California BsOTL

[smokelaw1]

NorCal..Opus, MC..anyone else....
Can you think of someplace in Cambria (or, more importantly, right on the PCH, basically) that would be nice and romantic like Paso Robles and very near really good wineries and food? Further up the coast would be good, too, closer to say, Monterey, which is where it looks like I will swing eastward to head to yosemite.

Many thanks...

If you are going all the way up to Monterey, I would make it a point to stay in Carmel. Look around and Google some B&B's and hotels there, assuming you don't want to go straight for Pebble Beach/The Lodge right on 17 Mile Drive. You can truly not find a nicer spot in that area...absolutely gorgeous and me and the little wife hit it at least once a year.

Thanks. Any thoughts of something a tad more intimate? I'm thinking a small cozy inn (less b&b, more small hotel), near solid food and wine. I think that area is the best bet for a number of hours on the PCH, and minimizing moring inland driving.

 

[MiamiCubano]

NorCal..Opus, MC..anyone else....
Can you think of someplace in Cambria (or, more importantly, right on the PCH, basically) that would be nice and romantic like Paso Robles and very near really good wineries and food? Further up the coast would be good, too, closer to say, Monterey, which is where it looks like I will swing eastward to head to yosemite.

Many thanks...

If you are going all the way up to Monterey, I would make it a point to stay in Carmel. Look around and Google some B&B's and hotels there, assuming you don't want to go straight for Pebble Beach/The Lodge right on 17 Mile Drive. You can truly not find a nicer spot in that area...absolutely gorgeous and me and the little wife hit it at least once a year.

Thanks. Any thoughts of something a tad more intimate? I'm thinking a small cozy inn (less b&b, more small hotel), near solid food and wine. I think that area is the best bet for a number of hours on the PCH, and minimizing moring inland driving.

There are no shortage of B&Bs in the whole Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach area, but if you're looking to get away from that, Tradewindscomes to mind. It has been very nice, very much into the whole "romantic" place you are seeking. The Cypress Inn is another one there, known mostly for the fact that it's been there forever and is very nice.

One of my favorites of hotels there is La Playa. Definitely check it out, at least at some point.

I've stayed at all of these hotels since I moved away from that area and now have to, well, stay in hotels there. All of them are very nice, some having more to offer than others, but it all depends on what you're really after. Check them out though, and if you are set on staying in that area, I would stay in Carmel, hands down.

 

[smokelaw1]

Those all look fantastic! Thanks. Tradewinds looks great. The serentity suite looks like the type of place we would enjoy staying, and the concierge service could help us find everything else we are looking for.
LaPlaya has only non-view standard rooms left, though I shouldn't be shocked, with only a week's notice.

 

[mysterea]

I almost forgot:
If you're a calimari guy, keep an eye out for calimari steaks, I've never seen em 'cept in Cali, and they're unbelievable.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

~R

 

[MiamiCubano]

Those all look fantastic! Thanks. Tradewinds looks great. The serentity suite looks like the type of place we would enjoy staying, and the concierge service could help us find everything else we are looking for.
LaPlaya has only non-view standard rooms left, though I shouldn't be shocked, with only a week's notice.

The Tradewinds is amazing. Excellent service there too, all around.

When you get there, check La Playa again...sometimes things open up. It's one of the best places on the beach.

 

[smokelaw1]

Just called them instead of using the online service, and they can get us a standard room with a garden view with some sort of local wine package for a rate that I am mildly amazed by.

One of these two (LaPlaya or Tradewinds) might wind up being the way we go.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

NorCal..Opus, MC..anyone else....
Can you think of someplace in Cambria (or, more importantly, right on the PCH, basically) that would be nice and romantic like Paso Robles and very near really good wineries and food? Further up the coast would be good, too, closer to say, Monterey, which is where it looks like I will swing eastward to head to yosemite.

Many thanks...

If you are going all the way up to Monterey, I would make it a point to stay in Carmel. Look around and Google some B&B's and hotels there, assuming you don't want to go straight for Pebble Beach/The Lodge right on 17 Mile Drive. You can truly not find a nicer spot in that area...absolutely gorgeous and me and the little wife hit it at least once a year.

Yup .... Carmel fits that bill, can't say much for the wineries but it is quite romantic and there are a couple of decent wineries around.

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

Also check out the Bernardus Lodge & Winery in Carmel Valley.

Edit: Oh, and how could I forget the Highlands Inn in Carmel.

