Some college friends and I are thinking of a reunion/joint 60th birthday celebration somewhere along the central California coast, say between Ventura and Morro Bay. Can anyone suggest a nice possiblity (hotel or B & B) for a group of 5 to 10 couples to stay for two nights, on or near the beach, with good dining nearby? This would be in the spring, not really beach weather, just for wandering/jogging. Budget hopefully under $200 per night. Thanks!

Check out the Inn at Morro Bay. It's located next to a park and bird sanctuary so there are good opportunities for wandering and jogging. It has a pretty good dining room and lounge plus there are several good places not too far away.

Pismo Beach. You can check out Sea Venture, Edgewater and Sandcastle Inn. I'm not familiar with B&Bs in that region. Also, I like this link (a Fodorite shared it): http://www.beachcalifornia.com/calif...st-hotels.html

There are some newer hotels in Avila Beach that may offer a group rate if you are booking six rooms at a time but I'd call now... things fill up and proces are not cheap!

There is a new "Mission Inn" in Pismo in your price range. I would also second the recommendation for the Sea Venture.

Thank you. Love the website link, trippinkpj; very helpful.

Avila actuallly has a special place in my heart, since my family had strong connections there and my childhood summers were spent there. I don't know if it would work for this group---might be seen as my own "thing" while they have no connection to the place. I know they have totally renewed the town (as in carting off and replacing all the oil-laden sand, and buliding new hotels) since I was there; perhpaps now there is a good place for our group.

Half the people will come from southern Californis (Pacific Palisades, etc.), one lives in Oxnard, and some in the Bay Area. The rest will be flying in from the PNW (Seattle or Portland), so airport access might be important too.

It has been so long since I lived in the area, I don't really know the situation and what is nice. Perhaps we should also consider inland, like Solvang or Ojai?

if you're close enough, for some great fun, check out the Great American Melodrama in oceano. it's vaudeville with audience participation. there's straw on the floor, and the actors are also waiters. it's a blast for any age.

Sounds like fun. All I remember of Oceano is the dunes.

Solvang is fun, I've had small family reunions (8 people) there and the weather may be warmer there in the Spring than on the coast. Lots of accomodations to choose from. And close to the Santa Ynez/ Los Olivos wine country.

Any particular recommendations for a place to stay in Solvang or the Santa Ynez Valley? The Wine Valley Inn looked attractive until I read reviews on Tripadvisor. Petersen Village looks lovely but might be too pricey for this group. Maybe the Solvang Gardens Lodge? Or is Fess Parker's place nice?

I'm thinking more and more about the wine-tasting aspect as a focus, rather than the beach, given the time of year. Are there other areas we should consider for that? Solvang appeals because it is small . . . but maybe it has grown since I last was there (probably about 1970!!)

This is an active group, and some will want to go cycling and/or running too.

The only places I have stayed in Solvang are more budget lodgings: Svengaard's Danish Lodge and Hamlet Motel. Oh, and at Pea Soup Andersen's Best Westen in Buellton. If you don't get a response on this post, you may want to do a new post titled Solvang Lodging.

Royal Scandinavian Inn gets decent ratings, and will be a step up from my motels. Wine Valley Inn & Cottages looks worth looking into also.

If I were you, I'd actually look into staying at the Chumash Resort and Casino... it's right on the 246, close to wineries, shopping etc... has nice restaurants and a great spa!

I live here so I've never stayed in the rooms but hear they are nice... should be in your price range... especially for a group. i think it's newer than most of the hotels in the area.

I'm afraid the Chumash Resort looks a bit big and impersonal, and none of us will be gambling. We'd like something smaller and quieter, with opporunities for hiking, or just sitting around talking, in additin to nearby wineries and fine dining.

I just found the Zaca Lake Retreat and it looks perfect, but I wonder how much the surrounding area was affected by last summer's fire (the Zaca Fire)? We wouldn't want to be surrounded by burned hills.

Does anyone know about this? Maybe I need to start another thread focusing specifically on this area.

Fess Parker in Los Olivos is really nice and the Los Olivos Cafe is yummy and very atmospheric. Also, the Best Western Shorecliff Lodge in Pismo and many of the rooms have ocean front views.

If someone can get a room for under $200.- a night next spring at Fess Parker's Inn in Los Olivos, please let me know cause I'm going!

Me too1 Those rooms are very pricy. I hat to suggest something like that to the others, as some may not be able to afford it.

It looks like the Wine Valley Inn and Solvang Gardens Lodge are within our budget. But the Wine Valley Inn gets terrible reviews on Tripadvisor. I never know whether to pay attention to those reviews. Anyone have any personal experience there?