Romancing the Coast: Romantic Getaways Along the California Coast [Paperback]

Thomas C. Wilmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2005

Tucked away in verdant coastal canyons or nestled against the roaring Pacific, each one of these select vacation destinations offers the ideal California experience, enjoyed by stars and celebrities of every generation, including the same Montecito cottage John and Jackie Kennedy chose for their honeymoon in 1953. Romancing the Coast’s 68 ideal getaways range from urban luxury to rustic coastal charm. Descriptions include recommendations for spectacular wedding sites and honeymoon destinations, samplings of fine dining experiences, highlights of spa facilities and special services, tips on activities near each location, and notes on the unique characteristics and history of each fabulous locale.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas C. Wilmer is a travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications. He has been travel correspondent for NPR affiliate KCBX, and a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. Between travel adventures, he lives in Morro Bay, California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Manka’s Inverness Lodge 30 Callender Way Inverness, CA 94937 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] my first step into the main lodge, it was as though I’d been transported to an enchanting and calming woodland hideaway. Sally Dobbins, the soft spoken and infinitely gracious host, wasted no time in making me feel right at home. She greeted me with a cup of hot tea and offered a seat by the crackling fire in a cozy room filled with old hickory rockers; vintage fishing gear; and Louie, the lodge Labrador who was dozing sleepily on the plaid Craftsman couch. With Tomales Bay at its feet and the Pacific Ocean at its back, the main property is a small compound of eight rooms, a suite, two cabins, and a widely acclaimed restaurant. Down the road and on the bay you’ll find an extension of Manka’s offerings, including an 1850's cabin on a couple of acres at the water’s edge, a dramatic 1911 boathouse built over the water, and the intimate boatman's quarters above the boathouse. A centerpiece of Manka’s is the restaurant in the main lodge. Owner and Chef Margaret Gradé ­akes sure the daily changing menu offers fresh, locally grown fare from some of Manka’s closest neighbors, who offer fresh fruits and greens, olives, organic dairy and eggs, and much more. Among other courses, I feasted on a tender piece of lamb atop creamy herbed polenta. For dessert, a homemade caramel vanilla ice made with local coastal cream, complete with homemade oatmeal cookie still warm from the oven for dipping. Manka’s also serves up an impressive breakfast, though only to house guests. You can dine fireside in the parlor . . . .

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: RiverWood Books (April 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883991714
• ISBN-13: 978-1883991715
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb guide!, January 21, 2006

By 

Christopher Baker (West Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Romancing the Coast: Romantic Getaways Along the California Coast (Paperback)

The moment I opened this book I wanted to leap in my ragtop, pick up a lover, then drive up the coast and indulge in one of the gorgeous hotels. The eye-catching cover and lavish, crisp photographs are top-class and bespeak the quality of each hotel selected. Whether it's a sexily trendy city hotel, such as San Francisco's Argent Hotel, or Cambria's dreamily intimate Blue Whale Inn, Tom Wilmer has condensed California's most enchanting inns and resorts into a dream list to suit every mood and occasion.

Reviewed with a professional travel writer's discerning eye for detail, "Romancing the Coast" is also superbly written. Wilmer manages to magically capture the ambience and essence of each property--the mood, the setting, the dining experience--while treating his readers to intriguing anecdotal and historical snippets. Light-hearted yet authoritative, it's also a handily sized, flexible, compact guide that feels just right in one's hands (a bit like my lover).

Anyone wanting to savor the joy of intimacy with someone special--and somewhere special--should buy this book. Whatever your indulgence, it has the perfect recipe for the perfect fling up the coast!