We begin are honeymoon on July 30th....probably at the Laguna Ritz Carlton (comments on Ritz?)...we were wanting to have more of a trip honeymoon than a lay around at the pool or beach honeymoon. So, we were thinking of staying 3 nights on the Laguna Ritz...then head north.

This is where we need ideas....we would go as far north as Monterey...but what are some places to see, or things to do, places to stay...etc.. in between Laguna and Monterey?

Much thanks

I was at the Laguna Ritz Carlton last summer to attend a wedding -- Oh my goodness, what a lovely place! Congratulations on your wedding and your honeymoon!

I live in Monterey and there are tons of things to do. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is fun and you can rent bicycles on the bike path or go kayaking in the bay. The Fishermans warf has lots of great seafood rest. and Carmel has lots of great shops and art galleries. You can have lots of fun. The Hotel pacific is very nice and you can walk to the warf from there.

Going northward I would recommend stops in Santa Barbara, Cambria, Big Sur or Carmel (depending on whether you like nature or towns) and then back down south.

Having stayed at the Hotel Pacific in Monterey, I can second Mattwho's recommendation. All rooms have fireplaces and featherbeds, and there is a pretty cortyard and nice continental breakfast. They have a web site.

I would recommend either Ventana or Post Ranch Inn. We stayed at the former and it was wonderful! There are many threads on this forum with info on these two resorts if you do a search. The websites are www.ventana-inn.com
www.postranchinn.com

Whatever you do save your receipts and put them in your wedding album. On our 40th I wrote the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco that I had read of a hotel in the east that offered couples who spent their honeymoons at their hotel a stay on their honeymoons at the same price. They responded but wouldn't let us stay for the $14 a night we paid in 1955. We had to pay a whopping $41 but upgraded the room we had then. Besides being very romantic we were treated like royalty. So, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you to save your reciepts.

Congratulations on your wedding.

My husband and I were just married in CA in November. We drove up the coast from Montecito where we were married. If you like B/B there are several places to stay in Santa Barbara. Secret Garden Inn is one. The town of Santa Barbara is beautiful.

There is a bakery shop close to the beach and all the little shops in a square in Santa Monica that also has a wine shop. Maybe someone else knows....Find a really nice bottle of wine and get some desserts/cheese and watch the sunset on the beach.

Morro Bay is a sleepy harbour town. Great antique shops. San Luis Obispo is a college town but has great walking in town with different shops. Cambria is nice too.

Make sure you stop in Carmel. There is a great Mediterranean restuarnt there that has open fires you sit next to while you eat.

Before I forget, make sure and bring some warm pullovers for the walks on the beach. If you are driving during the day...which I do recommend there is a great place just before you get to Carmel. You will know it by the cars parked on the side with the surfboards, I may be wrong but I think it's Point Lobos. Walk down...small hike, Great VIEW!!!!

Have fun. And just take your time and stop every chance you get!