California honeymoon ideas?!

clavavves · December 2012

We live in the Bay Area and we're getting married at the end of March and have no idea where we would like to honeymoon. My fiance wants to go to Disneyland but I feel like being lost in the huge crowds and waiting in long lines will diffuse some of that newlywed romantic glow. We're college students with a limited budget so nothing too extravagant. We've been looking on Groupon but nothing has really caught our attention so far. I figured, maybe we can go to Disneyland at the begining or near the end of the honeymoon and go somewhere more private and romantic for the rest of the time. But where?!

QueerFemme · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_california-honeymoon-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:1933e56d-2a82-4b65-a34e-8c496db388b3Post:e76ff387-df91-4d20-91b7-8b492a8af70a">California honeymoon ideas?!</a>:
[QUOTE]We live in the Bay Area and we're getting married at the end of March and have no idea where we would like to honeymoon. My fiance wants to go to Disneyland but I feel like being lost in the huge crowds and waiting in long lines will diffuse some of that newlywed romantic glow. We're college students with a limited budget so nothing too extravagant. We've been looking on Groupon but nothing has really caught our attention so far. I figured, maybe we can go to Disneyland at the begining or near the end of the honeymoon and go somewhere more private and romantic for the rest of the time. But where?!
Posted by clavavves[/QUOTE]

Big Sur; Carmel/Monterey area; Fort Bragg/Mendocino area; Lake Tahoe. There are so many amazing places within a 2-3 hour drive of the bay area. You could do a coastal trip, and start in Fort Bragg/Mendocino and then drive down the coast to Big Sur.

monkeysip · December 2012

Actually... we're going to Disneyland! We love theme parks.

We went to California last summer, but only for a few days, and I had an injured foot, so we were limited in what we could do. But even with that... we had SOOO much fun and loved it there (we'd never been before).

So for our honeymoon we're going to LA and San diego for two weeks. We just love how there's so many different things to do... museums, shopping, tons of beaches, amusement parks, etc.

It's not for everyone, but we're not really into just lounging on beaches. We like having so many choices of things to do. Your honeymoon can be anything you want it to be... for us we just want the time to have fun together doing things we love. We'll also have time just to relax with each other as well.

mcda04 · December 2012

What are your interests? Beach or Inland?

I would recommend San Diego since you can have a little bit of everything or Napa for a more romantic intimate setting.

Summer2011Bride · December 2012

You could go north and do wine country or even up to the redwoods and camp.

Or if you go a little south like PP suggested, the Carmel area is gorgeous! We went to both Napa and Carmel/Big Sur this summer. Big Sur was hands down the most beautiful place I have been. Both places could be very romantic, as is wine country.

Kristin789 · December 2012

We HMed in San Diego. Wonderful. TONS to do, perfect weather.

ByHisGrace2013 · December 2012

Carmel, just south of Monterey! I'm hoping my FI is taking me there for our surprise honeymoon

orangehills · December 2012

I think Disneyland is ok! That's where we are taking a little mini-moon. A day at each park- and we are going to wear those little mouse ears with the bride veil and groom hat with our wedding date stitched in, haha. I can't wait- it'll be fun! We are throwing in a day at the ocean as well. But if you do Southern Cal- I think Disneyland could totally work, and then maybe Laguna Beach area, or San Diego...

Sue-n-Kevin · December 2012

We spent 2 weeks driving down the coast of California for our HM last September. We flew into San Fran, spent 4 nights there, rented a convertible and drove down the coast for the next 6 days, spending nights in nice hotels near the water, then spent the last 3 nights in Coronado, across the bay from San Diego.

I agree with everyone, Carmel and Monterrey are lovely. We stayed at the Mission Ranch, owned by Clint Eastwood, and they have charming cottages, lovely grounds (the sheep were eating the grass outside our sliding glass door each morning), and a romantic restaurant with fabulous food. The Monterey Aquariums was great, and I think we were there for about 5 hrs. The wharf area around it is a cute touristy area.

We never did get to downtown Carmel, but understand we missed a great opportunity as it's supposed to be lovely.

The San Diego/Coronado Bay area was tied with Carmel for our favorite area. San Diego is temperate all year round. We stayed at the Loew's in Coronado Bay and there is a place next to it that gives gondola rides through the Bay area, an hour for $99 for a couple, includes chocolate dipped strawberries, you can bring your own bottle of wine. We took the sunset tour which was gorgeous. Downtown San Diego has trams that run through Balboa Park, which is pretty, and old town has a lot of history from the area and some good Mexican food.

If you like the LA area I highly recommend staying at the Casa Malibu Inn. It's right on the water (not sure how warm March is), you can walk the beach, hear the sound of the waves all night. It's an "old school" hotel, no website, LOL, but you can read about it here on tripadvisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32676-d78107-Reviews-Casa_Malibu_Inn_on_the_beach-Malibu_California.html

The reviews are fairly accurate, you pay for the ambiance of a nice room, on the water, sit on the deck on the beach, drink your coffee. Pretty gardens. We were there for 2 nights while we went around LA and saw various tourist sites like Hollywood & Vine, the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are, Rodeo Drive, etc.

My very best advice is to use www.tripadvisor.com to plan your vacation. I used it exclusively to find the hotels where we wanted to stay, the restaurants where we ate, the reviews by actual customers are really accurate for any of the places you look up.

Also, sign up for www.travelzoo.com weekly emails with their top 20 picks. I did this before I solidified any plans, and you'll get deals sent to you.

Good luck. You really can't go wrong if you do your research.

JillianNJohn · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_california-honeymoon-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:1933e56d-2a82-4b65-a34e-8c496db388b3Post:e76ff387-df91-4d20-91b7-8b492a8af70a">California honeymoon ideas?!</a>:
[QUOTE]We live in the Bay Area and we're getting married at the end of March and have no idea where we would like to honeymoon. My fiance wants to go to Disneyland but I feel like being lost in the huge crowds and waiting in long lines will diffuse some of that newlywed romantic glow. We're college students with a limited budget so nothing too extravagant. We've been looking on Groupon but nothing has really caught our attention so far. I figured, maybe we can go to Disneyland at the begining or near the end of the honeymoon and go somewhere more private and romantic for the rest of the time. But where?!
Posted by clavavves[/QUOTE]

I'm so cal born and raised. Maybe check into the Temecula wineries or even the hotel del Coronado in San Diego. It is amazing. We were going to go there but decided to evade Cali all together

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · January 2013

San Diego would be lovely. Since it's by the beach, if it's warm, there's lots of beachy things to do. There's also great craft beer. Plus the Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park.

You could also do wineries in Temecula or Santa Barbara if you want to get away from Napa.

Disneyland and California Adventure are super close to either San Diego or Temecula if you want to spend 1-2 days there. If you go on a weekday, especially during the school year, you'll be fine.

If you just want to relax, you could rent a beach house/hotel room in Orange County or near Big Sur and just hang out by the ocean.

I honeymooned in Napa and had a great time. It's close to you, so I'm not sure if you want to get away more, but if you want recommendations I will send them over.

krckjm8 · January 2013

San Diego!

California honeymoon ideas?!

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