Picture a weekend touring museums, walking along the beach, and browsing through eclectic shops and galleries. Add to that, romantic accommodations and luxurious amenities at a top bed and breakfast. Well, Los Angeles-area residents don’t have to hassle with a plane flight and rental car to enjoy a fantastic getaway; these special California bed and breakfasts offer nearby accommodations surrounded by fantastic attractions.

Escape to the Beach for a Romantic Retreat

Spend a restful weekend at the beach and the Channel Road Inn. Located in Santa Monica, this Los Angeles bed and breakfast is close to all the beach attractions and just a short drive from posh shops and museums in the city. You can borrow the innkeepers’ bicycles or head off on foot to explore Santa Monica with its boardwalk, quirky shops, galleries and restaurants. The inn offers 15 posh rooms, each individually decorated. Many include a fireplace and jetted spa tub, and some offer ocean views. Guests are pampered with full breakfasts, afternoon wine and treats and freshly baked cookies.

Seaside Harbor Town Offers Something for Everyone

While nearby Laguna Beach often grabs all the press, the town of Dana Point has much to offer those seeking a great weekend getaway. The Blue Lantern Inn, perched on a bluff overlooking the Dana Point Harbor, is halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles and just a few minutes from the famous galleries, shops and boardwalk of Laguna. The inn offers beautifully decorated guest rooms, each with a fireplace and whirlpool tub. Several rooms offer a view of the harbor and coastline. There are several popular restaurants within walking distance, and guests can spend the day soaking up the rays at famous Doheny Beach or perhaps enjoying a whale watching excursion.

Historic Claremont Village is a Charming Getaway

Claremont Village has great historic California charm, just a few miles from the city in eastern Los Angeles County. You’ll find a weekly farmer’s market, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants, as well as a historic walking tour that begins at the picturesque train depot. Enjoy it all from Hotel Casa 425, a luxury boutique hotel with spacious, modern guest rooms. The hotel offers a fire-lit lounge, perfect for cocktails and appetizers. There is a fitness room and an outdoor living room with fountains and fire pits, where films often are shown.

Enjoy Moonlight in Monterey

Although Pacific Grove and the attractions of the Monterey Peninsula are a little farther down the road, they still offer a quick, less expensive and far more romantic alternative to a plane flight, rental car and a cookie-cutter hotel. Besides, the area is full of great attractions, spectacular scenery and wonderful bed and breakfasts. Picture a sunrise walk along the seashore, followed by a gourmet breakfast. Then enjoy a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or browse through shops in Carmel, or enjoy a round of golf at posh Pebble Beach.

Pacific Grove offers two great bed and breakfast options, both located in restored historic Victorian homes. The Gosby House, located a few blocks from the ocean, is a sunny yellow Italianate structure with 22 romantic guest rooms, several with fireplaces and two with a whirlpool tub. At the Green Gables Inn, you’ll find some of California’s best views, as well as sumptuous food and romantic accommodations all in a beautifully maintained Queen Anne Victorian. Each of the guest rooms features its own unique English Country dcor, and several have a fireplace or boast a wonderful sea view. The Carriage House Suite includes a fireplace and jetted spa tub. At both inns, guests are pampered with a full breakfast and wine and treats in the afternoons.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 3:19 am and is filed under Vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.