Hello! My mother is ill and she's never been anywhere. I believe driving along the Pacific Coast is one of the most beautiful scenes here in the United States, so I'm taking her there in March. We're arriving in San Fransisco, but we're going to rent a car and start driving (though not too far). Anyone know of great ocean-scenic, not too expensive, quaint inns to stay at? Any small towns that are especially worth spending time in along the way?

i don't believe there are a lot of ocean front inns but carmel, south of san fran is great.

We loved Cambria. Small town between Santa Barbara and Carmel. Probably a two or three hour drive from SF on 101? (locals probably know better) Stay on Moonstone Beach,nice board walk to stroll along beach and ocean. Click on my screen name to see trip report.

Head north along Hwy 1.Motor over the Bridge, take the route to the start of the Headlands, then proceed on 1 through Milll Valley, over to Stinson Beach and take off.
The Olema Inn is always fine.
http://www.theolemainn.com/

Thanks so much for the quick replies!! This will get me started! I was originally thinking of going north (more rocky beaches and violent water--sigh) but we could head south...

Second the vote for Cambria and Moonstone Beach. Then she could also see Hearst Castle, which was much more enjoyable than I expected last year.
Don't forget the wineries inland near Paso Robles.

For CA seaside towns, try to avoid weekends as the prices are higher then. Anyway, in addition to the Cambria/ San Simeon area, try Morro Bay. I liked staying at the Blue Sail Inn. Some rooms have ocean views.

Mendocino is about 3 hours north of San Francisco (via the 128, not the coast) beautifully sited on a headland with the crashing surf and those picturesque north coast rock formations that you had in mind. Several nice B & Bs, good restaurants and lovely little shops. Cambria is also a good choice but is, I think, more than 3 hours south if you take Route 1. Hearst Castle is well worth a visit but has lots of steps. Closer to SF, Pacific Grove has B & Bs with great views of Monterey Bay and the advantage of Monterey next door and Carmel nearby. The towns (Olema, Inverness) near the Point Reyes National Seashore have some charming places to stay (we loved the Olema Druids Hall) but they are typically not so near the ocean.

Oh, and your weather is more likely to be sunnier and less rain chances if you head south instead of North. I also like Santa Cruz, Capitola, Monterey and Pacific Grove. Closer than the San simeon/ Cambria/ Morro Bay area.

THanks again everyone. Now she says that she wants to go to Florida, but the plane tickets to San Fran are booked and that's the ocean I really want her to see. I'll check out all the suggestions...i'm really torn, north or south. Sun or crashing scenes that I remember. Either way, beautiful.

What a great trip for your mom! Go north and head for Mendocino. Stop at Point Reyes, continue north on 1. The stretch between Bodega Bay and Jenner is my favorite. Lucas Wharf in BB is a great place to eat. Stop at Goat Rock State Beach or any of the ohter small state beaches that dot this part of the coast. Continue north to Sea Ranch and stay a night or two at the lodge or rent a small beach house for two nights. Great beaches, good walking, lovely views. Good restaurants at nearby Gualala. St. Orres has interesting rooms and cabins in Gualala. Keep going all the way to Mendocino. It is the classic quaint coastal town.

-Bill

Believe me, she'll forget all about wanting to go to Florida once she sees how beautiful Northern California is!!

Carmel is the most beautiful town in California to me, far surpassing Cambria. Unfortunately can't help with quaint inns there, but tripadvisor.com should have plenty of help.

I love the drive north of sf. It's so beautiful. It gets my vote.

By saying "quaint" do you mean, "Charmingly odd, especially in an old-fashioned way"?

Definitely consider staying at the Seal Rock Inn in San Francisco.

Yes, I suppose, by saying "quaint" I mean stuck in time, but not exploited as so. But good luck finding that. yet, I do recall that aspect being in the air along the coast, in the small towns. Warm, intimate places...that's what I mean. I love the city--i need traffic to put me to sleep--but the ocean is a much more violently subtle lullabye. And yes, if I can just get her there...she'll forget all about Florida. No offense to Florida.

Oh, I have a quaint Carmel Inn to stay at. Carmel Garden Court:
http://www.carmelgardencourtinn.com/
Their sister property, the San Antonio House is closer to the beach if that's important to you.

I would opt for Bodega Bay, a little over an hour north of the Golden Gate. A lovely place to stay is the Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa. The spacious rooms at the lodge overlook the bay and a beautiful marsh area. There is a good restaurant, The Duck Club, on the premises. Another wonderful restaurant in the area is the Seaweed Cafe. People at the lodge can direct you. The Inn at the Tides is a very good restaurant that frequently serves winemaker dinners. Here's the website for the lodge: http://www.woodsidehotels.com/bodega/index.html

For a wild surf experience, drive around the bay through the town of Bodega Bay and on to Bodega Head. This is a great place to watch whales.

Lucas Wharf should no longer be recommended--it has become quite inferior since the Lucas family sold it.

A nice drive is north up the coast to the little town of Jenner. Jenner doesn't have much to offer except the fantastic River's End Restaurant which affords, besides great food, a wonderful view of the mouth of the Russian River with seals lolling on the beach, osprey flying by and kyakers paddling around Penny Island in the middle of the river.

I am a Sonoma County resident living 30 minutes from our coast--we never tire of visiting Bodega Bay--it's amazing any time of year even in foul weather. Enjoy you trip!

2d,

Too bad to hear about Lucas Wharf. I have enjoyed it over the years. When was it sold?

-Bill