If you travel via HWY 41-46 between the Valley and HWY 101 and then HWY 46 between HWY 101 to HWY 1 be very careful on the portion from Y where HWY 46 from Bakersfield joins in with HWY 41 from Fresno. The portion of the HWY from the Y going West to HWY 101 at Paso Robles is very dangerous. Many people are killed on that HWY every year. You will be traveling through Central California Wine Country a very beautiful area of California. If you have never been to the California Mid-State Fair it takes place in about mid August every year. Usually lots of good entertainment. Hearst Castle is a beautiful place just above the Pacific Coast line a few miles North of Cambria, CA and San Simion, CA. I have visited the Castle probably 25 times over the years and enjoyed my visit. The more you visit the more you see and remember.
Not what you might be looking for much in the Castle area unless you run into tourists but from what I remember a crew member I worked from time to time whom I knew to be gay everything was in SLO (San Luis Obispo, CA) where the University of CalPoly is located. Sorry I can't help you with any of the names of places but SLO is located south of Cambria down HWY 1 to Cayucous (I know of maybe 1 or so bars which are cowboy bars) Then on south on HWY 1 to Morro Bay (The best seafood in the county). South on HWY 1 on to San Luis Obispo. There may also be places down in the South Bay at Pismo Beech and in that area. On south on HWY 1 is Santa Maria and I don't have any idea about that area.
Maybe some one will come in here and tell you more about San Luis Obispo, CA Have a good time.