Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Hi everyone,

I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my wife and I was
wondering which place would you recommend for stopping by and relaxing for few
days. I'm looking for something not too crowded, with a nice beach and
a camping place, where you can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the
crowds and not get bored at the same time.

Thanks for any advices,

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

In article ,
Marek Zawadzki wrote:
I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my
wife and I was wondering which place would you recommend for
stopping by and relaxing for few days. I'm looking for something
not too crowded, with a nice beach and a camping place, where you
can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the crowds and not
get bored at the same time.

Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

On 6 Jun 2006 12:17:09 -0700, Todd Michel McComb wrote:


In article ,
Marek Zawadzki wrote:
I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my
wife and I was wondering which place would you recommend for
stopping by and relaxing for few days. I'm looking for something
not too crowded, with a nice beach and a camping place, where you
can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the crowds and not
get bored at the same time.

Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

camping usually == assigned camping spots. The crowding will be the
same assuming that all the spaces are sold. A lot of the spaces will
sell out before the summer even arrives.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

On Tue, 6 Jun 2006 21:25:55 +0000 (UTC), Marek Zawadzki
wrote:

On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

You might check out Avila Beach.

Actually, if you want a fun time, try Santa Cruz, which has a
good beach and a coastside amusement park, and a municipal pier
with some interesting restaurants and lots of sea lions lolling
about underneath.

************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Marek Zawadzki wrote:
On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?


You want beautiful beaches and cheap hotel prices? I am afraid those
two are pretty mutually exclusive. That said Pismo beach is a great
suggestion.


-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

In article ,
Marek Zawadzki wrote:
In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less
expensive?

You did a bit of a search, I guess? Anyway, Pismo Beach (the town)
is full of small motels with no ocean view. If it's an uneventful
weekday, you should be able to show up and find something well under
$150... like half, in my experience. A nice, ocean view type of
place, yes, the rate is about $150. There are some really nice
ones. You can't go wrong with the Kon Tiki, if you want to pay.

That said, the cheapest place to stay near a beach in that stretch
should be Seaside/Sand City. Elegant, it is not.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Marek Zawadzki wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my wife and I was
wondering which place would you recommend for stopping by and relaxing for few
days. I'm looking for something not too crowded, with a nice beach and
a camping place, where you can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the
crowds and not get bored at the same time.

Thanks for any advices,

-marek

I would consider myself lucky to stay anywhere near the beach between
LA and SF in June for less than $150/night (not camping). All decent
beach campspots fill up as soon as the parks allow reservations.
Because schools in CA don't get out until mid June typically, the
crowds are not too bad. Southern CA beaches may have "June Gloom"
which means coastal fog most mornings, I cannot speak for the beaches
further north.

They are all beautiful: moving south to north (more or less):

Carpinteria
Santa Barbara
Pismo
Morrow Bay
Julia Pfeiffer
Big Sur
Point Lobos
Monterey
Half Moon Bay

Search and see what suits your style. Better yet, take a look at a
good map. The drive itself is worth the trip. 3 days is barely
enough; boredom should not be an issue.

I'm sure there are many more, and my geographic order may be off. This
however is a good planning start.

I recommend that you check out the california state parks site for
camping information, but be forewarned, "beach camping" may mean on a
cliff, or near a railroad track - be very thorough in your research if
you are tent camping.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

LA to San Francisco ...with a nice beach...

Just wanted to mention that the northern end of that area (Monterey,
San Francisco, etc) has cooler weather that isn't ideal for swimming;
it can even be too cool for sunbathing sometimes. For example, in San
Francisco the average high in June is only 70 F; the average low is 53.


Jim

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
LA to San Francisco ...with a nice beach...

Just wanted to mention that the northern end of that area (Monterey,
San Francisco, etc) has cooler weather that isn't ideal for swimming;
it can even be too cool for sunbathing sometimes. For example, in San
Francisco the average high in June is only 70 F; the average low is 53.


Jim

The Santa Cruz area beaches and surf are full of people from now to Fall.
Sun is usually hot and water cool but swimable.

Robert

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Hatunen wrote:
You might check out Avila Beach.

My first thought. I used to spend several days a Summer with friends
who rented a house there. Not far from Pismo Beach or San Luís Obispo.

Actually, if you want a fun time, try Santa Cruz, which has a
good beach and a coastside amusement park, and a municipal pier
with some interesting restaurants and lots of sea lions lolling
about underneath.

Another excellent choice.

-- __________________________________________________ ______________
Southern California's Four Seasons:
Earthquake, Mudslide, Brushfire, and Riot.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ --- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 ------- IClast at Gmail com


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

I stayed in Pismo Beach a few years ago and stayed in a hotel off the
highway, about 5-10 drive to the beach for about $60/night. I can't
remember the name, but I think it may have been motel6??


