My thanks to all for the helpful replies. We are squeezing in 48 hours driving Highway 1 before heading to a work conference in LV, so this leg of the trip is leisure and not business. We don't have to be in the Silicon Valley or SF but since the cities were up closer to SFO from where we'd be on Hwy 1, we thought about spending one night at a FS property given their reputation, but it sounds like the SF area FS properties are not on par with others.

number_6 - have you stayed at Ventana recently? I ask because some repeat guests have posted reviews that things are not what they used to be. I tend to trust people who are regulars at properties, so that is why we overlooked that inn. And thanks for the advice to go up in room at Post Ranch or look elsewhere. I don't think taking the plunge from the $800ish room at Post Ranch to the $1000-2000 room will be in the budget this time, so your comment is helpful.

And thanks for the Sand Hill mention. We looked at it back when our dates were different and they were booked solid. Since it was marked off our list, even though the dates changed, I forgot to re-check. That might be our best option, so we don't have to spend both nights at the inn so far south. We had a good experience at a Rosewood property a few years back.