From: HF.JGW@forsythe.stanford.edu (Weitz, Janet)
Newsgroups: ba.food
Subject: Re: Monterey to San Simeon: food & lodging
Date: 22 Jan 1993 09:35:15 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: ba
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

In article <42862@unix.SRI.COM>,
maslak@unix.SRI.COM (Valerie Maslak) writes:
>Monterey to San Simeon is a HUGE area: make sure you take out a good
>map and scope it out. Also, the coast highway that connects them,
>Highway One, has a nasty habit of washing out/landslides this time of
>year. It can take MONTHS to get such landslides fixed. Keep informed.
>
>Basically, what you're looking at is a long narrow strip of land
>between mountains and sea. Monterey is the biggest town, Then, going
>south, you find Pacific Grove, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur,
>and then not much til you get to San Simeon and Cambria.
>
>That said, you'll be looking at one of the most spectacularly
>beautiful parts of California. (Keep your camera handy and loaded.)
>There are lots of hotels, large and small in Monterey itself,
>and you may be able to get a corporate rate at some of them.
>There's a Doubletree in Monterey, for example.
>But the Monterey-Pacific Grove-Carmel-Big Sur area is also great for B&Bs
>and small inns.  So you can get a larger hotel in a commercial area,
>a smaller hotel in a more scenic area, or a very small guest house.
>It depends on how much you want to spend. I suggest you call 800
>information for the number and talk to the California state
>tourist information service. They can send you comprehensive lists.
>Anyplace you call, ask for special rates or promotions. Times is
>tuff, and places may deal.
>
>Names I can suggest in various price ranges are the Monterey Inn,
>Spindrift Inn, Hotel Pacific, Highlands Inn, Mission Ranch,
>Adobe Lodge, Cypress Inn, Pine Inn, La Playa, Ventana, Post Ranch,
>Deetjen's Big Sur Inn, Inn at Spanish Bay, Carmel Valley Ranch
>Resort,.........endless.
>
>For places to eat, there is a similar variety. Try the Sardine
>Factory, Nepenthe, Fresh Cream, Abalonetti on the wharf,
>several nice little places in Cambria....heck, it's been too long
>since I've been there! I used to like a little place in Monterey
>called the Clock Garden, but I don't even know if it's still there.
>There is a deli on Ocean Avenue in Carmel that will help you put
>together a great picnic for a day on the beach.
>
>Anyway, there are tourist things you shouldn't miss. You'll need
>reservations for Hearst castle tour at San Simeon.  The Monterey
>Aquarium is worth a visit. Call Esalen in Big Sur to find out when their
>famous cliffside mineral baths are open to the public. Walk through Point
>Lobos Park; my favorite spot is China Cove.  Carmel Mission is worth
>a quick stop. Seventeen Mile Drive may or may not be worth
>the admission price to you. If it is to you, I think you
>get a credit for your admission at the bar at Del Monte Lodge, as I
>remember, if you want to stop for coffee. The "Poor Man's 17 Mile
>Drive " with no admission is a road that goes along the water
>in Pacific Grove. It goes past the secret Place To Stay
>called Asilomar Lodge, a state conference
>center that may have rooms when everyone else is full. Not all rooms
>are created equal however, so make sure you know what you're getting
>(some are really dormitories), but it's in a great location and very
>scenic. Pfeiffer Beach is hard to find, down a small, bad road on
>the right side off HWY One, but might be worth a stop to see
>crashing surf and huge rocks, very California....
>
>Have a great visit!
>
>Valerie Maslak
>
I had great memories of the Clock Garden from the mid-70s and went
back recently.  It is drastically changed - or my memory is out of
whack - it was NOT good.  Your other suggestions are very good.
>
Janet W.
Newsgroups: ba.food