California - Our first anniversary... A romantic trip up the coast...

I'm planning a romantic trip up Highway 1 at the end of June for myself and my wife (our first anniversary). LA to San Francisco, over about four days. I want to make this really special for her and am looking for ideas... where to stay, what to do, etc.

Romantic B&B type places would be great, good restaurants, hidden beaches, great hikes, etc. Thoughts?

Santa Barbara:
Oceana Hotel (on the beach)
Canary Hotel (in town)
Inn of the Spanish Garden (in town)
San Ysidro Ranch (Montecito)
Restaurants:
Bouchon
Elements
Stonehouse (at San Ysidro Ranch)

Santa Ynez--SB wine country
Fess Parker Wine Country Inn(Los Olivos, good location of you're interested in wine tasting)

Big Sur:
Post Ranch Inn (fancy and rather expensive. perhaps dinner if not an overnight?)
Deetjens (quirky cottages, good spot for breakfast)
Lots of good hikes in this area.

This may help you in Santa Ynez. It's just north of Santa Barbara.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=776694&highlight=wine

Drive safe.

This may help you in Santa Ynez. It's just north of Santa Barbara.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=776694&highlight=wine

Drive safe.

A couple of other suggestions for this area -

Side Street Cafe, especially for lunch

http://www.patrickssidestreetcafe.com/

Ballard Inn - a B&B with a great restaurant for dinner

http://www.ballardinn.com/

Awesome! Thanks, guys.

If possible, try to be in Santa Barbara or Santa Ynez Sun-Thurs -- both places should be a bit more 'reasonable' then ;)

I concur about Los Olivos. That would be a good place to stay overnight... perhpas at Fess Parker Hotel. Neat little town, many wineries nearby, and a few good restaurants.

I've been to Patrick's Side Street Cafe and I was unimpressed. We arrived to a nearly empty dining room, two burly, not-so-friendly-looking chefs staring at us from behind the bar, and witnessed the owner berating the waitress in plain view and earshot of us. Won't ever go back there again.

I do like the Ballard Inn and the Los Olivos Cafe though.

Another nice place to spend a morning for breakfast would be the Cold Spring Tavern, just over the mountain range from SBA. I think off of Stagecoach Road just after to start to go down th other side of the mountains. The drive alone is breathtaking. Have breakfast there, continue on 154 to Los Olivos, and spend the day wine tasting, then check into Fess Parker's Hotel in Los Olivos.

Patricks can be very hit or miss. Get it on the right night and it's great but if not.... The owner is very merculrial. Cold Spring Tavern is great. They've got a good website so you can get a sense of the place. In addition to breakfast they have music outdoors on weekend afternoons. Nice spot for dinner too actually. Particularly on chilly winter evenings--very cozy.

I work occasionally at a winery up there so any FTers that pass through should PM me. I'd love to pour for an FTer!! Unfortunately I'll be in Asia when the OP comes through.

I would agree with SB or Santa Ynez. I'd also like to suggest Carmel-beautiful beach town with great food.

http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/

Are there any opinions of the Blue Sands Motel? I've read good things online and that the price is reasonable.

Are there any opinions of the Blue Sands Motel? I've read good things online and that the price is reasonable.

Haven't been inside. The location is pretty good. Very close to the East Beach. My favorite market (Tri-County) is less than a block away. Chase Palm Park is about a 10 minute walk up toward State St. and there are free concerts there every Thursday evening in the summer. On the negative side, Cabrillo Park nearby seems to be popular with homeless people at the moment. There are also a lot of not terribly expensive places near West Beach. (Bath St, W. Mason St) The advantage of this area is that you're a little closer to restaurants and the like: State Street, Sterns Wharf, Harbor

Haven't been inside. The location is pretty good. Very close to the East Beach. My favorite market (Tri-County) is less than a block away. Chase Palm Park is about a 10 minute walk up toward State St. and there are free concerts there every Thursday evening in the summer. On the negative side, Cabrillo Park nearby seems to be popular with homeless people at the moment. There are also a lot of not terribly expensive places near West Beach. (Bath St, W. Mason St) The advantage of this area is that you're a little closer to restaurants and the like: State Street, Sterns Wharf, Harbor

Any recommendations in general for hotels/motels that are decent both in price/accommodations? I'm not too excited about paying $400 per night. Anything in the $200 range near where you mentioned? I booked at the Blue Sands because of proximity to beach/price/pretty good reviews.

