I think Doris Day and her son own the Cypress Inn, across from the beautiful Church of the Wayfarer.

Oh my gosh! SAB is so right. I meant Carmel Mission Ranch. I hope this doesn't cause a problem for you.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but StuDudley's point about fog up and down the coast in August should not be disregarded. It would be a shame to go to Carmel and Monterey only to not be able see beyond the beach due to the fog. Fog in August is almost guaranteed. Whether it will burn off in the afternoon is a crapshoot.

I would stay in SF for the weekend or go north to the town of Healdsburg. Stay on the square either at the Hotel Healdsburg or the Four Sisters Inn that is on the square there (Inn on the square?). There is shopping and good food as well as charming small wineries all around that area (just drive up and down Dry Creek and West Dry Creek road and you'll find the majority of them.

Good luck with your planning. You have so many options!

Keeping in mind about Healdsburg, it could be hot there in August.

that heat part is so true. we went on a trip with our dog to that area a few years ago in august and could not believe how hot it was. couldn't leave him in car in napa, sonoma or healdsburg- had to finally stay fourth night in jenner where it was cool and foggy of course! last summer we were in carmel in august and they're right, it was foggy, some days never burned off- yet my husband said they were golfing in carmel valley and it was beautiful

Well said Toncasmo. Carmel Valley is the answer to escape the fog. You're still 10/15 minutes from the beach yet it usually will be sunny 80's for the highs. Los Laureles Lodge is a great place to stay there. Rustic yet clean, and just a smidge upscale.

Here's their website:
http://www.loslaureles.com/index.html

Oh my! Yep, it was a Best Western. Actually, the location did look pretty good (in relation to things close by). But no problem if I decide to change. I can cancel without a penalty as long as I don't wait til the last minute.

Hmmm...fog versus heat. Well, I'm definitely used to heat so that doesn't concern me so much, although it would be nice to escape the heat here in MS! Guess we have to decide if we want to go for a crapshoot or more of a sure thing. I'll discuss it with sis. Darn it, though, I had my mind set on that direction.

Do y'all think it would be possible to "wing it"? Decide when we get there (maybe after listening to weather reports lol) which direction to head? Sis said something about this but I don't want to get to my destination and not be able to find available lodging.

trippin, I'm going to check out that link. Thanks.

Carmel is georgeous. We have been there when we didn't see the sun for several days(the fog), and it was still gorgeous. The amount of fog varies and serves to give everything a unique look on different days and times of the day. If you stay in the village, you can walk to everything, including the town beach. Point Lobos, Pacific Grove, Monterey are just short drives from there. Casanova Restaurant has consistently wonderful food in a lovely atmosphere. Vagabonds House is a charming B&B in a quiet spot with rooms arranged around a little courtyard. I posted a review on www.tripadvisor.com including photos.

Lisa- An August weekend in the Monterey Bay area, I would definately have reservations. One more place actually in Carmel:
http://www.carmelgardencourtinn.com/
I've stayed at the Garden Court Inn, and had friends who stayed at the San Antonio Inn closer to the beach. Both are great.

I'm finding this interesting since we were thinking of the same area in late August/early September. I know you can't predict the weather, but is the fog a problem into September usually?

September it usually improves. I've spent warm and non foggy Labor day weekends both in the Monterey area and San Francisco. Your chances of sunny weather are better in Sept. than August.

Lisa one thing to keep in mind with all the lovely places that people recommend is that a some of them may not have rooms with two beds--it was a problem that my sister and I had when we first started going to Carmel many years ago. People would recommend lovely, romantic places that they had stayed as couples--places with king and queen sized beds, but no doubles. Quite frankly I don't want to stay at romantic place for couples with my sister. BTW didn't want you to think Mission Inn was not a good place, just wanted to clear up confusion.

Lisa, I'm so relieved I didn't ruin your trip! I was worried about that all night. I've been wracking my brain trying to think about "fog". I've been to the area so many times but I don't remember fog ever ruining my time there. Yes, it might ruin sunsets, but there have still been plenty of things to see and do.

Catbert, I was kind of thinking along the lines that even if there is fog, there would be plenty to do. Just means I may not want to spend $$$ for a room with a *view* if I won't be able to see anything anyway.

SAB, that's precisely why I ended up booking with the Best Western...lol...2 queen beds in the room. I imagine we aren't going to be spending a whole lot of time in the hotel anyway; so my top priority with lodging is 2 beds to the room and a decent location. Okay, I want clean too. I think that Best Western will meet the criteria.

Lisa-Is it the BW Carmel Mission Inn? If yes, my mom stayed there once and said it was great. It's in the Barnyard/ Crossroads area which has one of my fave restaurants Bahama Billy's:
http://www.bahamabillys.com/
We liked it so much, we even had my daughter's rehearsal dinner there (she was married in Carmel last summer).

Another restaurant we enjoy over there is the Rio Grill. It's in the shopping center across the road from the hotel.

I've been meaning to try the Rio Grill Catbert. Next time I'm down there I think I will.

FYI, the Carmel Garden court does have rooms with 2 doubles, not just a romantic place. I know cause I had my 15 yr. old in the room with my DH and I LOL. And the male 1/2 of the wedding party stayed in a 2 bedroom unit there with a wetbar.
Although I think the BW Mission sounds great and is in a fun location.