Romantic overnight stay

My out of town boyfriend will be visiting me in L.A. next week, I%26#39;d like to take a road trip up to central coast wine country next weekend, so I%26#39;m looking for a romantic beach front hotel/motel for overnigt stay. Ideally, a quiet, off the beaten track, unpretentious inn or motel with spectacular ocean views. Also, we%26#39;re trying not to pay a fortune (but will bite the bullet if we have to). I%26#39;ve looked thru the hotel reviews but can%26#39;t seem to determine which is best based on reviews. We%26#39;re in our mid 40s. Would appreciate insight from anyone who has visited and in particular any locals who know the area well. Thank you for your help!!

Romantic overnight stay

The Blue Whale Inn in Cambria is very nice, it is right across the street from Moonstone Beach, they have nice rooms with canopy beds, fireplaces, etc. The breakfast is very good, and there is also a wine and cheese hour in the afternoon here.

On this same drive is the Pelican Cove Inn, a larger complex with a swimming pool and a nice dessert buffet in the evening as well as complimentary breakfast and wine and cheese reception upon arrival.

Have fun and let me know if you would recs for dining and things to do/see in the area. :)

Romantic overnight stay

syrahgirl

Hello...you seem to really know and love this area. My son and his fiance will be in this area next early June (as part of a trip driving from LA to SF--their first time). they want to visit Hearst Castle, so I have been researching a bit for them and Cambria seems like a lovely town to spend the night. We are thinking of giving them, as a Christmas gift, the night at a nice inn along with dinner. I read your suggestion fo the Blue Whale. Do you have a suggestion for a nice dinner, too? Thank you in advance for any help.

Yes, I would go with either the Black Cat Bistro or the Sow%26#39;s Ear Cafe. We have dined at the Sow%26#39;s Ear many times and the Black Cat Bistro once. Both places have excellent food and ambiance.

The Sow%26#39;s Ear dining room is much more spacious with two fireplaces and kind of an old-school charm to it, their specialties are the Chicken Fried Steak and the Salmon in Parchment paper. Salads are included with your meal at the Sow%26#39;s Ear Cafe. Service is excellent here, also.

Black Cat Bistro has a small, upscale charm to it. The menu here is more innovative and service is also very good here. These would be my top 2 choices for the area. :)

Thanks SyrahGirl, the hotel looks lovely but unfortunately the rates are a bit out of our price range :( do you happen to have any other suggestions? We%26#39;re looking to spend $150 or less, possibly more for an ocean view room. We just want to drive up the coast and spend the night someplace for a change of pace w/o breaking the bank (or kids%26#39; college fund). We%26#39;re rich in love but not in finances, so though it%26#39;s a lot to ask hoping you might have another recommendation. Many thanks for your help!

Btw, I would love your restaurant recommendations, as well as thoughts for places to go/things to see in the area.

Thank you Sryahgirl...I have put your suggestions in a trip folder...and I will contact the restaurants directly for a gift certificate.

I wish I was going on this trip!

Aside from the two places I have prevously mentioned, the Moonstone Bar %26amp; Grill is very good for lunch and breakfast, you will have oceanviews here. I love their fish tacos here, yummy dessets, also.

A few doors down is the Sea Chest on Moonstone Drive, a great place for seafood with views of the ocean, try to get a window table for the sunset. No reservations or credit cards here, tho.

Robin%26#39;s is very nice place, also with an eclectic feel to the place. The Tea Cozy is nice for tea and sandwiches, the Easy as Pie Cafe is a great place for a meal, also. We love the Linn%26#39;s Chicken Pot Pies, there is a store right next door to puchase Linn%26#39;s goodies.

Downtown Cambria is fun to stroll through, there is Fermentations for wine tasting and the Seekers Glass Art store is really nice, also. Moonstone Beach is gorgeous, there is a boardwalk for walking there that runs along the ocean.

You may want to take a drive to Piedras Blancas and check out the elephant seals that dot the coastline in this area. Enjoy! :)

Weekend stays are always going to be at full rate on the coast. Better to come mid-week when rates are half what they normally go for.

Here are some options to consider:

Pismo Beach%26#39;s Kon Tiki Inn, The Tides Motel %26amp; Cottages, Sea Gypsy or Mission Inn (Mission Inn isn%26#39;t beach front, but it is a newly opened hotel in February of this year and offers distant ocean views).

Cambria%26#39;s Olallieberry Inn, Squibb House or Cambria Pines Lodge, none of which are on the ocean, but offer exceptional value with romantic ambiance. The ocean is a short drive away. For ocean front, try Sand Pebbles Inn, Castle Inn, Moonstone Inn. These may be less expensive than their neighboring counterparts.

Hi Yogin-

The San Simeon Pines resort (in Cambria) is right across from the ocean, but does not have ocean views. The grounds are beautiful and the prices much lower than other Moonstone Beach properties. The last time I stayed there they had wood buring fire places. It is far from luxurious, but a less expensive option. I think the ocean front rooms of Moonstone Landing have the best views and you get the wonderful ocean sounds- but they are a little pricey. If you can only get a rear room, I would try another hotel...The Sea Chest is my favorite pick for restaurants- the King Crab will change your life! Have a great time.

We always liked the oceanfront rooms at the Cavalier Inn in San Simeon. A friend stayed at the Ragged Point Inn recently (also in San Simeon I think) and loved it. I think both of these are in the $200/night range.

Thanks everyone for your kind replies. I wish I could tell you that I%26#39;ve made a selection but I haven%26#39;t. I%26#39;m probably more lost now than before. I%26#39;ve decided that privacy, cleanliness, ambiance/romance are most important. The prices seem to range between $190-$250 and for just one night%26#39;s stay price doesn%26#39;t seem like a deal breaker anymore one way or the other.

So, my question now is what is the nicest, most romantic (w/o trying too hard) inn/motel would you recommend????

I am probably leaning more toward the Sand Pebbles or possibly Fogcatcher or Moonstone Landing (though I hear this is a much larger inn so maybe not the best for peace and quiet??)

In any event, PLEASE help me decide. I%26#39;d love to hear your input again.

Thanks everyone.