I will be there a Fri/Sat night in late June.

We statyed at the Fireplace Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea back in 1997(?). I remember it was a pretty property with lots of flowers in teh gardens - small - very B&B. It was very reasonably priced and within a short walk to the resturants, shops and beach. I would stay there again.

Any recommendations in general for hotels/motels that are decent both in price/accommodations? I'm not too excited about paying $400 per night. Anything in the $200 range near where you mentioned? I booked at the Blue Sands because of proximity to beach/price/pretty good reviews.

I will be there a Fri/Sat night in late June.

Can't tell if you're looking just for Santa Barbara or central coast in general. Finding a decent, inexpensive hotel in SB is tough during the summer. Since I live here I haven't actually tried any of these places but they might be worth a look:
Eagle Inn: (looks nice from the outside, Queen room looks to be around $200, quiet street couple of blocks from the beach)
Francicsan Inn: looks a little more marginal (based on the website pics) but is cheaper.

I'll keep looking and see if I can come up w/ anything else.

I know this sounds strange but the Holiday Inn Express on Haley St. is nice. It's right off State Street and a few blocks further from the beach but right in the middle of everything. I believe it's an historical landmark of some sort. Family has stayed there and liked it.

Sometimes we have marine layer here in June (June Gloom) but its been nice so far this year. If it's foggy by the beach you can head up into the hills a bit and it might be clear and it's almost always clear over in the Santa Ynez Valley. Head over and do some wine tasting if it's foggy in SB!

Found a few more in that area:
Harbor House Inn
Casa del Mar
Mason Beach Inn

Thanks for the recommendations. i was looking for hotels in SB. I ended up going with The Eagle Inn. I'll post a review.

Does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants on State Street or thereabouts? I would love some inside knowledge!

Does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants on State Street or thereabouts? I would love some inside knowledge!

All of these are w/in a block or so of State St:

Zen Yai: Fantastic Thai (425 State)
Elements: Good food, wonderful view of the Courthouse (Anapamu btn Santa Barbara and Anacapa)
Arigato: sushi/Japanese (1225 State)
Hungry Cat: Mostly seafood based, great drinks, my current favorite. (Chapala and Anapamu)
Bouchon: Cal Cuisine, farmer's market based (Victoria between State and Chapala)
Lily's Taqueria: DELICIOS tacos, dive spot, try an adobada (marinated pork) taco for lunch! (310 Chapala, right at the highway)
Brophy Brothers at the Marina for an aftenoon drink and snack. Good seafood taco shack at he Marina too (lunch only)
Ca'Dario and Trattoria Vittoria: Italian, both around Victoria and Chapala


That's a start. Let me know if there's any particular kind of cuisine you're looking for.

All of these are w/in a block or so of State St:

Zen Yai: Fantastic Thai (425 State)
Elements: Good food, wonderful view of the Courthouse (Anapamu btn Santa Barbara and Anacapa)
Arigato: sushi/Japanese (1225 State)
Hungry Cat: Mostly seafood based, great drinks, my current favorite. (Chapala and Anapamu)
Bouchon: Cal Cuisine, farmer's market based (Victoria between State and Chapala)
Lily's Taqueria: DELICIOS tacos, dive spot, try an adobada (marinated pork) taco for lunch! (310 Chapala, right at the highway)
Brophy Brothers at the Marina for an aftenoon drink and snack. Good seafood taco shack at he Marina too (lunch only)
Ca'Dario and Trattoria Vittoria: Italian, both around Victoria and Chapala


That's a start. Let me know if there's any particular kind of cuisine you're looking for.

I'm glad Arigato is on your short list because I am going there for a business lunch on Friday. Thanks for the others.

You might also want to check out the Wine Cask.

http://www.winecask.com/

You might also want to check out the Wine Cask.

http://www.winecask.com/

And Intermezzo next to the Wine Cask is also good. It's their more informal restaurant. Good for a glass of wine and a snack.

consider:

Best Western Pepper Tree Inn on State Street

http://www.sbhotels.com

not real close to the beach, but a better value. nice ambiance with pools, garden areas, etc.

also for the rest of hwy 1 from LAX to SFO

www.centralcoast-tourism.com

If you're willing to spend the big bucks for it, check out the Park Hyatt in Carmel. It's not a B&B, but it's nice...