Help make this forest birthday a reality!

July 20, 2009 12:57 PM

How can I orchestrate an awesome forest birthday party?

I have a great girlfriend. She's the cat's pajamas. And I want to do something really special for her birthday this year, because I kinda dropped the ball on her birthday last year (its a long story).

This year her birthday falls at the tail end of a 3 week camping trip we're taking from Los Angeles, through Utah, Wyoming, Montana, up to Banff, over to Vancouver, then down through Seattle, Portland, and down the 1 through California. We're going to be in Big Sur and I'd really like it if I could get some suggestions for some really fun birthday activites to do while in Big Sur.

I've been to Big Sur once before and had a fantastic time camping and driving up to the Monterey Aquarium with my girlfriend but I'm looking for some new ideas on what to do to celebrate her 25th year on Earth.

She obviously loves nature - camping, hiking, beadwork, drawing, painting, making jewelry, the ocean, animals, banana ice cream, pugs, video games, and The Pixies - to name a few things.

posted by AsRuinsAreToRome to grab bag (11 comments total)

If you're going to be in the forest, be sure to get
some streamers from a dollar store and twirl them
around a small copse of trees you're going to be in.

Be sure to remember to turn the streamers as you
spool them from tree to tree to get that pretty effect.
posted by Sully at 1:15 PM on July 20

So, it's not going to be a "party" per se as it's just going to be you two, right? Some ideas:

-woodland tea party with tiny cucumber sandwiches (mayo is shelf stable until opened or you could use fast food packages), sweet tea, fancy hats, picnic blanket, cupcakes, fresh fruit

-hallucinogenics. just don't get lost.

-hide presents in her sleeping bag so she finds them as she climbs in
posted by Juliet Banana at 1:15 PM on July 20

While in Big Sur, surprise her with a night at Deetjen's Big Sur Inn and dinner there.

While I do love camping, I don't think there's anything nicer - or more romantic - than a night at Deetjen's, and their restaurant is outstanding for dinner and breakfast.

Nepenthe, just up the road, doesn't have as good food (although their burger is excellent), but it does have the best view in all of creation. At least, within 500 miles of here.
posted by luriete at 1:19 PM on July 20

And, this is totally cheesy, and may be way too cutesy for her.

However, even as a grown lady who only owns one stuffed animal (which is currently wearing my pink wig), I'm a total sucker for handmade, felted, semi-realistic woodland animals. Like this little squirrel, or this hedgehog. I kind of like the idea of hiding them around the campsite, like they were real animals. Yes, I'm a dork.
posted by Juliet Banana at 1:25 PM on July 20 [1 favorite has favorites]

Seconding luriete's recommendation. There is even a tiny, cozy room that would be great for a couple, if you're on a budget -- it's only got a twin bed, but something about the vibe tends to lead to that being a romantic challenge rather than a hardship.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:28 PM on July 20

It may not be your g/f's thing, but at the tail end of a three week trip it would be nice to relax at Tassajara for a day or two.

Although Tassajara is a Zen monastery, it's not "religulous" and my non-religious family enjoys visits every summer; there's no need to make a visit a retreat. The hot springs, the food, the surroundings and the hikes in the mountains are SO wonderful. It's inland from Big Sur, not far as the condor flies but 60 to 90 minutes by road from Carmel Valley depending on how you drive over dirt roads.
posted by anadem at 1:53 PM on July 20

These are all great ideas guys - keep em coming. Deetjen's sounds fantastic. We're in Big Sur for two nights. I doubt she'll be angry if we skip camping the first night in favor of a romantic cottage.
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 1:57 PM on July 20

Find a bakery and order a small but extravagant cake. Ask if you can mail a package to them for pickup on the day. Candles(you'll need lanterns or holders for the breeze), fine linen napkins, nice wine glasses, silverware, dishes, vase. They'll know where you can get champagne or sparkling juice and flowers. Pick a great restaurant, and pre-order takeout. Check out state parks or some beach area where you can set up an incredibly elegant alfresco dinner. Tell her you have to run some errands, take her to the library or whatever, pick everything up and have a fabulous dinner on the beach. Bonus: a shell holding a small piece of jewelry.
posted by theora55 at 2:10 PM on July 20

You might also want to check out Treebones. We really enjoyed our stay there.
posted by cleverevans at 2:12 PM on July 20

Deetjen's is my favourite place on the planet, and I don't even like trees. You can do "cake in a forest" any time, but if you're going to be in Big Sur for her quarter century birthday, do Deetjen's - both the restaurant and the rooms/cabins.

They will put a candle on her dessert if you ask them to in advance :)
posted by DarlingBri at 2:25 PM on July 20

black forest cake?
posted by Black_Umbrella at 6:55 PM on July 20