The Secret Luxury Oasis of California's Arroyo Grande Valley
The Casitas Estate | Arroyo Grande, California, USA
CONTENTS
Secret Oasis of Luxury & Relaxation | Casitas Estate Bed & Breakfast | Casitas Luxury Services | Book Your Stay
Arroyo Grande Valley | Talley Vineyards
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Treating yourself to some luxury and relaxation is something you should do on a regular basis but do it as a reward for achieving goals that you have set for yourself that week or month. Whether it is as simple as getting a pedicure or massage in the town you live, or traveling to find a weekend retreat, let your mind refresh and set a goal to do one of these activities a minimum of once per month.
In 2015, my husband, Wyatt and I were driving south through Big Sur and I had discovered a four-suite bed & breakfast that I just had to try out near Arroyo Grande. I remember absolutely LOVING our short one-night stay, so in March 2020, I absolutely had to stay there on my solo trip down the California coast. Wyatt and I had just spent a week at my sister-in-law’s home just south of San Francisco and had some quality time with our two nephews. I dropped Wyatt at the airport early on Tuesday morning, so he could return home to work and I would enjoy four days of the coastal and desert landscapes of California before visiting my brother and his five kids in Los Angeles. I love kids and my family, but needed a little reboot in between it all!
Hey Peeps!
Welcome to all, but especially those that need an escape from the daily grind.
I'm Amy B, the writer, editor-in-chief and HBIC at Change N Focus. My mission is to inspire each of you to travel & explore the great outdoors, empower you to be the best YOU and truly LIVE the life of your dreams!
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Photos of the front porch of the Casitas Estate Main House
My Secret Oasis of Luxury & Relaxation
After a gorgeous drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, I saw the Casitas Estate sign and began winding up the driveway until arriving at the beautifully landscaped circle drive. I walked into the front door of the main house and immediately was greeted by the kind and outgoing owners, Pat and Tony. They knew that I had come in from a long drive and offered a glass of wine before Tony showed me to the Cielo Room. This is now my favorite room of the four on the Estate, simply because of the view of the rolling hills of vineyards as you walk through the garden and the sunset over the beautiful pool that is right outside the Casita door.
Tony showed me how everything in the Casita worked including the beautiful gas fireplace! It ended up being a rainy afternoon and since I was the only one staying on property that night, Tony had offered that I stay in one of the closer rooms to the main house. However, when I have something in my head, I don’t normally let anything change what was going to happen. I did end of having my en suite massage in one of the upper rooms so that my masseuse didn’t have to carry her table all the way down in the rain.
Photos of the Cielo Suite at Casitas Estate
By the way, my massage with Carolyn was incredible and an hour only cost $100!! I totally should have gone with the 90-minute massage for only $130. I made the short walk back to the Cielo Room in my super plush and comfy robe that is found in your room. Now completely relaxed, I turned on the fireplace and poured a glass of chardonnay that I purchased at my favorite vineyard before arriving at the Casitas Estate. Learn more about Talley Vineyards later in this article. Tony gave me many recommendations for dinner out, but I ended up relaxing and looking through the photos I had taken along the coast earlier that day. If my husband would have been along, we would have chosen the intimate 4-course dinner in our suite or on the patio.
Photo of en suite massage and relaxing with wine by the fire afterwards
When I booked the Cielo room hoping for the perfect weather for sunset. After it rained most of the afternoon, I lost hope. Though I truly felt that I was where God wanted me all day, because the rain didn’t start until I had made it past the main stops on my list and it cleared in time for my brief stop to see the elephant seals at San Simeon.
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As God or luck would have it, the rain stopped, and the winds pushed the heavy clouds out just in time for a beautiful sunset view of the rolling hills.
Sunset at the Casitas Estate and the view of the rolling hills of vineyards
What is a B & B without the breakfast, right?
Tony delivered a savory breakfast of champions with all the fixings. I told him the day before that I wanted to get on the road by 9am. He had breakfast promptly delivered at 8am and was so sweet to bring me a to go cup for coffee!
Hearty breakfast brought to your suite at Casitas Estate
My second stay further confirmed my memories of the first truly relaxing and enjoyable experience at the Casitas of Arroyo Grande. Pat and Tony are gracious souls wanting to share their piece of paradise with travelers and they provide luxurious accommodations from the bedding and décor to the premiere “extras” of fine dining and massage therapy in your suite! Pure luxury at its finest at the Casitas Estate!
Book your stay at the Casitas Estate today! You will not regret the rest & relaxation that my ‘Secret Oasis’ will provide.
Photo from the back of the main house of Casitas Estate
Casitas Estate Bed & Breakfast – Information & Details
The Casitas Estate is 7-acres overlooking the Central Coast vineyards and rolling hills. If you are driving the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) from San Francisco to Los Angeles or the opposite, make one of your stops here. Trust me that you will never want to leave. The Casitas Estate is close to San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles wine country. There are over 15 wineries within a 15-minute drive! Pat & Tony recommend the SLO Coast wine tour with Breakaway Tours Wine & Events.
