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Help us find a perfect honeymoon spot on the West Coast!

Help us find a perfect honeymoon spot on the West Coast!

Old May 14th, 2012, 09:13 AM
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Help us find a perfect honeymoon spot on the West Coast!

hello all!

So my fiance and I are planning to take a quick 3-day midweek honeymoon after our wedding in late August. We live in Los Angeles and are open to either driving or flying - we'd be willing to consider anything all the way up to the Vancouver/Victoria area. Our goal for the few days is to hole up at a somewhat-splurge private resort, hotel or inn that is close to nature. We'd like to have a couple amazing dinners as we are both food people, but we're not interested in driving around, exploring, or visiting wineries - we do that often on weekend trips anyway. We'd also like to rule out Santa Ynez/Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and areas around and south of Los Angeles, as we've spent a ton of time there already and would like something a little different.

The Post Ranch Inn and the Ventana Inn in Big Sur have pretty much everything we're looking for (amazing surroundings, good food, quiet, upscale) but honestly they are both out of our price range. We're looking to spend no more than $550 per night for lodging. Is there somewhere (ideally coastal, but perhaps mountain) that maybe offers a similar experience but for a smaller cost? We've looked at the other accommodations in Big Sur - the nicer cabins at Glen Oaks are booked and everything else seems too rustic/not private enough.

We never spend more than $200 on hotels normally, so we're looking for something that's a little fancy, either with a rustic or modern vibe. If it has amazing food nearby and breakfast on-site that is a HUGE plus. Proximity to nature and a jacuzzi tub in the room is a must-have. Outdoor hottub or tub is even better.

The one big NO for us is we don't want something that has that typical "romantic B&B/inn vibe". Please, no flowery bedspreads and pillows, no overwrought drapes, no canned ideas of "romance" that include rose petals on the bed. If it looks like it was decorated by your 70-year-old great aunt, no thanks. I'm sure some of you will know what I mean.

Anyway, if any of you have any suggestions please let me know! Thanks!
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Old May 14th, 2012, 09:34 AM
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I don't know how far you want to drive but Mendocino is pretty romantic:

http://www.brewerygulchinn.com/
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Old May 14th, 2012, 09:36 AM
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Mendocino is the first place that came to my mind as well. It's lovely. And congrats on your wedding!
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Old May 14th, 2012, 09:40 AM
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Also when you say West Coast do you mean on the ocean? Becasue there are some pretty romantical places that are in the mountains.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 09:47 AM
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we are open to mountains - just somewhere not too blazing hot, as it's going to be August.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 09:49 AM
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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
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Old May 14th, 2012, 10:14 AM
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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
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Old May 14th, 2012, 10:29 AM
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Ritz Carlton at Northstar?

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...oe/Default.htm

Tu-tu-tun Lodge:

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-...u-tu-tun-lodge
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Old May 14th, 2012, 10:31 AM
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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
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Old May 14th, 2012, 10:54 AM
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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.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:12 AM
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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!
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:14 AM
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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
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:51 AM
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(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?
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:53 AM
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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.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:55 AM
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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...FQ5rhwodgBPSSg 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.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 12:01 PM
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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/Proper...ay/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/
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Old May 14th, 2012, 12:17 PM
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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.
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Old May 14th, 2012, 10:48 PM
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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
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Old May 14th, 2012, 11:17 PM
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I wanna go there tracy2cents, wow
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Old May 15th, 2012, 05:29 AM
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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.
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