Looking for an interesting place to stay between Monterrey and San Francisco? Also, would like to rent a tandem bike and stay in a reasonably priced B&B and enjoy some good meals. Please give me suggestions. I need to start booking for our April 11-18 trip.Thanks.

Between Monterey (note one r, the two r Monterrey is in Mexico) is Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. I can imagine there is probably a bike rental place in Santa Cruz at least.

In addition to SC and HMB, Capitola is a nice place as well. It is just south of SC.

SC and Capitola are both great for bike riding. Plenty of paths and bike lanes, and since bikes are common, the drivers are pretty considerate because they are used to having cyclists around.

I am not as familiar with HMB as far as bike riding is concerned. We have taken our mountain bikes and ridden around on paths along the bluffs overlooking the ocean, which is a lot of fun. Not sure about good paths for tandem biking though.

I live in Half Moom Bay and it is a quaint little town. We have a coast side trail that goes for miles along the beach. Karen Brown's Seal Cove Inn is just 6 miles north of HMB in Moss Beach. We have beautiful beaches and great tide pooling. We have some excellent restaurants like Cetrella, Cafe Gibraltar and Sam's Chowder House. The Pillar Point Harbor outside of Half Moon Bay has a real working fishing fleet and wonderful seafood restaurants like Barbara's Fish Trap. The same harbor has whale watching tours and fishing party boats or a naturalist dream of visiting the Faralone Islands and seeing unbelievable wild life. Montara Mountain is nearby with fabulous mountain biking and hiking. April is a great time for wild flowers especially the wild Iris that grows on the bluffs. I love my town!!

P.S. Old Thyme Inn in downtown Half Moon Bay offers the best value and is very nice!

FamilyTravlin - We've got a fabulous picture of a wild HMB iris on our wall at home The iris is in focus and the water, sand, and bluff in the background are blurred. It is one of my favorites that my husband has taken. I love your town too

Does Karen Brown still own the Seal Cove Inn? When you go to the website it now shows as one of the Four Sisters chain and the furnishings look only so-so. Has this inn been taken over recently and, if so, any reviews since then?

Quaint and a little quirky is Moss Landing. And two good dining choices with Phil's seafood, and the Whole Enchilada. I think lodging is very limited though. Better for a lunch stop.

The Elkhorn Slough is in/just outside Moss Landing, it's a very interesting preserve, worth a look if you're nearby.

Whoops! www.elkhornslough.org

Miramar Beach at Half Moon Bay offers some lodging, too, and a quiet beach with even a coffee shop.

Capitola is quaint.