There are just four rooms on this amazing estate. The Cielo Room, meaning “Heaven” or “Sky” is the largest at 450 square feet with the most privacy, has a gas fireplace and the patio overlooks the best view with the pool right outside your door. The other three rooms all have wood burning fireplaces and private decks with slightly different views. Mariposa, meaning “butterfly”, Sonrisa, meaning “Smile”, and Sarchi, meaning “Relaxing Place” are the unique names for the other three rooms that are each 400 square feet.
Amenities for all rooms are top notch as well. As is always important for me, The Casitas offers complementary Wi-Fi, but also Bose Stereo with iPod port, DirectTV with HBO, Showtime & DVR movies for those that can’t live without music and television. From Ralph Lauren bedding, Comphy Ultrasoft Microfiber sheets and Turkish cotton towels, to the luxury label toiletries and the use of two of the most comfortable robes around! Each room has a small refrigerator/freezer as well as in-room coffee, tea wine opener & glasses.
Photos of patio outside the 3 upper rooms and main house at Casitas Estate
The Casitas Estate Luxury Services
Like to celebrate while traveling or just reward yourself for a day well spent, The Casitas offers so many incredible what they simply call “extras”. I love spoiling myself with fabulous food, anyone else? Pat & Tony work with local farm to table catering services to provide a 4-course dinner in your room or on your patio. You can consult and help plan this meal directly with the caterer. I have not yet experienced this, but as with everything else, I’m sure it is a 5 star treat for your taste buds. Cost is $125 per person and must be booked in advanced for planning and coordination.
Love fondue? They have left no stone unturned; they will deliver a savory traditional Swiss Fondue to your suite while you sip on the wines that you purchased from one of the many vineyards in the area. The fondue is made with Gruyere and Emmenthaler cheeses and served with crusty artisan French bread, grapes and sliced crisp apples for dipping. Price is $100.
I highly recommend an en suite massage. Pat and Tony have vetted wonderful massage therapist and they will schedule the therapist for you, and you pay through the Casita Estate at check out. The prices for massages here are the best prices I’ve ever seen for a luxury massage in an unforgettable place – $100 for 60-minutes and just $130 for 90-minutes of heaven.
When you have the best sleep of your life on their comfortable beds, you can purchase Comphy sheets and Pat & Tony will ship them directly to you. Contact them for pricing.
The Casitas Estate is the perfect place to have your wedding. As a lover of all photography, the estate is heaven for the most stunning scenery for a memorable wedding. Pat and Tony have the contacts and skills to pull off the wedding of your dreams. To see packages and rates for their Casitas Estate Wedding website.
Photo of succulent wall at Casitas Estate which is beautiful for wedding photos!
Area Guide to the Arroyo Grande Valley
I recommend a stay in this area as a great weekend getaway, but also as part of a road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway.
For nature lovers, 50 miles north of The Casitas, is a viewing beach to see elephant seals. They are incredibly large marine mammals that spend eight to ten months a year in the open ocean and migrate to the central coast of California to birth, breed, molt and rest. Large numbers can be seen from December through February each year, but I’ve seen some in March and April as well. No reservations or fees to see these incredible creatures of the sea.
While in that area, you can visit Hearst Castle. I cannot speak to the visit as I prefer things outdoors, but one day I will likely make a stop there to check out the hubbub. Williams Randolph Hearst began building the estate that he called “La Cuesta Encantada”, Spanish for The Enchanted Hill in 1919 and therefore they recently celebrated 100 years!
I would say the main attraction to this region is all the vineyards and wineries. Below is a quick list of wineries located near The Casitas Estate. Due to my brief one day stays in the area, I’ve not visited all of them yet.
Baileyana
Claiborne & Churchill
Edna Valley Vineyard
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards
Kynsi Winery
Saucelita Canyon Vineyards
Sextant Wines
TALLEY VINEYARD – my favorite!
Tangent
Wolff Vineyards
Photo of sign at entrance of Casitas Estate property
Talley Vineyards
If you love chardonnay and/or pinot noir, you must visit Talley Vineyards. It is also the closest to The Casitas, just a 1.4-mile drive. For three generations the Talley family has farmed in the area and Oliver Talley founded Talley Farms in 1948 growing vegetables. Oliver’s son, Don Talley, got the grape growing bug in 1982 (great year, my birth year) and just four years later in 1986 founded Talley Vineyards with his wife Rosemary. Currently, Brian and his wife, Johnnie, own and operate Talley Vineyards and all family members continue to own and operate Talley Farms which grows more than 50 different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Their estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are in my top three bottles! It was pouring rain when I visited the Tasting Room in March 2020, but I bought one of each bottle and enjoyed the chardonnay after my massage at The Casitas. I was a solo traveler, so only hit my favorite vineyard for a tasting. I also bought the cookbook that the owner of the property created…trying some of those recipes soon! You can view some of Brian Talley’s recipes on their Talley Vineyard website.
Talley Vineyards also offers a Wine Club which is great since I live all the way in Florida but check their website because they do not ship to all states.
Photos of Talley Vineyard & Tasting Room
