HM in California

Has anyone had a California HM? We were thinking of flying into LA (spend time in Santa Monica) and then driving up the coastal highway to San Fran and the wine country.

Any suggestions??

I am not planning my honeymoon in Cali., but I have been to San Fran. and it was beautiful. We rented a convertable and drove up the coast to wine country. It was great. I say go for it.

We're doing San Francisco and the wine country as the second half of our honeymoon! We're staying in Fisherman's Wharf and taking day trips to Napa and Sonoma.

The first half is the Bellagio in Vegas!

I live in SF, so FM me if you need any advice or want opinions on hotels, etc.

The drive up the coast is much longer of you drive Pacific 1 (I think 8 hours? Its 5-6 if you take in inland highway). Its much prettier too, but since its your honeymoon, you may want to split it up rather than doing it all in one day.

It'd be nice to spend a night in wine country too - check out the awesome spas up there.

Let me know if there's anything I can help with. What time of year will you be here? Spring and Fall tend to have the best weather in SF. Summer's chilly and foggy and winter's wet (though not bad this year yet).

edited to say - I looked in your profile. november's nice.

I lived in California for 3 yrs. FM me also if you need help.
Driving up PCH is so beautiful!!! The sites are gorgeous!

In LA, you have Disney World (more south), you have, Hollywood, tour the stars Homes, drive through Bel Air, tour the Hollywood Hills, Wax Museum.......lots of fun things!
Santa Monica Pier, Malibu, and Venice Beach are also great!

Misty - I've been to some really nice spas. Let me find their names and I'll let you know...

Mistyeyed-

Never stayed at the Bellagio, but did gamble there. Absolutely gorgeous!!!!

As for San Fran - a girl at work told me of a cute B&B in the wine country, Mendocino, to be exact.

Take a look: http://www.whitegateinn.com/

Lisat-

Thank you.. I will definately take you up on that. I think we are hoping to take about 10 days - start in Los Angeles and drive up to San Fran. Stopping along the way (a night here, two nights there) to stay in Bir Sur, Santa Barbara.

Any other suggestions??

I am not planning a Cali HM, but we did go there three years ago. It is beautiful! We went to San Fran, then did a day trip to Napa, drove down the coast to LA and stayed in Santa Monica and then drove to San Diego! It was one of my best vacations!! If you have any questions when you start planning let me know!

Oh and I forgot to mention Catalina Island. It is gorgeous there!! Reminds me of Capri!

the girls mentioned most of the big sites .. but ive lived in cali my whole life so let me know if you need any specific advice

Definitely go to Cali!! I just moved back to NY after living there for 3 years and I miss it sooo much! We lived in the Bay Area...

Anyway, I just wanted to suggest that if you do drive up the coast from Santa Monica, you could stop in San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle and then continue on to Monterey and Carmel, two of the most charming and romantic seaside towns...you have to visit the Monterey Aquarium and the Carmel Mission...both worth the trip!

FM me for more info, if you want. I want to go back to visit Cali already, and I've only been gone 6 months!

I lived in San Fran for 10 years! You can make a beautiful honeymoon out of California! Def. drive up the coast on HW 1- not the inland highways- 101 or 5- there's nothing to see. You can make stops along the way- in Santa Monica, Carmel.... There's also a place called The Shores of Shell beach.. gorgeous!

Seems like there are a bunch of us who have been there and can help you w/ suggestions etc... let me know if I can help you with anything.

Wow thanks for all your help!!

I'm going to talk to FI tonight and we will begin to look into this more... I'm really getting excited about the idea..

I will definately FM you all for your opinions as we begin to narrow down where along the coast we are thinking of stopping at.

I created a new thread since there were a couple asking about Wine Country