I'd like suggestions on where to go in California for a spring vacation. My husband and I enjoy quiet beaches, luxury hotels and great eats! We are looking to get away for a week of R&R somewhere beautiful and tranquil. We would like the weather to be warm so I am assuming southern California. Can anyone suggest a place?

Well, it would kind of depend exactly when in Spring you were planning to come to California. In spring, for the most part, the beaches in So Cal are the warmest. However, April can still be a little cool, even rainy. May is usually very warm, and the beaches are great. (though the water may not be all that warm, yet!) Also, if you come in May, as opposed to March or April, you will not need to worry about the Spring Break crowd.

When you said luxary hotels, three places immediately came to mind:

The Ritz-Carleton in Laguna Niguel - extremely nice hotel, but you will be rather limited once you leave the hotel. The closest towns are Dana Point, with a great harbor, or Laguna Beach, with a casual, artsy ambiance. There are some fairly good restaurants in the area as well.

Second, I would suggest the Hotel Coronado in San Diego. Another exquisite hotel. Plenty of beach, wonderful food, and close enough to San Diego to make exploring a real option.

Finally, I would suggest Santa Barbara - but beware that it is a University town, and there may still be a lot of college kids around. (don't know if you would consider that a plus or a minus) There are many resorts in the area, it is peaceful, has many good restaurants, and is beautiful. Again, it is somewhat remote, so there isn't a whole lot to do in the area.

With the exception of the Hotel Coronado, these places are not really close to any major tourist attractions, so if you are not into hurrying around from one attraction to the next, these might be a consideration.

Enjoy!

You said "luxury hotels," and I'm taking you at your word. How about Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. It doesn't get any better than that. In fact, I need to take out a loan just to park there. And if you get tired of their restaurants (hard to imagine), you have all of Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Capistrano to explore. Here's the web site:

http://ritzcarlton.com/html_prop/res...ID=11&PageNo=9

The minute I read your request I could only think of one thing --Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel. It answers all your needs, assuming you are serious about not looking for a lot of activity. We've also stayed at the Coronado which was fine, but so jammed with groups, conventions, and excess visitors wandering through to see where "Some Like it Hot" was filmed, that it spoiled the stay. There's not a lot around the Laguna Ritz, but you might not want to leave once you get there. And there are some nice small upscale areas and other fine restaurants around. Capistrano is funky and fun for a short visit as well.

La Costa Resort and Spa or the Four Seasons in La Costa. Both are top of the list luxury resorts. They are located 30-40 miles north of San Diego .

Forget the La Costa. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. with a mouse eating my pretzels. The front desk was very unhelpful. The concierge was unhelpful. For the price I expected more, like no mouse droppings in my tub.

Dump LA, the crowds and the beaches that are never quiet, except in old movies. Go to the Monterey Peninsula, Highlands Inn and relax. Plenty to do, won't be hot, but will be relaxing. The traffic alone in LA will get you more hyped up than when you left your home.

I agree with Bob. Go to the Highlands Inn - my favorite place to go in the world. Spend a lot of time in Carmel - a great place to relax and enjoy great restaurants.

Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. La Costa was wonderful 25 years ago but the last time we were there, about 3 years ago, it was dreadful. Terrible staff--rude and dirty and incompetent. The restaurant was a joke--I had invited an international group and was very embarrassed at the service (we had to change tables 3 times before we finally found one that was acceptable) If you wanted to go to San Diego I would suggest Hotel Del Coronado.