I don't know how far you want to drive but Mendocino is pretty romantic:

http://www.brewerygulchinn.com/

Mendocino is the first place that came to my mind as well. It's lovely. And congrats on your wedding!

Also when you say West Coast do you mean on the ocean? Becasue there are some pretty romantical places that are in the mountains.

we are open to mountains - just somewhere not too blazing hot, as it's going to be August.

I don't know about Mendocino -- for a 3-day trip from Los Angeles, it's a lot of travel (fly to SFO and then drive 3 hours?).

How about something closer to San Francisco....maybe not close enough to nature?

http://www.cavallopoint.com/lodging.html

Yeah definitely not on Cavallo Point. Looks nice but it's right next to the city. Mendocino is doable for us - don't worry about the travel details

Ritz Carlton at Northstar?

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LakeTahoe/Default.htm

Tu-tu-tun Lodge:

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/tu-tu-tun-lodge

I think you should also look at Corde Valle Resort http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/cordevalle/
It's at the top of your price range but even the least expensive rooms have a private patio and fireplace

I had a nice stay once at the Hyatt in Carmel Highlands, up on a bluff overlooking the ocean, nice restaurant onsite, pool. Not sure about the hottubs or Jacuzzi though. Rooms had robes and binoculars as well.

Couple of places come to mind...

Sooke Harbour House outside Victoria - one of the best restaurants on the west coast, very comfortable rooms. You'd have to change planes in Seattle or Victoria, and it's not cheap. http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/

The Salish Lodge, sitting on top of Snoqualmie Falls 30 min. east of Seattle. http://www.salishlodge.com/

Congratulations!

I'm thinking this may be too hot for you in August but I'm going to put it out there for you to decide. Also I'm linking to a room I think you would like since there is a tub on a private patio:

http://edenvaleinn.com/rooms_stonepine.html

(out of my league in most things honeymoon-related, but: )

Have you ever BEEN to Vancouver, Canada??

IF you've not been there, then, although mere hours away from you, it could come to seem uniquely "YOURS" (when you look back)...

You could have at your fingertips one of the most livable cities in North America. If you could stand to stay in the downtown area, it is somewhat small and compact (particularly compared to L.A. !) and you could easily fill 3 days of widely varied activities in a climate that can't get 'too warm'.

There are mountains extremely nearby... maybe the 'splurge' part would be a dinner 3000 feet up a mountain after you rode a gondola up the side of the mountain to get there. (www.grousemountain.com)

IF neither of you happen to have ever been to Vancouver, that could be very ideal for you, particularly given the relative ease with which you could get there. Both would need passports for such a trip.

Or, in your unique case, I could even see flying to Victoria, Canada and finding just such the resort you desire - maybe others here have related suggestions?

Actually, Ventana Inn and Spa is one of the featured hotels right now on the emails I receive from perfectescapes.com. Their website lists rooms starting at $373/night through 3/8/2013. You might want to look up your dates online or call them if you are interested. I've never used this site for booking, but I've used a similar site, luxurylink.com for a couple of bookings, one in SF & one in Hawaii.

So many choices. My wife's nephew loved Justin Winery near Paso Robles for their honeymoon. http://www.justinwine.com/

And you could fly to Salt Lake and go to Deer Valley - https://www.steinlodge.com/ (there are other places if that is too pricey - in nearby Park City, etc) - or to Portland and get up to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood http://www.timberlinelodge.com/ - or over on the Oregon Coast - Salishan (sp) http://www.salishan.com/ - or other places on the Coast - and a lot of people like Cannon Beach - as it's not that far from Portland.

Victoria on Vancouver Island is nice - http://www.hellobc.com/victoria.aspx?gclid=CI3Q2_jGgLACFQ5rhwodgBPSSg like a semi-trip to London - as are other places over toward the Olympic Peninsula. Lake Tahoe is gorgeous but might be busy then. http://www.gotahoenorth.com/

Awhanee Lodge in Yosemite was mentioned, right? Hard to get reservations.

Geesh: The Western US is your Oyster. Come back with more particular questions if you need more info.

