A Visit to and Tour of Stepladder Creamery

Take a drive up San Simeon Creek Road and eventually you arrive at a small farmstead artisan goat dairy called Stepladder Creamery, which specializes in traditionally crafted small-scale handmade cheeses. On this special morning you will tour the goat farm, meet up with some of the goats, see the 102-year-old barn and creamery, and enjoy a special tasting of cheeses. You’ll also leave with a special commemorative gift for this special tour.

• Friday, June 15, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
• Limited to 8 persons
• Price $35 per person ($20 tax deductible)
• Location: San Simeon

A Half-Day Workshop in Ceramics

Patricia Griffin is a master ceramist and people flock to her two-day workshops. Here’s your unique opportunity for a half-day introduction to make your own ceramic plate. Patty will provide supplies, introduce you to a decorative technique called sgraffito, and guide you through learning to etch, underglazing your plate, picking out imagery and etching your plate. At the end, you will leave your newly created plate with Patty who will dry and fire the plates. You can pick up the finished plate later or arrange with Patty to ship it to you. Refreshments will be served.

• Friday, July 6, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Limited to 9 persons
• Price $65 per person ($35 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria

A Three-Hour Tutorial with Patrick Dennis

Learn from a master:  Patrick Dennis is a local artist, art festival director, and gallery owner known for his contemporary landscapes. During this workshop led by Patrick, guests will be invited to learn basic painting techniques in contemporary style using oil paints, mark-making implements, and textures. All materials (including canvas, brushes and paint) will be provided. Artwork completed during the course will be left with Patrick to dry, be completed as needed, and varnished. Guests will pick up the final painting a few days later.

• Saturday, July 14, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Limited to 4 persons
• Price $95 per person ($50 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria

A Two-Hour Tour of Niner Estates with Tasting

Heart Hill has long been a local landmark in Paso Robles. This tasting experience allows you to wine taste inside Niner Estate’s famed heart-shaped oak grove. You will start with an off-road vehicle excursion to the highest point in the vineyard. Your guide will take you out into the vines for insight into Niner’s farming and sustainable efforts. You will then enjoy a ride through the vines to get to the Heart. Relax on the patio and taste a special selection of Reserve + Library wines paired with special cheeses.

• Saturday, July 22, 10:00 am to Noon
• Limited to 4 persons
• Price $85 per person ($45 tax deductible)
• Location: Paso Robles

An Afternoon of Winetasting and Pizza at a Historic Ranch

Over a century ago, the Bassetti Ranch began as a dairy farm. Today, the grandson of those pioneers, along with his wife, raises grapes, olives, flowers, and herbs. The ranch, one of only a handful of vineyards so near the coast, grows Syrah, Grenache and Viognier varietals. Spend a lovely afternoon exploring this historic ranch, tasting superb wines under their pergola and eating wonderful pizza cooked in the outdoor pizza oven.  (And if you’re in a shopping mood, you’ll also receive a 10% discount on any of the offerings purchased that day from their farm store.)

• Saturday, August 11, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Limited to 20 persons
• Price $45 per person ($25 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria

A Guided Tour to Cambria’s Hidden Gem—the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

A dramatic ocean bluff. One of the last remaining natural stands of Monterey Pine. Tidal pools and freshwater wetlands. An amazing array of mammal (sea and land), birds and reptiles. Reminders of former Native American villages. You truly need a guide to appreciate the treasures of the Fiscalini Ranch. Join us for a continental breakfast in the home of Tom and Barbara Gray, adjacent to a Ranch entrance, before joining a docent on a guided two-hour introductory hike which will introduce you to some of the preserve’s hidden delights.

• Saturday, September 9, 9 am to 11:30 am
• Limited to 16 persons
• Price: $35 per person ($25 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria

An Evening of Food and Wine in the Historic Squibb House

Bruce Black restored the Squibb House in the East Village of Cambria years ago. Now he has recreated the original barn built on this site in the late 1800s and detailed it with wood from the Pennsylvania barn of his great-great-grandfather, Matha Black. The space features barn wood beams, wide plank floors, custom built Amish furniture, generous windows, lots of light and a charm that is unlike anything else. And the evening will become even more charming as you delight in an array of tapas prepared by Susan Bassetti—all designed for a perfect pairing with a vertical tasting of Bassetti Vineyards wines.

• Thursday, September 13, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
• Limited to 20 persons
• Price $55 per person ($35 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria

A Two-Hour Guided Bus Tour to the Best of the Scarecrows. Plus Refreshments!

Whether local or visiting, it’s hard to take in the full wonders of the October Cambria Scarecrow Festival. This year let us be your guide. Join us on a comfortable bus limited to 24 as we journey among major stops in both Cambria and San Simeon. You’ll have a chance to exit the bus at multiple locations to get up close and personal with the displays. Take a selfie or two. All along the way, a knowledgeable Festival Volunteer will provide some of the backstories and make sure you don’t miss the intriguing details. At the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy a complimentary glass of wine at a local restaurant.

• Wednesday, October 10, 1 pm to 3 pm
• Wednesday, October 10, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 17, 1 pm to 3 pm
• Wednesday, October 17, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
• Each tour limited to 24 persons
• Price: $30 per person ($15 tax deductible)
• Location: Cambria and San Simeon

A Special Guided Tour of the Rookery. Plus Coffee and Danish

Elephant seals return to their land-based rookery near Piedras Blancas for birthing, breeding, molting, and rest. Join us on a custom tour of this rookery during the fall haul out—one of the most populous times for elephant seals throughout the year. A knowledgeable docent from the Friends of the Elephant Seals will provide a custom one-hour tour. After the tour, the group will return to a room at the Cavalier Hotel in San Simeon for complimentary coffee, Danish, and juices with added time to talk to your docent volunteer. And you will also have an opportunity to visit the visitor center and bookstore of the Friends of the Elephant Seals, where you will enjoy a 20 percent discount on any purchase.

• Sunday, October 27, 9:00 to 11:00 am
• Limited to 10 persons
• Price $30 per person ($20 tax deductible)
• Location: San Simeon