Where to stay for a weekend retreat in between Orange County and SF?
July 1, 2014 9:16 AM   Subscribe

I'm trying to schedule a weekend away that is convenient for everyone, so I'm looking for hotels/motels/cabins/other along the California coast that are relatively equidistant between San Francisco and Orange County. I'd like plenty of access to hiking, the beach, good food and wine, maybe some good stargazing- but all this on the lowest end of the cost spectrum, please. There will be either 2 or 3 of us and I'd like the cost of accommodations to be as low as possible without entering into roach motel territory. (Under $100 per person)
posted by BuddhaInABucket to Travel & Transportation around Coronado, CA (7 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
It's closer to San Francisco, but I was just in Carmel and Monterey, and it is beautiful. Hiking and stargazing are great in Point Lobos State Park. There's plenty of good food; I especially enjoyed Monterey's Fish House. Carmel is an enjoyable town to walk around and I'm told its beach is excellent.
posted by likedoomsday at 9:32 AM on July 1, 2014


We stayed at a cabin in Big Sur and really enjoyed it (see e.g. http://www.riversidecampground.com/Cabins.html). It's very affordable, there's lots of great walks/hikes etc. and it's easy to find reasonably good dining in driving distance.
posted by yoink at 9:35 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]


How about the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo? It's between 101 and US 1, so lots of natural beauty.

If the Madonna Inn is too expensive, then there's a Hampton Inn close by and you can go for a meal or just to look around.

Here are some hikes you can take from there.

Make reservations at Hearst Castle if you like touring amazing houses.

I love this area and the drive in is so pretty from any location!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:38 AM on July 1, 2014


If your trip takes you up California Highway 1 between Cambria and Big Sur, keep an eye out for zebras. No, seriously, there are zebras in the hills that are descendants of animals that were part of William Randolph Hearst's private zoo until he fell upon hard times. We spotted one (though maybe "spotted" is not the right word for a zebra) a few hundred yards from the road while returning to the Bay Area after touring Hearst Castle.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:07 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]


Stay here: http://www.rancho-oso.com/
Eat here: http://www.coldspringtavern.com/
Hike here: http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/
Beach here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stearns_Wharf
posted by sunslice at 12:05 PM on July 1, 2014


How long will everyone have to reach the destination? Big Sur is wonderful, but a fairly long and slow drive from both places.
posted by three_red_balloons at 12:54 PM on July 1, 2014


If you're okay with a hostel and it's not too far north, the pigeon point light house hostel is lovely and you can rent time in the hot tub, which has a fabulous view - best just around sunset, imao.
posted by rmd1023 at 3:28 PM on July 1, 2014


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