Where to stay along pacific coast highway, CA?

[DHofbythepowerofgreyskull]

We're (2+2 DC) heading south on the PCH at the end of May and think we want to stay a couple of days in Carmel, one in San Simeon and one in Santa Barbara. We could stay in Monterey instead, but think that Carmel is more twee

Does anyone have any recommendations (or dis-recommendations) for places to stay in or close to these locations? TIA!

Dh and I have driven dow the PCH twice (from San Francisco to LA). Both times we stayed in San Luis Obispo (about 35 miles South of San Simeon). It's a lovely little town. We stayed in the Apple Farm Inn which was so twee and and homely and stereotypically American that we loved it (hence going back the second time).

We also considered the Madonna Inn which just looked really unusal (you have to look at the room photos on the website) and kitsch.

Of course there are Travel Inns and the like if you just want somewhere basic to sleep, but SLO had a cute little independent cinema and a farmer's market on certain days.

We also stayed a night in Solvang which is a Danish village a bit inland, North of Santa Barbara. It was cute and had some nice bakeries, but seemed a little touristy. Santa Barbara was nicer, very picturesque with plenty of shops and restaurants on the main street.

Cambria is lovely but I can't remember where we stayed. There is lots of nice places to eat and antique shops to potter around. Beach with seals nearby.

Here

Ooh, ooh, brilliant thread! JUST what I've been looking for!!!
Thanks.

OMG, these little log cabins in the woods in Big Sur were HEAVEN!
I've stayed there twice; once as a romantic retreat with a boyfriend many moons ago, sigh! And once more recently with DH and DS...
Both were perfect stays. Not full on luxery cabins by any means but so cute and little barbecues outside each one, loo and shower indoors so not like camping. River running through the campground the kids can float down gently in big fat inflatables.

www.riversidecampground.com/index.htm

We didn't stay at this one but it looks similar www.bigsurcamp.com

I also used website VBRO (Vacation renatls by owners ) to book accomodations in that neck of the woods. If you check reviews you can judge how good the places are.

If you're going the right time of the year go whale watching off Monterey- awesome! And about 90% chance of seeing whales each time you head out. And if time is right check out elephant seals lolling about on the beach near Santa Cruz (Anno Neuvo state park)
And Santa Cruz is a way cool surfing town with big amusement park on the sea front.

Another vote for Big Sur. Amazing place.

We stayed in the Highlands Inn last year which is lovely just outside carmel and the
four seasons in Santa Brabara which was so fab I can't wait to go back, we saw Oprah in the restaurant! It has the most gorgeous art deco beach club.

OOh am getting carried away now. If you are driving down from Carmel to Big Sur (which I guess you will be if you're heading to San Simeon) take a left up Palo Colorado Rd
Do google maps to get to the road then go down to Street View and you can "virtually" wander up it...

Up amongst beautiful redwoods there's a magical road with little log houses built by hippies way back when. I think some may rent out as holiday homes, but PM me if you want contact details as I'll have to give you the email address of the girl I met who lives up there.

Mrs I think dp's cousin lives there(they've live in a gorgeous albeit small arty cabin in the woods) and we stayed in one of those cabins!!!!!We had an interesting experience.

It was at Easter though and there was hardly anybody about.We had an intruder,it was f***g terrifying.We'd just got off the plane,dead of night and woke up to somebody trying the door,kept walking around and trying the windows.

Dp and I hid in the bathroom,dp was terrified too(he's Mr Laidback).I just remember thinking I'm going to die.How bloody stupid.We're in the woods completely on our own.

Said intruder gave up in the end.

Lovely area,we're going back with the dc at some point!!!

OMG! MrsHeffleY Maybe best to ignore my recommendation for the cabin in the woods!! (though not the campground cabins- lots of folks around to scare off serial killers there)
MrsHeff perhaps it was a stoned hippy wandering up to the wrong cabin?

Yes Mrs thats what I'm telling myself as seriously those cabins were just a short walk from dp's cousin and v useful.

Having said that our 3 would scare anybody off!!!!

Thanks for all the ideas so far - Apple Farm Inn looks extremely twee. Any more suggestions for Carmel itself?

Misspenteuth Have just booked Apple Farm! Thanks

I have relatives who own a holiday home they let out (self catering) nr. San Simeon, in Cambria. PM me if you want details.

We stayed somewhere like the Best Western in Santa Barbara, lovely heated outdoor pool DC went in loads (December).

love Cambria and Santa Barbara! We stayed in a lovely and fancy place in Santa Barbara but I think it was couples only.