Where should my girlfriend and I stay around Big Sur in June?
April 17, 2008 1:47 PM   Subscribe

Where should my girlfriend and I stay for a quiet, semi-romantic weekend around Big Sur in June?

My girlfriend will be visiting from Australia for two weeks at the end of May/beginning of June. We're planning to get the hell out of San Francisco for four days, Thursday to Sunday. We've both driven through Big Sur but never spent any time there, so we thought that would be a good destination.

We've talked about camping, and if we decide to do that I think I'm going to go with Andrew Molera State Park, as suggested to me in this thread I started a year ago. However, I'm interested in presenting an alternative that involves more traditional accommodations.

All we really want to do is walk on the beach, hike in the woods, sit around in the sun and just enjoy some peace and quiet. So I think, location-wise, something near Andrew Molera would be a good bet. I also have this idea that having our own hot tub to chill in at the end of the day would be extremely sweet, but the two places I've discovered with that kind of amenity are "spas" which run in the $1k+ per night price range, so I'm not sure if that idea is feasible with my budget (maybe $500/night?).

On the whole I'm open to any suggestions about lodging, stuff to do, places to eat, etc. I'm just looking for a memorable weekend!
posted by autojack to Travel & Transportation (9 answers total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
I stayed in one of the cabin thingies at Big Sur Lodge in Pfeiffer State Park, and it was great. No hot tub, but quite nice, very affordable for the area. The room rate included admission to Pfeiffer, Molera, and a couple of other parks in the area.
posted by dersins at 2:15 PM on April 17, 2008


Every fall we stay at this place, in one of the A-frame cabins. Affordable, comfortable, close to all the Big Sur attractions. A little too private campgroundy, but not too bad.

I've always wanted to stay here. A little more upscale than the A-Frame (and maybe closer to your $500/night expectations). I've eaten at the restaurant a couple times and it was good.

Ventana might be the place you're looking for (although it may be outside your budget). Unfortunately, it appears to be booked through May-early June. The great view from the deck almost justifies the $7 cappuccino.
posted by notyou at 2:18 PM on April 17, 2008


My wife and I spend a few nights in Glen Oaks motel. It's close to both Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and and the amazing Pfeiffer beach. No hot tub, but pretty confortable (fire place, nice decoration). As an alternative to Nepenthe, there's also River Inn, which had decent food for fair prices.
posted by swordfishtrombones at 2:19 PM on April 17, 2008


Hmm. I think Nepenthe, as noted by luriete, was the place I had in mind for the deck and and the view and the cappuccino, not Ventana.
posted by notyou at 2:23 PM on April 17, 2008


I second (third?) the Big Sur Lodge -- it's quiet, peaceful, clean, and lovely. We stayed there and went to Ventana for the day. If you book a massage/other spa appointment, you can use Ventana's pools, hot tub, and some other facilities.
posted by babysingsing at 2:41 PM on April 17, 2008


Treebones Resort - they have yurts that are supposed to be pretty awesome.
posted by andifsohow at 2:57 PM on April 17, 2008


Be sure to head up to Carmel, Monterey and the 17-Mile Drive.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:55 PM on April 17, 2008


I was going to suggest Treebones, as andifsohow did. I got engaged there outside our yurt. It's a really cool place and the people who run it are super nice and it's really quite unique. They have a pool and a hot tub, too. Super mellow and quiet.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 4:07 PM on April 17, 2008


Ripplewood Resort, get one of the cabins down by the river. They go for about $100-$120 a night. Rustic, quiet, beautiful. You can get a box of kitchen appliances when you move in and cook, if you're interested.

Be sure to get breakfast at the Ripplewood cafe (next to the store) if you like cheap and delicious. Deetjun's is great food if you want fancier and delicious, and Nepenthe's for beautiful and overpriced.
posted by jasper411 at 9:04 PM on April 17, 2008


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