Urban Excitement
If the bright lights and excitement of the big city are what fuels your passion, get ready for non-stop everything. California’s iconic urban centers are filled with unrivaled adventures to inspire and delight. Everything from accommodations offering gorgeous views of San Francisco Bay to under-the-radar LA restaurants favored by celebrities are on the menu during your special time together here.You’ll of course want to stay somewhere memorable, a place that oozes style and makes a perfect haven for you both. Examples abound but could include San Francisco’s design diva Clift Hotel, just off of Union Square or the Old World elegance of The Huntington Hotel perched on tony Nob Hill. For activities, there truly is nothing as OMG as a cable car ride down Powell Street hugging your mate on a brisk SF evening. Looking for something a little more high-flying? How about taking in San Francisco’s iconic sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz from your own chartered helicopter. Bay area companies like Bay Aerial Helicopter will make sure you get breath-taking bird’s eye views you’ll never forget.
In LA, you want to ride in style, so how about ditching the normal rental wheels and opting for an Audi A4 instead. And forget lines, your Silvercar rental experience is all handled through a smartphone app. Keep the flow going through the storied canals of Venice – on a standup paddleboard no less – followed by a romantic dinner on a guided tour led by LA Surf and Swim. Tres LA.
From the beaches of Mission Bay to downtown’s Gaslamp district, San Diego rolls out the red carpet for romantics in sun-drenched style. Enjoy a culinary crawl through the historic Gaslamp discovering everything from tapas to Thai, enjoy a bike ride together along the beachfront boardwalk and when the day is done, drink in the sunset 22 floors above the city from the tallest open-air rooftop lounge on the West Coast at the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter’s Altitude Sky Lounge.
Coastal Escapes
With over 1,200 miles of coastline to enjoy, a romantic escape to California’s beaches and bays is a sure-fire way to heat up a romance or celebrate your new life together. The choices are almost as endless as the curves on the storied 17-Mile Drive that winds between the sea and redwoods south of Monterey.In Northern California, towering redwoods and sea pines cling to coastal bluffs and craggy cliffs as waves boom below. Here you can retreat with that someone special to cozy hideaways such as the Redwood Coast’s Turtle Rocks Inn in Humboldt County. Guestrooms have spectacular ocean views and private decks where you can toast each other, serenaded by the barking sea lions below. Great for active travelers, you can hike oceanfront trails through redwoods, have a sunset dinner after a boat tour of the Klamath River or visit the village of Trinidad with its rustic collection of small galleries, shops and working pier.
Farther south in Mendocino, enjoy craft beer and artisanal wine tastings and the chance to chat with local producers during tours at venues like Navarro Vineyards and Mendocino Brewing Company (by appointment). Pair tastings with a fine dining experience at any of an amazing array of intimate, inviting restaurants – many located in historic former homes — such as MacCallum House Restaurant and Café Beaujolais. In storied Big Sur, crashing waves, star-filled nights and award-winning dining set the stage at the Post Ranch Inn. Honeymooners here enjoy special packages that include a couple’s spa treatment and four-course dinner at the celebrated Sierra Mar restaurant.
Mix the sophistication of the city with postcard-perfect views of Santa Monica Bay framed by palm trees atHotel Casa Del Mar. Adorned with a graceful elegance of a bygone era, you’ll find that the historic Casa del Mar is still tryst-worthy for modern couples with modern amenities like its airy, ocean-view suites, celebrated Coast restaurant and pampering couples’ massages offered in a poolside cabana. Laguna Beach celebrates sun and fun, so this is where to escape the chill and heat things up between you and yours. Get active with a couples’ surf class offered by your surf butler at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. Later, stroll past Laguna’s boutiques and art galleries, then walk over to Main Beach to enjoy the best show in town – the spectacular sunset.
Wine Country
If your idea of the perfect escape with that special someone is food, wine and fabulous, set your sights on any of California’s fabled wine regions. From northern appellations like the Anderson Valley to San Diego’s neighboring Temecula Valley, each serves up an amazing array of experiences as distinct as its varietals and the local culinary scene. Of course everyone knows California’s most renowned wine country: Napa and Sonoma, which overflow with options that include tastings at top-shelf wineries such as Schramsberg Vineyards and California’s oldest commercial winery, Buena Vista Carneros. You can also try your hand together at a “crush camp” like the one offered at the Sonoma County Grape Camp where the two of you get to play winemakers for a few days and harvest, sample and even blend your own wine. Of course no wine experience is complete without culinary pairings, and your only problem will be choosing where to start. Some top choices for memorable dining experiences to start your new life together include legendary Napa restaurants and bistros like the French Laundry and Bistro Jeanty.Just as appealing but more off the radar, The Central Coast’s wine country rewards with intoxicating views of rolling, oak-studded hills and rows of vineyards climbing shady slopes. Stretching from Monterey to Santa Barbara, the region made famous by the film Sideways delivers stand-out experiences like romantic drives on winding, tree-shaded lanes, vineyard picnics and a wide variety of wine tasting opportunities ranging from the woodsy, 300 acres of Rancho Sisquoc Winery to the only-in-California urban tasting experience in Santa Barbara’s beachside Funk Zone neighborhood.
