milton garlin

I live in Denver, CO and want to go to the beach SOON! I want to wander along the shore, feet playing in the sand, not many people around to get on my nerves! I want to rent a condo on the beach and a car, drive to somewhere close for a little excitement/sightseeing, then back to the beach for about 4-5 days.

HELP me with ideas, probably along the pacific coastline.

Gina

Well, it sounds like a wonderful vacation, but it is going to be expensive! I only know about the Southern California shoreline, and I can only think of one place that sounds like it would suit you. I would recommend that you go to the Hotel Del Coronado which is near San Diego. It is a high class resort which has a private beach. San Diego and the surrounding areas are nearby for fun and entertainment. It is not exactly private, but probably a little less expensive than renting a condo with its own private beach. Because if it is not private, you are going to have a lot of company, and it sounds like you do not want that. Another very exclusive resort is called Shutters that is in Newport Beach, I believe (although I might be wrong on that) If you have your heart set on your own pad, call or surf for beach city real estate agencies. They often specialize in vacation rentals. Or you could try up along the central and northern coastline in cities such as Carmel, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, or San Luis Obispo. My knowledge is limited on these.

Cal

I just want to clear one thing up. I live in San Diego and there is NO such thing as a private beach in California. The public cannot be denied access to any beach area except for Military bases such as Pendleton. There is a beautiful wide beach in front of the Hotel Del Coronado. We have been there many times. It may appear to be a private beach but it is not. The hotel has to allow the public access to the beach. The Del is a great place to stay if you can afford it. It has great atmosphere and elegance. Coronado is also a great place to walk around and enjoy. There is a hotel in La Jolla which is right on the La Jolla Shores beach. It is a nice place and not as pricey as the Del. The name slips my mind but I believe it is called the "Sea Lodge at La Jolla Shores". It has a great restaurant.

Sunny

We spent approx. 10 summers in the San Diego area when our kids were small. We have rented a condo in Coronado. (next to the Hotel del Coronado, and used to require a minimum stay of a month or more) We have also stayed many times at both the Hotel Del Coronado and the Sea Lodge in La Jolla. The 2 hotels are very different. The Sea Lodge can be difficult to get into. People book for the next year when they are there. It has good food and a nice beach, but it looks more like a motel and the rooms are not air condidioned. There are some rooms with no cross air flow due to supporting beams. We were stuck in one once and were miserable. Ask, if this is a concern. La Jolla is a great city with lots of shopping (expensive) and art galleries. We are returning next week to the Hotel Del Coronado after a 4 year absence to the area. The Hotel Del is huge, old and historical. The main building is not air condnitioned, but the Ocean Towers is. It is next to the main bldg. The restaurant is very large and they line up for breakfast. It goes quickly, though. There is also an outside garden restaurant that is open for lunch (very nice) and I can't remember if they are open for breakfast. This is a resort hotel with EVERYTHING, and activities for kids, which there are a lot of. Coronado is safe with an easy and relaxed atmosphere. It is a hard decision to choose between them. They both cost probably about the same, or used to. San Diego is between them, about 5 minutes from Coronado and 15 to 20 minutes from La Jolla. Sorry this is so long; I got carried away with memories.

kam

How about trying some of the Central Coast beaches which are less popular because less well known. I would recommend Moonstone Beach in Cambria, and Morro Bay. It's true that no Ca beaches are private but some are more deserted than others. There's not beach in Big Sur!! Carmel is beautiful but crowded and has a big dog population (which we think is great, but you might not.) A really nice beach is Pescadero near Santa Cruz, but then we are getting a bit north and so colder water. Pismo Beach in the the Central Coast is also nice---pismo clams are famous and there's enough other stuff to do as well. Sta. Barbara is great, but you will have to deal with other folks. In the end, you know, you must decide!! I would take a good look at Morro and Pismo and see if that's what you have in mind. At Moonstone, you can stay in the charming town of Cambria with its quaint little shops and restaurants and see Hearst Castle. Then you can drive a bit north through Big Sur, but don't look for a beach!!