 

[Smoking Mex]

LOL. El Cap? No, the captain is most certainly more than I can handle at this point. Well, and at any point in the past. When I was strong enough, I didn't have the technical knowledge. Now that I have the knoweldge and other skills, I am no where near strong enough. The two might over overlapped for a year or so there about a decade or so ago.

When I get some possibilities, I'll shoot you a PM.
Thanks.

Still doing any hiking or climbing in that park gets my hats off to you. :thumbs: Do keep in touch as your trip draws near.

 

[Smoking Mex]

The only recommendation I've got is to make sure to compensate for extreme water loss.
The air's real dry, if you're in a convertible I suspect you'll plow thru a gallon a day at least. Make sure to pick up water for the drive etc! (And beer!)

Rob

"Yeah, but it's a *dry* heat..." :laugh:

You won't be too bad up there on the way to Yosemite, especially this time of year. Now, if he were in full gear at 29 Stumps... :whistling:

I've not been to Yosemite in years, but along the way, I'd definitely hit Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, etc., depending on which route you're taking. Taking the PCH as long as I could would be my route. Used to ride that from SF to LA routinely by motorcycle.

Enjoy your trip.

Now, if he were in full gear at 29 Stumps...

MC thanks to the Corps, that is the only reason that place even exisits. :laugh:

 

[smokelaw1]

AAAARGH. TIme to cancel my reservations at Bernadus and at Tradewinds. We are doing neither. Nor are we doing the PHC. Laurie has decided that we are doing the drive in one day so we can spend more time with her family. We aregoing to bang north up 14 (I think) to 395 up to Yosemite, adn then drive through the park.
Is this still a nice drive? I hope so.
ANything notable that we might want to stop and see. Man, I hate when plans get changed on me.

 

[Smoking Mex]

AAAARGH. TIme to cancel my reservations at Bernadus and at Tradewinds. We are doing neither. Nor are we doing the PHC. Laurie has decided that we are doing the drive in one day so we can spend more time with her family. We aregoing to bang north up 14 (I think) to 395 up to Yosemite, adn then drive through the park.
Is this still a nice drive? I hope so.
ANything notable that we might want to stop and see. Man, I hate when plans get changed on me.

The 14, and the beggining of 395 is blow your brains out dull, since basically you are driving through the Mojave Desert. Not until you get past Ridgecrest and California City (Basically until you hit the base of the Sierra's) after that the drive should be nice. Still California start to finish cannot be beat. :thumbs:

 

[smokelaw1]

Thanks again.
I'm so bitter. I was really looking forward to he drive up the PCH, but to do any real segment of it would add a number of hours (I think 4 or 5) to the drive. Seeing as it is her family we are going to see (both her brothers live in L.A.), I gotta give in with the days spent in each locale. And the coast route just doesn't make much sense if we aren't spending a night. A 5 hour drive...no big deal, a 10 hour drive...well, sucks. Driving along the Sierra should be fun, as should going straight through the park on Rt 120. Well, we'll see.

Josh

 

[MiamiCubano]

The only recommendation I've got is to make sure to compensate for extreme water loss.
The air's real dry, if you're in a convertible I suspect you'll plow thru a gallon a day at least. Make sure to pick up water for the drive etc! (And beer!)

Rob

"Yeah, but it's a *dry* heat..." :laugh:

You won't be too bad up there on the way to Yosemite, especially this time of year. Now, if he were in full gear at 29 Stumps... :whistling:

I've not been to Yosemite in years, but along the way, I'd definitely hit Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, etc., depending on which route you're taking. Taking the PCH as long as I could would be my route. Used to ride that from SF to LA routinely by motorcycle.

Enjoy your trip.

Now, if he were in full gear at 29 Stumps...

MC thanks to the Corps, that is the only reason that place even exisits. :laugh:

Thanks to the Corps, I spent more time there than I care to remember...

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

Oh great !!!! there you go changing plans on us again :laugh: . It'll be a nice drive still, but you should take in at least one winery while your out here.

 

[smokelaw1]

LOL, yeah, this is the same trip that I thought I was going to get to do Napa, and meet up with you!

Know of any wineries along that route?

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

What's the route again? are you going neatr Paso?

 

[smokelaw1]

Route is 14 out of LA to 395, up past Mammoth to the east entrance of Yosemite.
Anything cool along the route would be great. Not just wineries.

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

Route is 14 out of LA to 395, up past Mammoth to the east entrance of Yosemite.
Anything cool along the route would be great. Not just wineries.

Your out of my coolness area's :laugh: , But let me see what I can find.