California Coast from Sacramento/ideas
 

Need some suggestions. Last minute cancelation leaves us scrambling for where to go.
Leaving Sacramento mid April and want to head to the coast.
Don't want travel time to be more than 4+ hours. Looking for beach front or view. House, cottage/condo. Need 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Have 93 year old Mom so prefer no steps. Would love a fireplace. Looking for peaceful, relaxing but decent restaurant nearby.
Would like to keep it under $400 for the two nights/3days lodging. Any ideas?
Thanks.

Have you checked out Half Moon Bay or Carmel?

since you are leaving in the next week, it is semi-likely anyplace Fodorites might recommend would be booked up. I'd just jump on vrbo and look for <i>anything</i> w/ availability.

Dillon's Beach, Bodega Bay. Check on VRBO for rentals

If you can make it as far north as Klamath CA, The Ravenwood Motel would fit your budget. Check the descriptions of each room or suite to see which appeals to you. http://www.ravenwoodmotel.com/index.htm
They do have rooms with 2 twin beds and suites with a small kitchen.
The Coast Redwoods are nice at the "Trees of Mystery".

"<i>Don't want travel time to be more than 4+ hours</i>"

Klamath is more like 7 hours from Sacramento so probably not what you are looking for. Plus from what I remember, the Ravenwood is on the east side of the highway and wouldn't have any ocean views.

carmelcalifornia.com many great options for you. booking.com
super nice beach shopping vibe warmer than the north.
treebonesresort.com Glamping(Yurts) tonnes of fun
ventanainn.com for upsclale

My top 3 happy hunting!

Yosemite.com Ahwannee or Wawona
to be closer
or a nice stop in route.

classic.mapquest.com

One very scenic option would be Yosemite, and driving along 49 through California's Gold Country (through some classic Victorian themed towns) on the way to Yo. http://tinyurl.com/7gu872k


If you time the traffic right (after morning rush - before afternoon rush) - you could get from Sacto to SF and then over the hill to fairly quiet Half Moon Bay in 3 hours or so http://www.travelmath.com/drive-dist...Sacramento,+CA - and it's a beautiful place with presumably some April availability in your price range. And there are several good places to dine in the downtown area.

http://www.yelp.com/c/half-moon-bay-ca/restaurants

Click around here to see what you might like: http://tinyurl.com/8447jc4

If you want to get to Carmel/Monterrey- it's also about 3 hours - if you go the "back way" and not through
the city of SF. http://tinyurl.com/7ldoamp It's also beautiful and may not be too crowded during April?

There are plenty of other posts in here about what to do in and around the Carmel/Monterrey area.

Dillon Beach should work. It's been over five years since I've rented there but they used to have plenty of houses and no steps shouldn't be a problem. It's a nce beach and an easy drive to other nice areas

To be practical/realistic, you most likely won't find availability in Yosemite (plus last I checked it it doesn't have ocean views :) ) and finding ocean front/view in Carmel for under $200 a night would be a very tall order. Treebones is over your budget and I doubt the yurts are appropriate for a 93 yo who can't manage steps.

As a few of us have mentioned -- you need to get on vrbo (and hope the owners have updated their callendars.)

Bodega Bay or Dillon Beach would be great if you can find something.

Thanks guys. VRBO was very helpful. Never heard of that site in my hundreds of hours over the years with Fodorites.
janisj, I thank you for pointing out the unavailable ocean view at Yosemite. :) Wouldn't that be the "best of all worlds"? Always open to possibilities, but Mom wants the Ocean.
Still a work in progress, but some helpful input. Know it's a tall order this late in the game, but maybe something will work.
Dillon Beach may be it. Looking at Bodega Bay area next.
Thanks again everyone.
PS Happytrails....were u the one about a yr ago that asked for me to report back on Big Bend Natl. Park visit? If so,
let me just say....GO THERE! Really great.

Especially for mid-April - check on Hotels/suites/lodging in Monterrey. We stayed at one within walking distance of the beach - a nice 3 star - and had a real bargain rate- and there are others with beachfront views that might suit your budget.

For example - see this page - but just Google away, and don't be afraid to try Priceline, etc: http://tinyurl.com/8292hkw

BTW - my seconding/considering Yo was offering an alternative to you - but since you are set on the Ocean - happy trails. :)

I just plugged 7 nights/from Sunday April 15th to the 22nd, for Monterrey Hotels and found some good rates and availability:

see: http://tinyurl.com/87ua65o

And while it's been a long time, from what I recall - if you want "sleepy" - than Dillon Beach may be for you. Check out these reviews. http://tinyurl.com/7ekl99a

Another possibility - Fort Bragg and Mendocino.

Just saw an ad on channel 3 for Sanra Cruz and the Dream Inn right on the beach.

There's also the Sanctuary Beach Hotel in Marina, CA, just a few miles north of Monterey.

http://www.thesanctuarybeachresort.com/

I live only about an hour and a half away, so don't get to stay in the Monterey area much, but Marina is the hidden secret for Monterey. It's just north of Monterey and has a number of hotels which were there for the former Fort Ord Army Base. There are hotels right on the beach.

You might want to google "hotels in Marina, Ca" or look into "marina ca hotels" in Tripadvisor.

Good luck on finding lodging that'll meet all your requirements! :)