Marek Zawadzki wrote:
On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

There's Premier Inn in Arroyo Grande just south and a few miles inland
from Pismo Beach, which is a step up from motel 6. And I think an Econo
Lodge there too in AG. Grover Beach I think has affordable motels.

Will the 3 days include a Friday and Sat.? if yes they will be pricier
than Sun - Thurs. A little inland won't be as pricey as on or close to
the beach.


JN wrote:
I stayed in Pismo Beach a few years ago and stayed in a hotel off the
highway, about 5-10 drive to the beach for about $60/night. I can't
remember the name, but I think it may have been motel6??


Marek Zawadzki wrote:
On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Here's a good link, although I don't see many cheap motels in this
site:
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/index.html

My inlaws stayed at the Rose Garden Inn in Pismo Beach once and said it
was okay/ clean.

There is a motel6 in Pismo Beach:
http://www.motel6.com/reservations/m...&CP=&TA=&redi=

Here's the Premier Inn website:
http://www.premierinns.com/location.htm#PismoBeach

trippinkpj wrote:
There's Premier Inn in Arroyo Grande just south and a few miles inland
from Pismo Beach, which is a step up from motel 6. And I think an Econo
Lodge there too in AG. Grover Beach I think has affordable motels.

Will the 3 days include a Friday and Sat.? if yes they will be pricier
than Sun - Thurs. A little inland won't be as pricey as on or close to
the beach.


JN wrote:
I stayed in Pismo Beach a few years ago and stayed in a hotel off the
highway, about 5-10 drive to the beach for about $60/night. I can't
remember the name, but I think it may have been motel6??


Marek Zawadzki wrote:
On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

I currently live in San Luis Obispo County, lived in Santa Cruz
County before moving here and have visited beaches up and down the
coast for nearly half a century. You have lots and lots of choices,
but they probably all involve some compromises. Here are some of my
favorites.

If crowds are your main concern, there are smaller campgrounds along
the Big Sur Coast with miles and miles of open space between them. My
favorite is Plaskett Creek, which is near the south end of Monterey
County. The campground is on the inland side of Hwy 1, but a short
walk to Jade Cove and Sand Dollar Beach. It's a great area for
decompressing. Big Sur is another nice campground, but larger and
busier. The following website has information and photos for
Plaskett, Jade Cove, Sand Dollar and other sites in this area:
http://www.parksman.com/

I also like Refugio Beach State Park, a few miles west of Goleta in
Santa Barbara County. It's bigger and more family oriented, but has a
very nice setting and a great broad beach. Check it out at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603

Carmel Hill Lodge in Monterey offers good value if you don't need to
right on the water. It's modest, but offers even more modest internet
rates - I just checked and they have week-day rooms as low as $59.
Book ASAP. Rates increase quickly as your vacation dates approach.
http://www.carmelhilllodge.com/index.html

I like the Rio Sands Motel in Aptos (Santa Cruz County). It is a
short walk to broad beach and a great resturant. A short drive gets
you to all the Santa Cruz attractions. Unfortunately, the Rio Sands
is no longer the bargain that it used to be. http://www.riosands.com/

If you feel like splurging a little, consider the Capitola Venetian
Motel. It has funky architecture and is right on the beach between
the pier and esplanade. This is a far busier beach then the one near
the Rio Sands, but you have lots of shops and great resturants within
a short walk. We stayed there last month and got a great weekday
internet rate. http://www.capitolavenetian.com/

Pismo Beach has some really pricy ocean front and view rooms, but
there are some lower rates away from the beach and in surrounding
communities. Avila Beach has become much pricier. Morro Bay is more
modest than either of these. You can get lower rates in Santa Maria
and San Luis Obispo has some less expensive motels. Either is within
a fairly short drive of the ocean.

Enjoy.

Jerry

On Tue, 6 Jun 2006 19:11:35 +0000 (UTC), Marek Zawadzki
wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my wife and I was
wondering which place would you recommend for stopping by and relaxing for few
days. I'm looking for something not too crowded, with a nice beach and
a camping place, where you can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the
crowds and not get bored at the same time.

Thanks for any advices,

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Another affordable option in Monterey in addition to Carmel Hill Lodge,
is the Padre Oaks motel. I've stayed there 3 times in the past couple
years and really liked it. See trip advisor link/ review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...alifornia.html

-Karen

Anonymous wrote:
I currently live in San Luis Obispo County, lived in Santa Cruz
County before moving here and have visited beaches up and down the
coast for nearly half a century. You have lots and lots of choices,
but they probably all involve some compromises. Here are some of my
favorites.

