy with private baths, dual showers and whimsical seaside themes. The boathouse (2003), which sits along the bay, features six rooms with expansive bay views and beds crafted from boats owners Melanie and Yohn have acquired.

The High Seas Room delivers the ultimate chill pill. Kick back with freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, a roaring fire and deep soaking tub for two overlooking the vibrant line-up of wildlife. Other great bets include the Sanctuary Room's bed complete with a boat trailer and working taillights. Breakfast is a serious affair with Melanie driving the stoves. The Inn also offers Birder Challenge Weekends given the area's rich diversity of local and migrating fowl.

Nearby Moss Landing offers a variety of antiquing options. Hunker down for a tasty lunch at the Haute Enchilada or pop into the Red Caboose Gallery (bus-turned-gallery) bedecked with plants and all things odd. Hot Tip: Track down Stella Page Designs for the ultimate decoupage purses. By appointment.

Sidetrip
All aboard the Elkhorn Slough Safari for a must-see nature adventure. Spreading 1,400 acres and reaching inland nearly seven miles from the coast, the Elkhorn Slough Reserve steps up with some 400 plant species, 80 kinds of fish, 340 types of birds, including such rare species as the Peregrine Falcon and Snowy Plover, sea otters and sea lions. Safarai-goers grab a life vest, binoculars and board a classic pontoon which delivers a vivid postcard of this region's ecosystem and wealth of wildlife. Photo Safaris, Birding Workshops and Sunset Hot Chocolate tours are also available. Kayaking the slough is another option.

For more offbeat adventures, Including:
- Sleeping under the Big Sur stars in a cozy yurt
- Visiting the first Soto Zen monastery outside of Asia
- Rock climbing along the San Andreas Fault
- and more, visit http://media.montereyinfo.org/page/8502/index.v3pagepb_v=vc&pb_pid=601&pb_iid=827&pb_eid=30990 to view the rest of the release.

Visitor Information
NEW: Monterey Airport to offer nonstop service to Denver (United Express) and Las Vegas (America West) beginning this June, 2005.





Monterey Countys Offbeat and Outback Ideal Escapes for Families Adventure Hounds Romantics