here I go again on my own
May 25, 2011 10:18 AM Subscribe
Good place for a solo Big Sur getaway?
I want to spend a long away-from-it-all, veg-out-in-nature-with-a-book July 4 weekend in Big Sur, on my own, and am trying to figure out where to stay. The high-end places seem cool, and I would shell out the money for something worthwhile, but they seem so monomaniacally targeted at couples on romantic "get horizontal" weekend getaways that I can't help but think I'd feel out of place. A lot of the mid-range hotels and lodges get ripped apart on Yelp/Trip Advisor for being fleabaggy and overpriced.
I'm looking for some place beautiful, relatively comfortable or at least distinctive (need not be $500/night, but shouldn't resemble a Best Western, you know?), and solo-traveler-friendly. I want to do a day hike, but also to spend a couple of days just hanging out on the property with a book.
Thoughts?
I want to spend a long away-from-it-all, veg-out-in-nature-with-a-book July 4 weekend in Big Sur, on my own, and am trying to figure out where to stay. The high-end places seem cool, and I would shell out the money for something worthwhile, but they seem so monomaniacally targeted at couples on romantic "get horizontal" weekend getaways that I can't help but think I'd feel out of place. A lot of the mid-range hotels and lodges get ripped apart on Yelp/Trip Advisor for being fleabaggy and overpriced.
I'm looking for some place beautiful, relatively comfortable or at least distinctive (need not be $500/night, but shouldn't resemble a Best Western, you know?), and solo-traveler-friendly. I want to do a day hike, but also to spend a couple of days just hanging out on the property with a book.
Thoughts?
If you do find a place, check and see what's going on at the Henry Miller Museum.
posted by goalyeehah at 10:36 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by goalyeehah at 10:36 AM on May 25, 2011
I stayed in one of these cottage/cabins similar to this one a couple of years ago. It was near the river and there were several cabins that weren't particularly close to each other. (You could see other cabins and people, but not really hear them.) The only problem was getting divebombed by friendly bluejays.
posted by vickyverky at 10:36 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vickyverky at 10:36 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sorry, just looked and they're full for that weekend. I think you'd have to go for a two-night minimum wherever you find. Drat!
posted by vickyverky at 10:38 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by vickyverky at 10:38 AM on May 25, 2011
and I've also stayed in this motel, which was basic but not too fleabaggy.
posted by vickyverky at 10:39 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by vickyverky at 10:39 AM on May 25, 2011
I stayed at the Ventana once, it would have been just fine solo. Hot tub on the private deck, huge bath tub, that could be opened to the bedroom. They did have some kind of nude couples area that I didn't find out about until the day I left, but that certainly didn't impact the experience of the private room.
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:42 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:42 AM on May 25, 2011
Best answer: What you want is Deetjen's. It looks for all the world like a little cluster of Norwegian mountain cottages on the side of the road -- with a bigger inn in the middle. You can either book an individual cabin or one of the rooms in the bigger in (rates for everything are here).
There may be a handful of "couples on holiday" kind of stuff, but their smallest room, "Petite Cuisine," is ideal for solo travelers -- it has a twin bed, you share a bathroom in the hallway, and it's about the size of a ship's galley.
But rather than feeling cramped, it feels unbelievably cozy, kind of like you're in a child's room from a fairytale. Part of the wonder comes from the fact that every room has a diary in it-- a blank book in which guests are invited to write a little bit. And in Petite Cuisine, since it's a room for solo travelers, the diaries in there had some of the most heartfelt, moving, wonderful messages I've ever read. And - there's also a tradition in there to leave little trinkets behind in a secret hiding spot (you'll get clues in the diary).
There are a couple short trails on the grounds, as well -- one up a hill to a bench overlooking the ocean -- and it's a very short drive to a couple of places to hike as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:43 AM on May 25, 2011 [7 favorites]
There may be a handful of "couples on holiday" kind of stuff, but their smallest room, "Petite Cuisine," is ideal for solo travelers -- it has a twin bed, you share a bathroom in the hallway, and it's about the size of a ship's galley.
But rather than feeling cramped, it feels unbelievably cozy, kind of like you're in a child's room from a fairytale. Part of the wonder comes from the fact that every room has a diary in it-- a blank book in which guests are invited to write a little bit. And in Petite Cuisine, since it's a room for solo travelers, the diaries in there had some of the most heartfelt, moving, wonderful messages I've ever read. And - there's also a tradition in there to leave little trinkets behind in a secret hiding spot (you'll get clues in the diary).
There are a couple short trails on the grounds, as well -- one up a hill to a bench overlooking the ocean -- and it's a very short drive to a couple of places to hike as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:43 AM on May 25, 2011 [7 favorites]
I also came here to say Deetjen's. I've never stayed in the rooms there, but the restaurant is excellent and the grounds seem very nice and very much geared to the sort of quiet, meditative experience you're looking for. It's also just a half mile down the road from the Henry Miller Museum, which is really more of a bookshop/music venue/hangout space and is absolutely where you'd want to go to sit outside and read during the day.
posted by contraption at 10:47 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by contraption at 10:47 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't know if this would be your cup of tea since it's all about the workshops but Esalen is gorgeous and great for solo travelers. I did a weekend massage workshop there a couple of years ago by myself and absolutely loved it. And the natural hot springs built into the side of the cliffs are amazing.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:49 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:49 AM on May 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't recommend a place to stay, since we always did day trips, but by all means have a meal at Nepenthe. The ocean-view deck is one of my favorite places in California, ideal for lingering.
posted by libraryhead at 10:55 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by libraryhead at 10:55 AM on May 25, 2011
Oh, more on Deetjen's -- this is a view of the parking lot. There's a tiny trail just past that cabiny-thing, and one of the best photos I've ever taken in my life was just ten paces into the woods on that trail, towards that fallen-over tree you can see. It looks like something out of bloody Rivendell.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:07 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:07 AM on May 25, 2011
I have a friend who goes solo to Esalan quite a bit and loves it. I have stayed at the yurts at Treebones and loved it.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:13 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:13 AM on May 25, 2011
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This is a tough call. To my knowledge, there's not a lot available. You may want to check in with Esalen. I am sure there will be events going on but I believe they may rent space for solo retreats.
posted by goalyeehah at 10:32 AM on May 25, 2011