Oh yes: The Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay - or there are other hotels close. Will cost $ but might have Honeymoon specials: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HalfMoonBay/Default.htm

And by Cambria - Moonstone Beach is very nice,http://tinyurl.com/cpks6gb and as a bonus - you could tour nearby Heart Castle. http://www.hearstcastle.org/

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I'll keep reading if there are more!

And to the poster who asked - yes, we went to Vancouver for a week last year and LOVED it.

I think one of the creekside cottages at St. Orres might be just what you're looking for. In the mountains, but some with ocean view. Outdoor hot tub! Ask which one is the most private.....some people think they are just TOO quiet and private (just you and the hot tub and the deer). www.storres.com

I wanna go there tracy2cents, wow

Away from the ocean. Sunriver Oregon. http://www.findrentals.com/HoneyMoon/city/579_1.html
If it is hot in Sunriver, you don't have to go far to find a cool place.
Sunriver has its own airport.

It could not be more crowded or hot in Sunriver in August. Full of families having a great time but not exactly what the OP described. My sister has a home in Sunriver. It is a wonderful place to take your family, float down the Dechutes, play some golf, hang by the pool but it's not really a place that you would hole up at a somewhat-splurge private resort, hotel or inn that is close to nature.

Sunriver is more like a woodsy suburb - but you are close (15 minutes?) - to beautiful lakes and forests, running or fishing the Deschutes river, brewpub hopping in Bend, etc.

Myself - I would prefer more rustic - a lakefront cabin over by Pauline Lake/Newberrry Crater - or going the more luxurious resorts elsewhere.

Would like to hear what you finally decide.

The special rate mouseRD quoted for the Ventana Inn sounds inviting. Two additional possibilities, no personal knowledge of either:

Tofino: http://www.wickinn.com
Carmel Highlands: http://www.ticklepinkinn.com

What about someplace on the San Juan islands?

tracy-Love the suggestion of St. Orres. Wow! Mountains, ocean, privacy. Beautiful. Now I want to go there.

I read the YELP reviews after drooling over St Orres and telling tracy I wanna go there. Some people are harsh. Some reviews are only for the restuarant.

Read the TripAdvisor reviews too.

I did. It's a mixed bag for the most recent reviews.

Agreed -- didn't look all that appealing to me (and I was so looking forward to being awed )

It's been 7 years since we stayed there so I can't vouch for the conditions of the room, upkeep etc. It does seem that a lot of places are not renovating and upgrading as often as they used to because of the economy, room revenues are stagnant etc. I can certainly vouch for the quiet & privacy, the natural vibe, the beautiful location in Gualala and the memories that come with staying at a place that's so unique. We plan to go back next fall and the reviews don't phase me much at all, everyone considers themself a white-gloved critic these days and some of the reviews that I read about different places are just nit-picky and haughty.

Wow, Tracy, the St. Orres comment cracked me up. Too quiet? That's why we all live here!

Anyway, didn't read the reviews but St. Orres is really known for its outstanding, world class restaurant (King Abdullah of Jordan was recently here - he had the wild mushroom ravioli) not its lodgings.

But if you're looking for beauty and quiet, Gualala is the place.

(Gualala) Lisa

Tofino is an amazing place - temperate rain forest and all - but you have to work a bit to get there. 5? hours driving beyond Victoria - but you might be able to fly closer?

And Lisa - you still kicking around Gualala. We loved staying there years ago as you know -way back in the 70's - and at the old Gualala Hotel? - they had a sign by the restroom out back: No washing waders in the sink.

Just loved it.

And the San Juan Islands would also be a great place for a Honeymoon. Again, takes a little work to get there, but fun.

The Whale Watch Inn, a little ways up the road from St. Orres, is another option in Gualala.

Hi again Tom, glad you have such great memories! Just saw a tourist at the market who was on the pay phone, freaked out that her cell phone and GPS didn't work around here. We really are in a bubble.

Hey, Tracy, stop by when you come to town. Just ask for Lisa, it's that kind of place.

Best,
Lisa

OK, if you've been to Vancouver... then what about Victoria, Canada?


It is Honeymoon-ish in that it is unique, and remote, and someplace that could seem all your own.

