Help us find a perfect honeymoon spot on the West Coast!
May 15th, 2012, 06:36 AM
#21
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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.
May 15th, 2012, 06:52 AM
#22
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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.
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.
May 15th, 2012, 07:32 AM
#23
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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
Tofino: http://www.wickinn.com
Carmel Highlands: http://www.ticklepinkinn.com
May 15th, 2012, 03:00 PM
#30
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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.
May 15th, 2012, 03:01 PM
#31
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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
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
May 15th, 2012, 03:14 PM
#32
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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 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.
May 15th, 2012, 03:22 PM
#34
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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
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
May 15th, 2012, 09:25 PM
#35
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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...
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...
May 16th, 2012, 06:50 AM
#37
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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.
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.
May 16th, 2012, 08:14 AM
#38
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....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".
May 16th, 2012, 10:21 AM
#40
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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
http://www.chateaudusureau.com/index.html
