Amy Shey Jacobs and Andrew Jacobs were wed on July 14 in Maplewood, New Jersey, before taking off for the Pacific Coast Highway.
Honeymoon Details
Amy and Andrew spent two weeks touring the California coastline, mostly along the dramatic Pacific Coast Highway, in a jaunty convertible. With a few days in San Francisco, the trek began on an urban note before the newlyweds headed north to enjoy some wine country decadence. Then they traveled back along the coast to Carmel-by-the-Sea, to spend a couple of days in ruggedly beautiful Big Sur. San Luis Obispo was the next stop, standing in sharp contrast to Santa Barbara, the next destination (not to mention an elegant retreat of the rich and famous). “By the twelfth day of our honeymoon,” says Amy, “we were ready for some ‘reality.'” The couple stayed in Santa Monica and explored Los Angeles for their last few days.
Why They Chose It
Says Amy about their adventure, “It was a joint decision — and somewhat serendipitous.” California’s coastline combined the best of what Amy wanted (sightseeing, wining and dining, and romance) and what Andrew wanted (an extended road trip with tunes on the stereo and majestic scenery rolling past).
Where They Stayed
In San Francisco, the couple chose the Savoy Hotel in Union Square. The hotel was lovely and the newlyweds’ room was huge, but Amy liked the looks of the Hotel Monaco and has plans to stay there on their return trip. In wine country, an “adorable” bed and breakfast, the Hennessey House, served up the Fox’s Den accommodations — an entire carriage house with private patio. And the Best Western Carmel Bayview Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, set in a fabulous location, indeed offered wonderful views of the Bay.
A friend’s recommendation led Amy and Andrew to Lucia Lodge in Big Sur, which turned into one of the highlights of the trip. The cottages, perched 300 feet above the sea in the middle of nowhere, were, says Amy, “quaint, cozy, and ultra romantic.” The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo (the “kitsch capital of the California coastline”) has 109 funky, themed rooms to choose from: the “Caveman Room,” believe it or not, was the one Amy and Andrew selected. In Santa Barbara at the Montecito Inn (built by Charlie Chaplin in the ’30s as a haven for movie stars needing to go get away), says Amy, “they almost had to chase us out of our gorgeous room with a cattle prod.” The couple’s last hotel before heading back to New York, the Loews Santa Monica, was the perfect, luxurious spot for sipping pina coladas poolside in the sun.
What They Did
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The couple’s activities changed with the scenery, but certain things — great restaurants, a relaxed pace — never changed. In San Francisco, they explored the city from their convertible, checked out Sausalito and Muir Woods, and settled into their honeymoon routine. In Wine Country, they dined at world-class restaurants (taking in the 11-course, five-hour Epicurean Menu at Auberge du Soleil), and toured the Niebaum-Coppola, Cakebread, and Ravenswood vineyards. “We served Ravenswood red zin at our wedding,” reports Amy, “so we had to check it out.” At the Ventana Inn & Spa in Carmel, Amy opted for a massage. In Big Sur, Hearst Castle (“a beautiful place that makes you want to earn lots of money!” she says) was a big hit. And then it was back to big-city pleasures as the couple enjoyed L.A., exploring Rodeo Drive and taking in some nightlife at model-and-actress hangout Skybar on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.
The Best Parts
“The road trip was an amazing element,” says Amy. So were the tunes: “We had a soundtrack to our honeymoon, and when we hear certain songs today they conjure up images of different places we fell in love with along the way.” Andrew says, “If I had to name only one moment, it would be when we came around a bend on the Pacific Coast Highway with the sun streaming through deep green trees, and Cat Stevens was on a CD, and I happened to notice that it wasn’t my girlfriend, but my wife sitting next to me.”
The Biggest Regret
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“We would not trade our honeymoon for anything. In fact, we can’t wait to go back,” Amy says. But she admits that a more luxurious hotel in San Francisco, one with all the bells and whistles, would have been a better choice for their first nights of wedded bliss. Andrew adds, “L.A. is not a cool honeymoon spot. It may be a fun vacation, but it’s too distracting for a honeymoon.”
— Lisa Carse
For fun facts about this honeymoon, see right-hand column of this page.
