Okay, it's time for a mini-vacation…

Every issue of Life’s a Beach House gives you all inspiration (and excuses) you need to plan your next vacation in beach house, cottage or condo on or near the beach. It’s also fun to just live vicariously. This is the place to read out my latest “finds,” get personal recommendations from vacation rental owners, meet local rental managers who do a fabulous job.

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Ready to get some sand between your toes?

Off-Season Romance on the California Coast

• 3 Themes (and Rentals) Perfect for a Romantic Vacation Getaway

• Advice For Renewing Your Vows

• Next Month: Gulf Gold

And who couldn’t use a little magic in their life right about now?

The “off” season has always been one of my favorites. The crowds are gone. The weather is still good—or great. You won’t have to wait for a good seat in the best restaurant. And prices are lower, sometimes half of high-season highs. What’s not to love?

So when California vacation rental managers and owners tell me the phone virtually stops ringing in October, I scratch my head. If you know the California coast, you know balmy October days are some of the nicest of the year. Far superior to the “May gray” and “June gloom” that ushers in the high season.

The January day I spent exploring Pacific Grove and Monterey after my night at Sanctuary by the Sea Pacific Grove was one of the prettiest I can remember there. I know, it could just as easily have been raining. And call me crazy, but I love the drama of a winter storm on the ocean -- especially when I can cozy up to a fire with someone I love.

When I asked my Facebook friends what makes a “romantic” getaway, the answers included “The linens!” a “king-sized bed facing the ocean” and “a secluded, peaceful hot tub”. In other words, even if the weather is unpredictable, all the elements you need to reconnect are a sure thing in the off-season.

Especially in the off-season.

And especially at a vacation rental home, where the neighbors’ antics on the other side of the wall won’t intrude on your world and housekeeping come knocking at 9 a.m. So here are…

3 Themes (and 3 Great Rentals)For an Off-Season Romantic Getaway …

Just uphill from the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, Sanctuary by the Sea Pacific Grove wraps you in an end-to-end bay view from -- Lovers Point to Monterey -- across a collage of flower-decked roofs and cypress trees. Add luxe amenities and spa services -- from a chef’s kitchen to a concierge on call.

Knowing the power of place on the spirit, owners David and Annee -- an architect and professional chef/innkeeper-turned-interior designer/Realtor -- created a true sanctuary “to bring you home to yourself.” Sanctuary by the Sea Pacific Grove has soaring ceilings and simple lines are punctuated by Balinese wood carvings and potted orchids.

You’ll be welcomed like visiting friends, with Annee’s signature sun-dried tomato pesto torta and bottle of local wine. Here are some of Annee’s personal recommendations for a romantic weekend.

“Sunsets are amazing….

Begin your evening with a stroll along the shoreline toward Lovers Point. Bring a bottle of wine and sit on a bench along the way or in one of the private coves.

Or drive to Asilomar Beach. Walk to the end where you can step on the boardwalk and walk through the dunes and golf course to The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. (It’s a seven-minute walk from the ocean). A bagpiper plays every night for an hour before sunset. There are lots of fire pits and blankets are provided. Watch the sunset -- and then stay while the stars start to appear in sky. It’s magical!

My favorite romantic restaurants …

1. Fifi’s
Sunday through Thursday you can order a selected entrée plus two of additions (soup, salad, duck pâté, dessert or a half bottle of house wine) for $25.

2. Bistro Moulin
Rustic and intimate, this is the quintessential French bistro with room for only 26 diners. The spinach gnocchi is a favorite and you can buy specialty oils and seasonings for your own creations.

3. Fandango This is one on my favorite restaurants—very romantic, great food and ambiance. Ask for a table near the fire (two rooms have fireplaces).

The big splurge …
Your complimentary passes from Sanctuary by the Sea Pacific give you free access to the pool, hot tub and steam room and gym at Spa on the Plaza in Monterey. But why not splurge on a side-by-side couple’s massage?

The Buddha’s creator, Diana, is a massage therapist and astrologer. She can call in a colleague for your side-by-side massage by the fire and follow up with a personalized couple’s compatibility astrology reading, charting the strengths and challenges of your relationship and your forecast for 2010.

And, if that sounds too airy-fairy? Forget about it -- and just enjoy a romantic retreat. The Laughing Buddha treats you to a Tempurpedic mattress, Egyptian bath towels and a hot tub. And check off these little luxuries you’d expect at a boutique hotel:

• Bathrobes (on request)

• Organic French lavender shampoo, bath salts and oils

• Freshly ground coffee and assorted teas, soy milk

• 300 thread-count cotton sheets (request organic sheets, if you like)

• Down pillows and comforters

• Dacron or hypoallergenic pillows and comforters upon request

The Buddha is a short walk from a gem of a beach the rest of the world hasn’t discovered. As your host, Diana is thrilled to point you toward premier California Central Coast wineries in Edna Valley and coastal hikes to panoramic views.

3. JUST THE TWO OF US
The Cove, The Sea Ranch

Here in your own private cove, you’re 50 yards away from your nearest neighbor. Slip into the hot tub on the deck and then under the cozy down comforter for the best night’s sleep you’ve had in a while.

From January through April, you’re likely to spy California gray whales and their calves migrating from the lagoons of Baja to Alaska. From March through June, harbor seals give birth in the cove right below the house!

The Cove would be an ideal place to get engaged. Celebrate at The Sea Ranch Lodge, a highly rated, restaurant with superb ocean views. Then, return to the private, non-denominational chapel -- just off of Highway 1 in the heart of The Sea Ranch—when you’re ready to say your vows.

Why Not Renew Your Vows?

“Renewals do not have the cost attached to a wedding and the occasion can be a beautiful celebration, which might include children, family and friends. If the celebration is an anniversary, part of the event could be a simple speaking of re-commitment vows and another “first dance” by the couple. It’s easy to incorporate a ceremony for renewing your vows into a family get-together.”

More about Joan Burns event planning.

Next Month: Gulf Gold

Keep your flip-flops handy because next month we visit Florida’s Gulf Coast.

I’ll introduce you to some special vacation rental homes and management companies from laidback Fort Myers Beach to the luscious white sand and sunsets of Destin.

And if you love great kayaking and wildlife, you’ll love some of the hidden treasures I found in between.

Comments? Feedback? Your own recommendation for a romantic vacation rental?