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Can you help me decide on a CA honeymoon?

Sin715Sin715
100 Comments
in California-Los Angeles
Hi there! I normally post on the Vegas board as that is where we are getting married but we plan on driving to CA for our honeymoon and I need help! I REALLY REALLY want to stay on the beach as right now I live in Scotland and I am sun deprived (I grew up in Florida)!! 

I have been looking in the Santa Monica/Venice Beach area for vacation rentals and they are either really expensive or a few blocks from the beach. I have found an awesome vacation rental on the beach in Manhattan beach but I am not so sure? Can any locals give me some advice on where the best place is to stay? We want to be able to relax on the beach, have some nice meals and drinks and be able to drive in to L.A. one day for the touristy stuff.

Thanks so much for your help!
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Re: Can you help me decide on a CA honeymoon?

  • CurlyGirlyGirlCurlyGirlyGirl
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It might not be exactly what you're looking for, but you could take a drive up the coast stopping in:
    Santa Monica
    Santa Barbara (Solvang is close by, along with great wine tasting)
    Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur
    San Francisco/Napa
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  • Melanie2012Melanie2012 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I can't vouch for any hotels or vacation rental spots - I live in the LA area and so have not really had to find much lodging around here.  If you're looking for somewhere literally on the beach, I'm inclined to say it's pretty much nonexistent around these parts.  Usually it's residential and/or restaurants/shopping on the beach - there are some hotels a block from the beach, but those will always be expensive.

    But as for places to look at, here are my thoughts: Santa Monica is tourist central.  If you dig that, go for it, but be aware.  Might try looking further south, at Manhattan and Redondo.  Long Beach is also a lot of fun.  If you're willing to get a little further out of Los Angeles (and therefore away from the major Charlie Foxtrot that is the LA metropolis), you might also look at Orange County or Malibu (not that those will be any less expensive than what you're currently looking at, unfortunately).

    And unless you really have your heart set on LA, there are other fantastic places along the California coast.  As PP mentioned, Santa Barbara is awesome.  And San Diego, as well.
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  • RoMy215RoMy215 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Manhattan Beach is nice...cute area...good shopping. Haven't been to the beach there so I don't know what that's like..but it's a nice area.
    Only thing about LA area is that traffic bites. Even though you wont have to be anywhere at any particular time, you don't want to sit in traffic. So if you want to have the LA experience, stay in Santa Monica/Venice/Marina Del Rey.
    Check www.vrbo.com (vacation rentals by owner). Also, a friend of mine in LA was looking for a place to stay in NY a few months ago and kept soliciting her friends on FB. See if you can find a trade or something.
    LA gets a bad rep, but there are so many awesome things to do and see here...museums, beaches, lots of great restaurants at all price points.

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  • DisneylandIsForLoversDisneylandIsForLovers member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I live in Torrance and its nice enough that you are close to the beach yet still far enough away its not as expensive. 

    They have some nice places in redondo beach too. 

    it depends on what else you want to be able to do.

    LA is about 20 minutes away depending on traffic. 


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  • TurtlesAllTheWayDownTurtlesAllTheWayDown member
    10000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Manhattan beach is awesome. It's my favorite beach city.

    Manhattan/Redondo are down the coast from Santa Monica/Venice, but the communities are great. There are tons of restaurants and bike paths. The beaches are lovely. We had friends who got a vacation rental in Redondo last summer and it was awesome. It will be more "secluded" than Santa Monica because there isn't ready freeway access, really - it's more remote. But not terribly far from Long Beach if you want to go to the aquarium or Queen Mary.

    When I was in Scotland and everyone found out I lived in LA, they were totally jealous of the sun (it was 90+ here, about 60 and rainy in Scotland, and this was August - I thought it was a nice break from the LA summer!)
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  • katybell247katybell247
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    If you are honeymooning in CA, don't miss Catalina Island. It is beautiful and fun for the day and romantic at night.
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  • CallmebettyCallmebetty
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    If I wasn't from Santa Barbara, I would totally want to honeymoon here.  I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's pretty freaking gorgeous.  Depending on your budget,  there are several hotels almost right on the beach.  Also, Sovang/wine country is fun.  
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  • echavez311echavez311 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm with CurlyGirlygirl - Santa Barbara, Monterey/Carmel, Pismo Beach, and Paso Robles isnt too far for some wine tasting - its beautiful up there. Would make for a beautiful honeymoon.
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  • Sin715Sin715
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks so much everyone for all of your help, I am off to research!
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  • heyfensterheyfenster
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'm going to have to agree with the whole Drive North of Los Angeles.  If you want to start in LA maybe stay a night at the Shangri La or shutters and then drive North along the coast.  I've done this trip and it's awesome. I don't know how much time you have but I would go through Solvang but don't stay over night, go to Hearst Castle, stop and see the elephant seals, go through Big Sur, do a hike, go to Montery/Carmel/ go to San Fran for a night or two and then hit Napa or Sonoma for some wine tasting.  We did all this in a week I think.  Feel free to contact me for Hotel suggestions!  have fun!
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