If crowds are your main concern, there are smaller campgrounds along
the Big Sur Coast with miles and miles of open space between them. My
favorite is Plaskett Creek, which is near the south end of Monterey
County. The campground is on the inland side of Hwy 1, but a short
walk to Jade Cove and Sand Dollar Beach. It's a great area for
decompressing. Big Sur is another nice campground, but larger and
busier. The following website has information and photos for
Plaskett, Jade Cove, Sand Dollar and other sites in this area:
http://www.parksman.com/

I also like Refugio Beach State Park, a few miles west of Goleta in
Santa Barbara County. It's bigger and more family oriented, but has a
very nice setting and a great broad beach. Check it out at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603

Carmel Hill Lodge in Monterey offers good value if you don't need to
right on the water. It's modest, but offers even more modest internet
rates - I just checked and they have week-day rooms as low as $59.
Book ASAP. Rates increase quickly as your vacation dates approach.
http://www.carmelhilllodge.com/index.html

I like the Rio Sands Motel in Aptos (Santa Cruz County). It is a
short walk to broad beach and a great resturant. A short drive gets
you to all the Santa Cruz attractions. Unfortunately, the Rio Sands
is no longer the bargain that it used to be. http://www.riosands.com/

If you feel like splurging a little, consider the Capitola Venetian
Motel. It has funky architecture and is right on the beach between
the pier and esplanade. This is a far busier beach then the one near
the Rio Sands, but you have lots of shops and great resturants within
a short walk. We stayed there last month and got a great weekday
internet rate. http://www.capitolavenetian.com/

Pismo Beach has some really pricy ocean front and view rooms, but
there are some lower rates away from the beach and in surrounding
communities. Avila Beach has become much pricier. Morro Bay is more
modest than either of these. You can get lower rates in Santa Maria
and San Luis Obispo has some less expensive motels. Either is within
a fairly short drive of the ocean.

Enjoy.

Jerry

On Tue, 6 Jun 2006 19:11:35 +0000 (UTC), Marek Zawadzki
wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'll be driving from LA to San Francisco (H-1) this June with my wife and I was
wondering which place would you recommend for stopping by and relaxing for few
days. I'm looking for something not too crowded, with a nice beach and
a camping place, where you can stay for like 3 days without suffering from the
crowds and not get bored at the same time.

Thanks for any advices,

-marek

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Thanks, Karen

I'm going to Montery for some meetings in October and tried the Padre
Oaks. The lowest quote I got was $127 per night. For the same days,
the Carmel Hill Lodge was as low as $51 per night.

I'll check with them the next time I am up there.

Jerry

On 8 Jun 2006 16:10:06 -0700, "trippinkpj"
wrote:

Another affordable option in Monterey in addition to Carmel Hill Lodge,
is the Padre Oaks motel. I've stayed there 3 times in the past couple
years and really liked it. See trip advisor link/ review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...alifornia.html

-Karen

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

"Marek Zawadzki" wrote in message
...
On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

-marek


LOL!
You're talking about coastal California in the Summer?
Check out TripAdvisor and good luck with the pricing. Lots of nice hotels,
though.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

"Hatunen" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Jun 2006 21:25:55 +0000 (UTC), Marek Zawadzki
wrote:

On 2006-06-06, Todd Michel McComb wrote:
[...]
Beach plus camping == crowds

That said, I will suggest Pismo State Beach.

Thanks. In case I'd decide not to camp, am I doomed to pay 150 a night or
maybe someone can recommend a beach place where motels are less expensive?

You might check out Avila Beach.

Actually, if you want a fun time, try Santa Cruz, which has a
good beach and a coastside amusement park, and a municipal pier
with some interesting restaurants and lots of sea lions lolling
about underneath.

************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *


Well, they were traveling from LA to SF, so I assumed a midway stop. If
they aren't interested in midway, then Santa Cruz is a great place to spend
a couple of days. The KOA near Santa Cruz frequently has space available on
a few weeks notice. Everything else is booked 7 months in advance, with
some undependable last minute availability. Santa Cruz is more interesting
to me than Pismo or Avila, unless they want to check out Hearst Castle.

Best beach place to stay for a few days in California?
 

Me, too. My quotes were for a Wednesday and Thursday night!

I will keep it in mind for a future trip. I go there regularly.

On 10 Jun 2006 15:23:06 -0700, "trippinkpj"
wrote:

Wow, Jerry. I stayed there for $37.- in 04 and $45.- on 05. Although
those were Sun-Thurs non summer nights. I'm surprised that they were
that high in October.....

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, Karen

I'm going to Montery for some meetings in October and tried the Padre
Oaks. The lowest quote I got was $127 per night. For the same days,
the Carmel Hill Lodge was as low as $51 per night.

I'll check with them the next time I am up there.

Jerry

On 8 Jun 2006 16:10:06 -0700, "trippinkpj"
wrote:

Another affordable option in Monterey in addition to Carmel Hill Lodge,
is the Padre Oaks motel. I've stayed there 3 times in the past couple
years and really liked it. See trip advisor link/ review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...alifornia.html

-Karen