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Romantic Getaways in Santa Cruz and Monterey
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The Inn at Pasatiempo
Contemporary lodging in the Santa Cruz Mountains 555 Highway 17, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1.877.245.0161 Behind the trees, just off Highway 17 lies this quaint and casual haven. A favorite for those who love to hit the links at the renowned Pasatiempo or De La Veaga courses. Later, enjoy a steak at Peachwood's and then retire to your canopy bed by the fire. With prices on the modest side, you can have extra funds to dabble in downtown delights such as a massage or shopping at your favorite spot.
Special rates: The Inn at Pasatiempo -
Best Western Rose Garden Inn
Conveniently Located Between Santa Cruz and Monterey 740 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville CA 95076 1.866.901.5017 You won't have to forgo your next Prius payment to afford a room here, and you won't have to fill it up to arrive at your destinations. Although you won't find an on-site spa here, you will get your money's worth. A jacuzzi suite featuring a king-sized bed is under $200 a night, so you'll have plenty of change falling from your pockets while you ride the Giant Dipper.
Special rates: Rose Garden Inn -
Babbling Brook Inn
Waterfalls & Romantic Splendor in Santa Cruz 1025 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060 1.888.714.9348 For over a century this 13-room inn has charmed the Westside of Santa Cruz. With a central locale to tourist hot spots such as the Boardwalk, Wharf, and West Cliff, it's a popular getaway spot for visitors seeking a quiet, local experience. Canoodlers can score a package deal that includes accommodations, a dinner downtown and complimentary breakfast to get you back on the road home.
Special rates: Babbling Brook Inn -
Seascape Resort
Luxury resort with all the comforts of home One Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 1.877.819.3112 You may have driven past it a million times and never known it. Seascape is a perfect choice for locals who want the on-the-water experience, and it's a convenient pit stop for sightseeing visitors to the Monterey Bay. In one stay you can check out live music at Sanderlings, have a romantic beach bonfire, stay in an ocean view suite and then cruise down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to check out the native sea life.
Special rates: Seascape Resort -
Inn at Depot Hill
250 Monterey Avenue, Capitola CA 95060 1.888.257.1304 The history of this luxury landmark is tied to the Southern Pacific Railroad of the early 1900s. Now, take a trip to Capitola and stay in this Mediterranean-style villa. Close to the shops, beach and wharf, the scene is set for a high-class retreat. The romantic getaway package includes dining at the sumptuous Shadowbrook, as well as champagne and truffles to tuck you and your sweetie in.
Special rates: Inn at Depot Hill
More Romantic Retreats, from Santa Cruz's North Coast to Big Sur
Costanoa
2001 Rossi Rd., Pescadero; Tel. 650.879.1100
Want a little bit of everything, but without a lot of that pesky planning? Perched on a wild piece of land between mountain and sea, remote Costanoa has all the amenities, including spa and massage, and an activities calendar complete with kayaking, storytelling and guided bird watching. The private bungalows feature queen-size beds and can be booked for less than $150. Call a few days ahead of time and ask about the monthly special to snap up a free gourmet meal.
Davenport Roadhouse
One Davenport Avenue, Davenport; Tel. 831.426.8801
Highway 1 past the Santa Cruz city limits is waiting to be the road less traveled. Form follows function here, creating a beautiful yet affordable level of comfort. At this simple and elegant inn, with its natural wood ceilings and eco-friendly design, you and your partner can include Mother Nature this weekend and make it a menage.
Sea and Sand Inn
201 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz; Tel. 831.427.3400
You shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to sleep overlooking the Bay on the western cliffs of Santa Cruz. At the Sea and Sand Inn, romantics get a nice room with a king-size bed and a fireplace, continental breakfast and wine and cheese, all for under $250 a night. Bring the bikes along and enjoy a ride along the cliffs.
Sand Rock Farm
6901 Freedom Blvd. Aptos; Tel. 831.688.8005
An answer for those seeking homestyle solace is found in this gabled farm house. Take a romantic picnic, walk through one of the gardens on this 10-acre spread, put your antiquing fedora on in downtown Soquel and enjoy a fine dining experience featuring tastes of local and organic Santa Cruz. It all adds up to an affordable and colorful B&B that should not be missed.
Seven Gables Inn
555 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove; Tel. 831.372.4341
A leisurely bike ride away from Cannery Row, this local landmark is a favorite among visitors to the Bay. Go Victorian classic with a gabled room for a reasonable price, especially during the winter months. They offer a variety of packages to keep you entertained, whether your sport is golf or champagne. You can't beat homemade cookies and milk before bedtime either...
Cypress Inn
Lincoln and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea; Tel. 831.624.3871
It doesn't get much better than enjoying complimentary sherry on your own private veranda. Co-owner Doris Day's big-band Hollywood panache combined with contemporary style creates a classy atmosphere fit for a star. Modern rooms feature arched inlays with soft lighting falling from exposed rafters. The animal friendly Inn and local beaches mean your pup can join in on your getaway weekend.
Spanish Bay
2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach; Tel. 831.647.7500
With accolades for its golf links and a position on Travel and Leisure's Best Hotels list for 2007, Spanish Bay is a legend in Monterey. Choose an ocean or forest view, and then prepare for a day at the spa or a day in the sun. The resort offers kayaking, horseback-riding, and guided nature tours—not to mention bagpipes at sunset on the patio over looking the storm-tossed sea.
Casa Palmero
1518 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach; Tel. 831.647.7500
Charming Spanish tiles and warm adobe walls enclose this plush resort. Sip tea on your private courtyard in the morning and hit the tennis courts in the afternoon. This is the priciest of the three large Pebble Beach resorts, so be sure to get your fill of the slippers and cotton robes and all the royalty treatment you can.
Bernardus Lodge
415 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley; Tel. 831.658.3400
Go for a casual or posh dining experience at this lodge's Zagat-rated restaurant and stay in the contemporary accommodations fit for a Pottery Barn showroom. Lace up your K-Swiss sneakers and enjoy a game of Bocce or Croquet, or kick them off for a dip in the heated pool.
Tickle Pink Inn
155 Highland Drive, Carmel; Tel. 831.624.1244
Live like a senator, minus the stress of campaigning. This site was originally owned by Senator Tickle, and his private cottage is just one of the many luxurious abodes to choose from during your stay. Enjoy complimentary wine and cheese each evening while taking in the terrace-laced ocean views, then rest your head on goose-down pillows and comforters to call it a night.
Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
48865 Highway 1, Big Sur; Tel. 831.667.2377
Surrounded by towering redwoods on a perch above the shimmering Pacific, Deetjen's softens the rustic, Hobbit-like charm of a 1940s roadhouse with all the goose down and high thread counts an urbanite could hope for. Each room in this flowerbox-festooned historic inn is one of a kind. The cozy lodge serves up breakfasts each morning and true gourmet dinners nightly.
Esalen
55000 Highway 1, Big Sur; Tel. 831.667.3005
Do it at least once in your lifetime. Down the coast past Big Sur is a subtle and private place where you and your partner can take an unrobed soak in hot mineral springs, a cold plunge in an icy tub, and wash it all off overlooking the vast expanse of the Pacific. Call ahead of time to make a reservation, as this is a popular choice for seminarians and workshoppers.
