Leets

Well it's that wonderful time of year when I get to reflect on having blown another entire year of my life.
So my girlfriend and I have decided to take a mini-vacation shortly after my birthday to celebrate and try to relax and regain sanity. We know we'll be going in late February, and know that we'll be taking three days/three nights, but we're still not sure where exactly we want to go.

I was just curious as what recomendations any of you may have as to where we could relax for a weekend. We're both the type to go out and enjoy an area rather than hole up in a hotel room, and we both prefer to actually experience an area rather than spend all our time driving to it. So where should I go to from North Orange County?

Luv Da Lex

a weekend in monterey, SF, dont vegas would be a good idea. SD? mammoth if ski or snowboard.
a weekend in santa barbara, napa valley for wine tasting. theres a whole package i know you can do where you visit the different vineyard and just sample a bunch of different wine.

juniorsdad

san diego is only 1 hr away (one of my favs for short getaway)
big bear/arrowhead - approx. 1.5 hrs
santa barbara - say 2 hrs
palm springs - 1.5 hrs

encore888

I supposed you've been to...

Laguna Beach
San Diego/Coronado Island
Catalina Island

Leets

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

I really like Laguna Beach, but it's only a 30 minute drive for me so we were thinking about somewhere we're less inclined to go to on any other day. I've been to San Diego before and spent the day on Coronado, but I'm not sure my girlfriend has ever been to Coronado. I love San Diego, but my girlfriend isn't such a fan... I'm convinced she just hasn't been shown the real San Diego.

... And speaking of Catalina, that was actually our most favored idea when we were brainstorming. The only problem is that my girlfriend doesn't do to well in extremely cold weather, and she was saying that Catalina is quite chilly in February. The last time I was there I was only 13 so I honestly have no idea. Anyone have personal experience with this and can elaborate on this?
I just keep telling her I'll be more than happy to warm her up, but the longer we've been together the less effective that line seems to be.

BigWaveSC

iTrader: (5)

The Hearst Castle is very cool in San Simion up the 1.
Nice little hotel on the beach, close to SF as well
great for a couple.

DavesGS

How about Rosarito, Mexico. Plan on going there with the wife in a couple of weeks to relax. They have this awesome hotel and spa place. Get a good massage, some facials for the gf with the ocean view rooms

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Hotel del Coronado?

http://www.hoteldel.com/

DavesGS

Actually Hotel Las Rocas
www.lasrocas.com
Their couples massage is nice and the baths they prepare are

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

il put my vote in for Hearst castle and Napa valey. but what you can do there instead of a tour is just driving around to all the different wineries and theyl give u a tour and the like

last time i was there we went to Beringer

Leets

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone.

After weighing all of our options we've decided to go somewhere that's almost never listed as a great tourist spot:... VEGAS. (ya, I know... real original)

I've already made some reservations at the Luxor, which isn't my first choice in hotels, but their pricing does allow for more funds to spend outside of the room. I figure (and I'm still not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing ) we'll be spending more time out of the room so there's not much sense in blowing all my money there.

So I'm not a big Vegas regular, but my girlfriend seems to think it's the West's best playground so I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've never had the seafood buffett at the Rio, but I've heard it's a must so I planning on stopping there. My girlfriend won't stop raving about the sushi at Mandalay Bay, so there's another spot we'll be hitting up. Neither one of us enjoy gambling so we'll be making up for that time with plenty of eating and drinking.

We're also interested in going to see the new Cirque show at the Wynn so that's up on the list, as well.

Any body care to share their DOs and DON'Ts in Vegas?

RA40

iTrader: (6)

We like Cambria located about 32 miles west of San Luis Obispo and north on HWY 1. In that area you have Morro Bay, Paso Robles and San Simeon.

We stay on Moonstone Beach in Cambria and will take a morning or evning stroll on the paths along the beach/cliffs. Afternoons, we drive into Paso Robles to visit the wineries...assemble a picnic and sip some wine. Following that we drive down 101 to Morro Bay HWY 41, to wander the shorline shops and bay.

Cambria has a nice assortment of fine dining/gourmet class restaurants. The prices aren't bad at sub $20 typically. Cambria Pines Lodge has IMO the more consistent food in the area. If you stay at one of the Moonstone properties, they have various dinner packages which work out quite nicely.

http://www.cambriachamber.org/

I dunno if they are there yet, the elephant seals will be giving birth to the pups now or soon. Just drive up HWY 1 past San Simeon and look for all the cars parked on the side of the roads.

This was the TV we had in one of the rooms. After hours, I tune in Speed channel and am happy.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

I see you've chosen Vegas.

Take the backside road to the casino's. Audrie for the east side and Frank Sinatra for the westside. This will save you lots of time and grief of trying to drive down LV Blvd. But if she hasn't been on the strip, just cruise it for the experience. Desert Inn Road will get you from west-east and such the fastest during traffic. Spring Mountain Road has China Town. And like any China Town, watch the drivers and parking spaces...

The Fashion Show Mall is also a nice walk and now that it has been renovated, it is worlds better. The Venetian shops are Aladdin is nice too but it is like a typical mall and if you go to South Cow Plaza, it's no biggie IMO. The Forum Shops at Caesars is nice but always crowded.

Aurole was quite a dining experince, this was the first time I'd spent $225 for a meal for 2. Vegas has lots of fine dining experinces though. Mandalay Bay we've liked most the restaurants there.

The Robinsons/May in Henderson across from Sunset Station, has been very good for me to buy clothes. She does fairly well too. Surprising to think I go to Vegas for clothes shopping.

SoCalSC4

Vegas is a pretty cool choice. I actually like staying at the Luxor because it's cheap and fairly close to my favorite Vagas spots; Mandalay Bay (Aureole http://www.aureolelv.com/, Rum Jungle) is just across the enclosed mall walkway, New York new York is two hotels away (Piano Bar aka The Bar at Times Square and the roller coaster), MGM Grand is local (Studio 54), etc.

Also, check out Wynn, Steve Wynn's new hotel. Good shopping, Ferrari dealership, etc.
I also like dinig at Smith and Wollensky (http://www.smithandwollensky.com/ right across from Monte Carlo. You can easily walk back to Luxor, or a cab ride is cheap. When in Vegas, I park the car at the hotel garage and use cabs- no need for a DUI in ANY town!

You mentioned the G/F does not like cold... Vegas is 'the desert,' and be assured it does get COLD there at night this time of year. That's what's tricky about Vegas- I don't want to wear a jacket all day, but if you don't have one at night... yeesh!

Leets

Ah yes, Cambria... that is quite an excellent weekend destination. We stopped there for a minute on our last trip up to Monterey. We were thinking about staying up there, but that'll have to wait for one of those "I need to go away and rest" trips. It's an incredibly beautiful area, but a bit too laid-back for this trip. We're both desperatley trying to hold onto our youth and need a weekend of reckless abandon to get us out of the working man's slump.

... Cambria will be for the weekend after Vegas when we realize we're not as young as we used to be.