I forgot about my favorite CA location, Monterey! You have a three Hilton sites to pick from, 1.)Embassy Suite, Seaside. 2.) Doubletree, Monterey/Wharf area and 3.) Hilton, Monterey, about one mile from the Wharf.

If you like Steinbeck, Seals, Big Sur and Scenery, Monterey is the place IMHO.
If a restaurant (Cafe Paradiso)is offering deep water prawns as a special, order it. They come off of the canyon shelf between 5000-7000 feet and the are big enough to give a Lobster a scare, and twice as sweet.

E-mail me if you would like more details.

G