WHERE TO STAY

Green Gables Inn 104 Fifth St., Pacific Grove; 800/722-1774 or 831/375-2095, fax 831/375-5437; doubles from $150. This multigabled oceanfront ²ueen Anne is a white-and-green historic landmark with 11 rooms and panoramic ocean views.

Centrella Inn 612 Central Ave., Pacific Grove; 800/233-3372 or 831/372-3372, fax 831/372-2036; doubles from $119. Nine of the 26 rooms at the Centrella have claw-foot tubs. The five cottages in secluded gardens are especially lovely.

Seven Gables Inn 555 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove; 831/372-4341; doubles from $165. You'll have perfect views of the sheltered beaches at Monterey Bay and Lover's Point. All 14 rooms are furnished with antiques.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa 400 Cannery Row, Monterey; 800/334-3999 or 831/646-1700, fax 831/656-0439; doubles from $235. This Mediterranean villaÐstyle hotel is a world away from the honky-tonk kitsch of its Cannery Row location, and the place to stay if you're looking for a romantic splurge.

Best Western The Beach Resort 2600 Sand Dunes Dr., Monterey; 800/242-8627 or 831/394-3321, fax 831/393-1912; doubles from $169. Simple, yes, but it does have a great waterfront location.

Pine Inn Ocean and Lincoln Aves., Carmel; 831/624-3851 or 800/228-3851, fax 831/624- 3030; doubles from $105. Carmel's first inn opened in 1889 and remains a favorite for weekenders who relish the Victorian period details.

Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Hwy. 1, Big Sur; 831/667-2377; doubles from $90. Deetjen's hits the perfect pitch of rustic comfort. The tiny cabins seem more like tree houses than part of an inn—some even have shared bathrooms—but they make for a funky resting spot.