I'm going away in mid November and looking for good weekend ideas.

I live in Oakland, so I am not looking to go to San Francisco, but maybe San Luis Obispo or up to Santa Rosa, I don't know.

I am pretty broke, so I'm looking to not spend a fortune, but am not going to stay in Motel 6 either.

Either cute town or natural beauty is fine.

I know there are some NO CAL folks (and even non-NO CAL folks) that can give me some ideas!

point reyes and stinson beach. a nice drive north

XxAxX said:

point reyes and stinson beach. a nice drive north

have you stayed anywhere in the area that you can recommend?

NDRU said:

XxAxX said:

point reyes and stinson beach. a nice drive north

have you stayed anywhere in the area that you can recommend?

well, yes, in stinson beach. but it was about 15 yrs ago. can't really remember. wasn't very pricey, maybe two steps up from motel 8..

XxAxX said:

NDRU said:

have you stayed anywhere in the area that you can recommend?

well, yes, in stinson beach. but it was about 15 yrs ago. can't really remember. wasn't very pricey, maybe two steps up from motel 8..

I stayed once in Pt Reyes, but it there was not much around, I might look into Stinson.

Those are good ideas, any others? Are you a CA person?

I'd seriously consider Melbourne, Australia.

which actually used to be in CA!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...kL7qDeI05U

ZombieKitten said:

I'd seriously consider Melbourne, Australia.

which actually used to be in CA!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...kL7qDeI05U

we are just dust on God's bubblegum!

Hmm, mid-November. On the list are:

Calistoga

Guerneville

San Luis Obispo

Pt Reyes/Stinson

I thought about redwoods, but it might be kind of rainy in Nov

Reno is cheap & easy

i live in san jose area. i like going to monterey, pebble beach, carmel-by-the-sea, big sur, or over closer to where i used to live lake tahoe, amador county wine country, apple hill, napa valley.

kimrachell said:

i live in san jose area. i like going to monterey, pebble beach, carmel-by-the-sea, big sur, or over closer to where i used to live lake tahoe, amador county wine country, apple hill, napa valley.

sany specific places you stayed at?

Carmel might be nice, I have not been there for a long time. Is it too cute?

Big Sur. Or the Gold Country is surprisingly nice all the way up to Tahoe.

GetAwayFromMe said:

Big Sur. Or the Gold Country is surprisingly nice all the way up to Tahoe.

Gold Country sounds cool, I have driven through a bunch of times.

Any place specific?

NDRU said:

Hmm, mid-November. On the list are:

Calistoga

Guerneville

San Luis Obispo

Pt Reyes/Stinson

I thought about redwoods, but it might be kind of rainy in Nov

It's very possible it will be, definitely a bit cold and grey regardless (which is heaven for me). How much time do you have? Because at that time of year you could easily just bounce up the coast or 101, staying at reasonably priced motels when you find someplace you want to crash for the night. I've done that a couple times. It's great to just get out there and find stuff, which is pretty easy to do in NorCal during November (not a lot of casual tourism during that time of year). It's only a few hours (five at the absolute WORST) to get to the Humboldt/Arcata area (where there is a ton of inexpensive lodging). From there you've got super fast and easy access to the ocean, the redwoods, REAL wilderness, rivers, fishing, camping, endless bed and breakfasts and LOTS of weird people. How much do you like driving? Taking Highway 1 from Pt Reyes to Crescent City is a pretty epic drive. Watching how the coast and communities change along the way is alway entertaining. Like driving backwards in time.

NDRU said:

Reno is cheap & easy

It is, but Tahoe is a whole lot prettier and it's really not any more expensive if you don't want it to be.

Guerneville and Pt Reyes ARE both quite beautiful. As are Big Sur and the Monterey area (you could stay in Monterey and just VISIT Carmel ).

Cerebus said:

NDRU said:

Hmm, mid-November. On the list are:

Calistoga

Guerneville

San Luis Obispo

Pt Reyes/Stinson

I thought about redwoods, but it might be kind of rainy in Nov

It's very possible it will be, definitely a bit cold and grey regardless (which is heaven for me). How much time do you have? Because at that time of year you could easily just bounce up the coast or 101, staying at reasonably priced motels when you find someplace you want to crash for the night. I've done that a couple times. It's great to just get out there and find stuff, which is pretty easy to do in NorCal during November (not a lot of casual tourism during that time of year). It's only a few hours (five at the absolute WORST) to get to the Humboldt/Arcata area (where there is a ton of inexpensive lodging). From there you've got super fast and easy access to the ocean, the redwoods, REAL wilderness, rivers, fishing, camping, endless bed and breakfasts and LOTS of weird people. How much do you like driving? Taking Highway 1 from Pt Reyes to Crescent City is a pretty epic drive. Watching how the coast and communities change along the way is alway entertaining. Like driving backwards in time.