You have the city, you have nature, and you have a considerably slower way of life (in ways, at least) than life on the continent itself.

It's foreign... yet English (in every sense of the word)... it's seemingly far away... yet close (74 miles from Seattle).

There is plenty to fill 3 days, yet 3 days would give you enough time to get a good sense of it.

Don't have to drive real far, but you could should you want to...

LOL Lisa. I am no King Abdullah but I will be sure and look for you should I need directions or a landline.

I have to disagree with the recommendation for Whale Watch Inn. We were just there a few weeks ago and the place is unfortunately very tired. The location is fabulous and you even have access down steep stairs to the cove below. The people working there were very nice but it is obvious that the owners are not making necessary improvements.

We didn't make reservations because we had read some bad reviews, but it looked awesome on the website, so we just stopped by one afternoon on our drive up the coast. We saw four different rooms and they were all pretty dated. A lot of them have "old aunt" type of furnishings as well. We ended up in the Reflection room as it was in the best shape and they gave us a significant discount.

We enjoyed our stay and breakfast in the morning was quite good. It was sad to see the condition of the rooms though, especially when they look so great online. The owner needs to wake up and realize that an awesome location isn't going to fill the hotel. By the way, there were only five rooms occupied (including ours) and this was a Saturday night.

....and customers are going to have to realize that times are tough for everyone. When you aren't filling half your rooms, and haven't been able to raise room rates for five years....you just aren't going to be able to re-do your rooms as often. Just like rooms on Cape Cod are much more "dated" than rooms in Las Vegas. Cape Cod has a busy season of July and August only...yet reviews of "resorts" there have continual complaints that they don't compare to the Ritz Carlton, or that they are "overpriced for what you get".

tracy, I totally agree with you that times are tough, but I wanted the OP to be aware that the furnishings are floral and dated, something she specifically said she does not want.

How about the Chateau du Sureau? Up in the mountains, small, beautiful and there are some non-florally rooms:

http://www.chateaudusureau.com/index.html

sheri_lp - Oakhurst is super hot in August. The OP wanted to stay out of the heat.

violet99 on May 14, 12 at 10:47am we are open to mountains - just somewhere not too blazing hot, as it's going to be August.

There is a place on the Olympic Peninsula called Lost Mountain Lodge that offers privacy and luxury. You can even have your own cottage on the grounds:

http://www.lostmountainlodge.com/

Austin, I will pass your thoughts on to the owners. I haven't been in a room in many years, just the party room where they hold receptions.

Best,
Lisa

Thank you Lisa. The place has such potential and we thought the staff was wonderful. And the location is outstanding. If you haven't already tried it, go to Thai Kitchen in Anchor Bay. It was really good!

How about Channel House in Depot Bay Oregon- some of the rooms have hot tubs on the lanai overlooking the ocean. Its a quaint Oregon coastal town

http://www.channelhouse.com/

ooos- correct spelling is Depoe Bay. Do you remember the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?" The scene where they are escaping out to sea was filmed at the harbor in Depoe Bay.

There is also a nice restaurant there- Tidal Rave

sunbum - that's a great place! I am so glad that violet posed this question. There sure are some romantical places around.

I do remember that scene from Cuckoo's Nest. Funny that they have a room named that!!!

Some great suggestions on this thread - and no word back? Shame.

Tomsd...did you miss her post on May 14?

I loved Victoria, BC. The Delta Hotel right on the harbor was awesome. The sea planes are so fun to watch take off and land. Also, the whale watching boat tours are amazing. Make sure you drive around the island to see all of the postcard scenes.

I'd opt to get away from California and go to Washignton state.

Once long long ago we stayed at the Semiahmoo Resort and I can still remember the beds! It's about as far north you can go without a passport. Reach over and you could probably dip your toe in Canadian waters.

Here's a list of the ten best of Washignton State:

http://www.resortsandlodges.com/top-10/2009-08-21/top-10-washington-state-spa-resorts/index.html

Victoria or Vancouver Island itself would be a wonderful getaway.

Congratulations and best of luck finding someplace for your honeymoon!