September 10-13, Cambria, Calif., may be the perfect destination for any card-carrying lesbian… it’s in wine country, it’s nature at its best … and more than 300 lesbians will be in residence.
The 2nd annual Cambria Women’s Weekend will take over the Cambria Pines Lodge for three days and nights of live entertainment, outdoor parties, nightlife, gourmet dining and chances to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.
Cambria Women’s Weekend is an annual event produced by Women On A Roll (WOAR), a lesbian social club in Southern California, founded by filmmaker, producer and promoter Andrea Meyerson.
Photo by Beck Starr
“I was so excited with the enthusiasm and positive response from our guests last year,” Meyerson says. “It’s wonderful to witness a vibrant group of lesbians surrounded by Cambria’s incredible natural beauty, exciting parties, fine wine, fabulous entertainment and fun-loving women.”
Cambria is nestled on the California coast mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. “It’s really a mix of the most beautiful coastline in California and this amazing forest and rolling vineyards … it all comes together right there,” Meyerson says.
The quaint artist’s town has galleries, shops and restaurants and some locals claim it has an invisible, protective power. William Randolph Hearst’s Castle is six miles north and giant elephant seals gather by the hundreds at nearby Point Piedras Blancas.
Cambria Women’s Weekend grew out of Meyerson’s desire to provide lesbians with something different. “I had a presence at Dinah Shore Weekend for about 10 years. I just decided I wanted to create a signature event for Woman on a Roll.”
She wanted to take women somewhere different and began looking at the central California coast as an option. “I liked the idea that it was an area that was gay friendly but there weren’t any gay parties there yet … I found Cambria Pines Lodge, which is right in the heart of Cambria. I just fell in love with it and every time I would take a tour, I could visualize the place being packed with women. It’s on 25 wooded acres and it has a luxurious feel but at the same time it feels very rustic. I just thought this was the perfect home to do it… they were willing to let us do 100 percent buyout, which was important to maintain the exclusivity and privacy for women.”
With 150 rooms at the Inn, the Cambria weekend is contained in size. “I kind of like keeping it that way. A lot of the rooms are suites so they can very comfortably sleep four and even six people … The local women come to our events and parties. And some people will rent a house nearby … I like that we can’t really grow it any bigger because I think that 350 to 400 women is enough for a really fun, exciting party but also has a little bit more intimate feel.”
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