Good ideas

I will probably choose a spot & stay for two days. I have a habit of driving aimlessly, and I don't think my GF wants to do that.

NDRU said:

GetAwayFromMe said:

Big Sur. Or the Gold Country is surprisingly nice all the way up to Tahoe.

Gold Country sounds cool, I have driven through a bunch of times.

Any place specific?

I got this off of a website:

I used to live in Auburn, so I would go to Grass Valley and Nevada City a lot. It's rather beautiful up there. Beware of the snowwwwww though.

NDRU said:

kimrachell said:

i live in san jose area. i like going to monterey, pebble beach, carmel-by-the-sea, big sur, or over closer to where i used to live lake tahoe, amador county wine country, apple hill, napa valley.

sany specific places you stayed at?

Carmel might be nice, I have not been there for a long time. Is it too cute?

i never stayed overnight there, because i live so close, but there are a lot of nice little motels there on the main street. or over in pacific grove. it's really cute there, and the beach is always pretty.

also i used to live over in gold country in sutter creek/jackson area. it's also very pretty, but there isn't a whole lot to do there unless you stay in the winery or jackson rancheria casino the whole time.

NDRU said:

XxAxX said:

well, yes, in stinson beach. but it was about 15 yrs ago. can't really remember. wasn't very pricey, maybe two steps up from motel 8..

I stayed once in Pt Reyes, but it there was not much around, I might look into Stinson.

Those are good ideas, any others? Are you a CA person?

i used to live in oakland/emeryville. a past life loved it

We stayed in a "cabin" at this place in Stinson Beach

Sandpiper Inn

it was lovely and it was about a 5min. walk to the beach... highly recommended!!

MAP

If you go south to the Monterrey Bay area I can recommend 2 places...

In Santa Cruz there's the Lanai Lodge

it was nice for a New Years Eve within walking distance of the Boardwalk. Kind of a glorified Motel 6. However, it totally did the job!

In Carmel there's The Sea Breeze Inn which was top drawer... highly, highly recommended! Short drive to the Aquarium but there's some awesome walking districts there. We had a blast!!

Any San Luis Obispo suggestions?

NDRU said:

Any San Luis Obispo suggestions?

Too far South. Southern California starts just below Monterey for me and I try not to visit that State if I can help it.

RenHoek said:

In Carmel there's The Sea Breeze Inn which was top drawer... highly, highly recommended! Short drive to the Aquarium but there's some awesome walking districts there. We had a blast!!

this looks pretty good, I am thinking about taking it! Actually pretty reasonable, too.

NDRU said:

RenHoek said:

In Carmel there's The Sea Breeze Inn which was top drawer... highly, highly recommended! Short drive to the Aquarium but there's some awesome walking districts there. We had a blast!!

this looks pretty good, I am thinking about taking it! Actually pretty reasonable, too.

You really should look into Big Sur, it's not that far away. I have a friend who does seriously great massages there.

Go to the Korbel winery. It is totally friggin' awesome.

http://www.korbel.com/WineryVideo.aspx

[Edited 10/25/10 13:39pm]

NDRU said:

Any San Luis Obispo suggestions?

have you been there before?

It's nice!

really nice japanese restaurant there

lotsa college kids though all over the place!!!!

ZombieKitten said:

NDRU said:

Any San Luis Obispo suggestions?

have you been there before?

It's nice!

really nice japanese restaurant there

lotsa college kids though all over the place!!!!

I have been there, yeah, I stayed at a place called the Apple Farm

It's a cute little town, their Farmer's Market is one of the best. It's a farm town, so it's a real event.

NDRU said:

ZombieKitten said:

have you been there before?

It's nice!

really nice japanese restaurant there

lotsa college kids though all over the place!!!!

I have been there, yeah, I stayed at a place called the Apple Farm

It's a cute little town, their Farmer's Market is one of the best. It's a farm town, so it's a real event.

we went to the cinema there and saw Star Trek!

What about Fort Bragg/Mendocino?