Dave & Caprice

Your message sure is timely! Just got back from a day at Salt Creek State Park in Laguna Niguel. It is a park on the beach with grass, sand, beach - and the Ritz Carlton up the cliff!

On the way there, drove through Dana Point. On the way back, drove through Laguna Beach. Ahhh!

I often go to San Clemente State Beach too. There is a timeshare right by the pier. There is also a cute hotel on the beach side of the street. I could probably get the name if you are interested.

There are so many little areas to find around here, some more crowded than others. I recommend Southern over Northern CA beaches if you like to swim because our waters are generally less rough.

I went to college in San Diego. For me, La Jolla is the crown jewel. Coronado is nice too, but La Jolla still ranks up there for me. There is also a hotel near the beach there that used to have great prices. I could hunt down that name too.

I would venture to guess that, with a little searching on the web, you may be able to find someone willing to rent out their timeshare or condo at a reasonable price.

Let me know if you need any more info...if not, come on out and relax with the rest of us!

BeachBob

Before you head for the central and Northern beaches, consider if you want to swim. The water is cold enough in Southern California. The water temp rarely goes above 72 and is typically 68-70 in the summer. That is in Southern California. I am a native Californian and have been to about every beach area in the state. Sam Clemente is nice and the water is typically a little warmer than in the San Diego area. The water temp drops drastically just north of Santa Barbara.

Nicci

Hi! i am also a California native and live about half way between the San Diego area beaches and the Orange County beaches. A lot of where you are headed depends on what you are looking for. I am not a big fan of the hotel Del but that is a personal choice- (it is $125-450 per night with a two night min. stay) for around $90 you can stay at the San Diego Princess, owned by Princess Cruise lines. It is resort style with single rooms, mini suites and deluxe suites. There are tons of great restuarants there and even if you stay elsewhere you may want to stop by and try the Barefoot bar and grill. For a nicer meal try out the Dockside Restaurant. We fed five aldults for around $65 and it was well worth it. Make reservations and ask for a table near th window in the main room. At high tide the waves will hit he window. There is a dock where you can rent everything from paddle boats to jet skis and motor boats by the hour. There is a private beach and Mission beach and pier are near by. La Jolla is a personal favorite. Keep in mind that it is a college town but they do have one of the area's most amazing beaches. You can get more hotel for your money by staying closer to the Freeway, off at La Jolla Village Drive there is a Marriot to the left about two miles, a Hyatt right in front of you, and a Radisson to the left. The beach is straight sown La Jolla Village Dr. Don't forget the Hard Rock cafe. One of San diego's best kept secrets is Cardiff-by-The- Sea. It is a little north of La Jolla, near Del Mar. I like the Countryside Inn. It is around $75 for two people and walking distance to almost everything. Try the Charthouse restaurant. If you prefer Orange County check out Newport. In the early morning there are some amazing surfers in action. Try the Newporter Inn. The staff is friendly, it is near the beach (about a block) and the rates are fare.

Jan Atkinson

If you're not totally sold on the California coast you might consider Amelia Island in Florida. You can actually swim in the water because it's warm! I live in Northern California and the water is COLD! We rent a home right on the beach every year that is very private. Being from CA and visiting in Hawaii, I can't believe how few people are on the beaches near Fernandina Beach! The Old southern town near there, Fernandina Beach, is kind of like a southern Boulder, Co. There are a couple of nature preserves and an old fort to tour about 10 minutes away. The URL for the property management place is" www.amelia-era.com and the URL for the house we stay in is: http://www.amelia-era.com/rent19.htm

kam

Just returned from a friend's house in Del Mar---Torrey Pines Beach was a total delight! There's a little restaurant to have breakfast at (name?) and then the day at the beach. The only problem is that San Diego is getting so congested with traffic--it's almost a mini LA. I guess living in Northern California, a day at the beach to me means being cool, sitting in the sun, and maybe wading but you guys are right about the swimming.