Santa Cruz Mts accomodation
 

I'd love to spend more time hiking/mt biking in this area but it looks like lodging is pretty scarce (understandable, since it's mostly public land). I'd like to stay someplace sunny--I know there are a few options in little towns in the southern part of the area (like Boulder Creek), but these seem pretty deep in the forest. They also seem to be older, somewhat ramshackle places. Staying on the coast, of course, could mean fog. Anyone know of any b and b/inn/winery/etc accomodations that would make a sunny weekend getaway? Up to $300/night.

Try Scotts Valley, Ben Lomond, Soquel & Aptos. There are a lot of vacation rentals that are second homes & cottages. You can get some real dumps in Santa Cruz and also some nice places. Check out VRBO for Santa Cruz, craigslist for that area or www.ahouseinsantacruz.com. We stayed at Chaminade last year and enjoyed it. It's a little expensive for what you get but is out of the way, safe and has a nice pool. If you are staying for even a weekend, you might do better renting a cottage, especially as you have a pretty high budget.

Thanks. I thought my only options might be down in that area. I'm not a fan of Santa Cruz at all but Chaminade looks nice, and maybe far enough away from the town center that I won't remember I'm in Santa Cruz. :) I'll look at VRBO for Ben Lomand, etc. I have stayed in the Hilton in Scotts Valley for work, and it's a nice place, but more suited to business travelers.

don't know these but here's a list of B and B's

http://www.bnbfinder.com/Soquel/Cali...-and-Breakfast


we have stayed at pajaro dunes before, abt 20 mi south , condos and quite nice and quiet.
http://www.pajarodunes.com/


Chaminade is OK, it's more like a biz hotel than oyu might think. also lots of weddings and events so it can feel very crowded.

Any recs for further north? Is Saratoga a nice town, or just a blah suburb? It's more convenient to where I want to be than the Santa Cruz area.

<<<Is Saratoga a nice town, or just a blah suburb?>>>

It's a very nice suburb.

I live up by the Chaminade, and I was going to suggest Saratoga or Los Gatos to you. Either will be warmer than staying in the mountains or Santa Cruz. And both are very charming. Saratoga is smaller and more nestled. Los Gatos is very nice, bigger, and has more going on. They aren't far apart.

You might already be familiar with this, but here is the link to Mid Peninsula Open Space who maintains and acquires the parkland in the area you're talking about. It lists all the preserves along the ridge. I lived just up the ridge from Russian Ridge Preserve and it is a nice place to go for a moderate hike with amazing views of both the bay and the ocean.

http://www.openspace.org/

Check La Honda for lodgings. There are a couple of cottage/motel type places there, but that might be too far north for you.