I’m wondering if anyone can comment on either of these two places on the CA coast for a one night and day relaxing visit? I’d like to splurge for a hotel room with Ocean View. Time would be April. Are there other coastal communities in this area that would be better? Thx
Moonstove Cove is on Catalina Island and not at all comparable to Pismo Beach. Do you mean Moonstone Beach in Cambria?
Assuming you’re debating between Pismo and Cambria (as opposed to Catalina Island) I’d probably vote Cambria for its natural beauty. In my opinion, Avila Beach would be a better choice than either.
Yes, I meant Cambria. Will look up Avila.
Moonstone Beach looks to have a boardwalk and lots of small hotels across from the water.
I haven’t been to Cambria in years, but as I recall it’s beautiful but a little cold due to its westward exposure. I’d visit in the summer but April could be iffy. That’s why I’m recommending Avila, which is in a south facing bay. I’ve visited there many times and it seems the weather is always perfect.
Thank you. Santa Barbara is an option as well.
I’ve been to all the spots and they all are beautiful but have a different feel.
I love Cambria and I don’t mind that it is cold. Cambria has the elephant seals just north of town, Sam Simeon State beach is a pretty spot and it is a bit warmer due to the direction of the beach. http://www.ffrpcambria.org/ranch.html Is a special place to take a walk. The town south of Cambria is Cayucos and it also has a beach that is protected from the wind. It is a one street town with a good cookie store. Morro Bay is also a nice stop. You will see surfers in the water but I don’t consider any of these beaches as real swimming beaches.
My H and I used to go to Pismo as a weekend getaway when the our kids were little. Grandma lived along the way and we would drop them. It’s pretry but I like Cambria better.
I haven’t been to Avila since college but I remember it as a beach that had sun. Pismo can be foggy.
Santa Barbara is different in the fact that while at heart it is a tourist destination it also is a small city. There is more to see and do but if you have one night and you want the serenity of the ocean I’d pick Cambria. Santa Barbara would have the most accessible beaches for swimming but in April you won’t be swimming.
Thanks mom60 and others. We have an event in Santa Ynez over the weekend and will fly into LAX a few days earlier. Last year we flew into SFO and drove south in order to see some friends. It was nice to have a day by the ocean. I found an old thread on Santa Barbara and the Lotusland garden and botanical garden and think that might be the way to go this time. I looked up the hotel mentioned, the El something, and yikes, it’s very expensive. Is there a hotel with ocean view you can recommend that is not quite so expensive?
El Encanto has a view but you can’t walk on the beach from there. It is up on the Riviera and has beautiful views. It is expensive.
Other ocean view options- there are numerous places on Cabrillo Blvd they range from small motels to a couple of larger properties. Santa Barbara Inn is newly renovated but I’ve not been there since they reopened. There is a brand new hotel on the lower end of State street, The Hotel Californian. I’m not sure how many of their rooms have views. If you pick any spot on Cabrillo you can walk outside and be across from the ocean.
Another totally different feel option is the Bacara. It is north of Santa Barbara and is a luxury hotel. It is as close as you can get to being on the beach. You’d need to drive to 20 minutes into SB for sightseeing. Another luxury property is The Biltmore in Montecito. It is presently closed due to the mudslide damage but I think it will be reopened by April.
Thanks very much. The ranch you linked above looks great also. We want a place for walking with pretty views and sunset, not specifically beach. I am interested in a Beach hotel for being able to sit on a balcony with wine and food and watch the sunset after a day of hiking. Trying to minimize the driving though which is why I thought SB might be a nice option. We have never been there either.
In 2014, we stayed overnight at the Fireside Inn on Moonstone Beach in Cambria. There are several other hotels on that road, right across from the beach, it’s very pretty and you can sit outside and see the ocean, it’s very pretty to walk down there, with wooden paths. There’s a restaurant you can walk to,down the street.
We never did make it into the town, because we were just spending the night to go to Hearst Castle, which is just 4 miles away. Have you ever been there? I highly suggest you take the opportunity to go if you haven’t.
We have been to Hearst Castle and took a couple of tours. One was a two hour art tour that went to quite a few of the buildings and was terrific.
The info @mom60 gave you is good. We’ve eaten at the Santa Barbara Inn since it was renovated and liked it.
Note that because of the way the coastline faces, sunrise is over the ocean from the hotels along the beach in Santa Barbara. The Bacara that mom60 mentioned is located where you can see sunset over the ocean. You are likely talking about $400/night for the Bacara, though I’ve seen deals at $280. There are some hotels in Carpinteria that look like they probably have a “sunset over the ocean” view.
As mom60 indicated, there’s lots to do within walking distance near the hotels on Cabrillo Blvd. There’s less to do locally other than relax and eat at the Bacara. There is hiking near the Bacara.
Unfortunately, a number of our most beautiful hiking trails were washed out by the mudslides. There are still some trails I can suggest if you decide on the Santa Barbara area.
Cambria is also beautiful and a wonderful little town. I’d vote Cambria over Pismo Beach, but I haven’t spent that much time in Pismo.
Love them all. Cambria we only stayed at Pelican Inn for about 5-6 visits,they used to have a wonderful wine reception at night, but no longer. The cook is still there and does a nice breakfast. Most of the hotels are owned by same corporation. Cambria has been very much affected by the drought. I like the moonstone beach restaurant that doesn’t have all the lines, but both are good. Yummy places in town.
Pismo Beach is our new favorite, same corporation, we get a room at cottage inn with ocean view and patio. They added fire rings, nice to enjoy the evening meeting other guests. The walk to town along the ocean is nice, but we always drove to town at night ( parking fees daily until 6 or 7 pm).
Avila Beach really like the La Fonda, they have morning croissants, afternoon beer and nachos (we were always out So cannot review), evening wine and later/delicious pies with ice cream. I have a favorite restaurant there but we didn’t stay in town during the day.
Cuyaucos- our friends like that we stop and pick up cookies for them, easy to spend $100+ Just remembering a few folk.
Re Hearst castle, I finally gave in to husband and went— silly me, it’s great, would like ve to be around for the night tours, truly is a must see. Elephant Seals - a must see.
Santa Barbara- we like a place on west side that has free bikes. If you are into beer, try Third Window - per my h.
Have fun
@lamom - you’re H appears to enjoy beer. I had to look up Third Window. I’ve walked by but not had a beer there. I’ll have to go with my H. I want to try the bbq restaurant in that same complex. My H is not a sweet eater and when we went to the cookie spot in Cayucos he wanted to buy ONE cookie! Next time I’m going with a friend.
You can’t go wrong with any of the spots. They are all great places for a nice getaway. H and I have booked a couple of nights in Cambria for our anniversary in October. We rent a house on the ocean from a vacation rental company. One note about Cambria is that several eating spots only take cash. The Sea Chest which is the place on Moonstone Beach that doesn’t take reservations and has a really long line is only cash as is the BBQ place on Main St.
Mom60, Yes H likes beer, we live near Temecula and H remembers fondly when blind pig was available here at Costco. We are probably going to be on the road hours this week to wait in line for some Russian River Pliney the younger. We like Fess Parker winery also. Our son his friends and his boss will be envious.
Cambria great for anniversaries.
I like Cambria also. The Black Cat Bistro had wonderful food! And the boardwalk along the beach was very nice.
I am less thrilled by Pismo. The last time we stayed there we chose a hotel on the cliffs. Nesting sea birds also love those cliffs. The smell of their GUANO was so acidic and pungent it made my eyes water.
I’d stay away from Montecito. If it rains again, the rocks above town are even looser now and more likely to be swept by rain and mud into town than before the horrendous killer mudslide of last month.