Other stays tailor-made for couples include special packages at Paso Robles’ JUST Inn featuring use of a Jacuzzi spa and a complementary bottle of the Justin Winery’s award-winning wine, and the charming Ballard Inn & Restaurant where the romance “add-on” includes turndown service with rose petals, sparkling wine and chocolate all in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country. Southern California’s Temecula Creek Inn is ideally located near local wineries and offers special couple’s packages such as their Chauffeured Wine Country Package that includes wine tasting, picnic lunch, deluxe accommodations and a chauffeured limousine eliminating the need for a designated driver.
Discreet Retreats
Maybe the two of you just need to get lost together. California will be your more than willing accomplice to help you two find that special place and make it your own. Fueled with a history of speakeasies and Rat Pack cool, the Colony Palms Hotel meshes a Spanish Mediterranean aesthetic with completely fresh attitude enhanced by touches like chocolate covered strawberries and champagne waiting for you on arrival. Or find a secluded hideaway in the elegant suites, swim-with-celebrities pool, manicured croquet grounds and aah-inspiring Palm Springs Yacht Club spa at the Parker Palm Springs.And Hollywood might not be the first place you think of for discreet anything, but tucked above West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip amidst the excitement of clubs, top restaurants and A-lister shopping is the Euro-chic Petit Ermitage. Sexy poolside dining on a private deck with the city lights scattered below and cozy balcony suites make this the perfect Hollywood hideaway.
East of San Diego, go back to a simpler, more romantic era by enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride down Julian’s small and inviting Main Street, brimming with cozy cafes, galleries and boutiques. Or show your mate they’re the apple of your eye by going to one of the many you-pick orchards that bloom in town during late summer and fall. Accommodations here can be found in a wide selection of B&Bs that include historic Victorians like the Eaglenest Bed & Breakfast, which offer couple’s specials that include champagne, in-room massage and hour-long carriage ride.
Northern California abounds with secluded retreats perfect for couples, such as Napa Valley’s Auberge du Soleil. For three decades, the resort has transported lovers to the South of France without the jetlag thanks to a secluded location and luxe amenities that include spacious suites with private terraces, a celebrated spa and Michelin-star dining. Couples packages here include a six-course Chef’s Tasting Menu dinner for two and romantic turn-down service featuring votive candles and a lit fireplace waiting for your return.
Outdoors & Adventure
California is definitely the place for you if the other love of your life is the great outdoors. Mountains, desert, oceans and islands — it’s all here, so get ready to go explore with your partner. Lake Tahoe, America’s largest alpine lake, offers almost unlimited adventures that span the seasons. Winter getaways offer world-class skiing, boarding and snowshoeing at a variety of mountain resorts for all levels including Heavenly, Northstar, Squaw Valley and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Après ski, take a spin together on the ice rink in the center of Northstar Village or dine on chef-driven cuisine at trendy PlumpJack Café in Squaw Valley. Warmer seasons offer lots of opportunities for exploring together too, including miles of mountain bike trails, guided hikes and sailboat charters. Or get the big picture of this sapphire blue lake and the ultimate couples’ selfie via a hot-air balloon flight thousands of feet over Lake Tahoe that finishes with a champagne toast.Yosemite remains a classic adventure destination because of its iconic vistas, incredible array of activities ranging from bike tours to photo safaris and accommodations for every budget. Your options here can include everything from a scenic campsite on the Valley floor to a plush stay in the Four-Diamond historic Ahwahnee Hotel which offers special packages for nesting couples.
If you like your adventures on the wet and wild side, Catalina Island, located 26 miles off of LA’s Palos Verdes Peninsula, offers surf and turf options that range from a network of mountain bike and hiking trails that criss-cross the island to every watersport imaginable. From taking a guided snorkel tour together (Lover’s Cove seems appropriate) to sunset sails, Catalina has whatever floats your boat. Onshore, check-out out Avalon’s boutiques and galleries cruising the streets in a golf-cart, take a tour to the wild windward side to see the island’s famed bison, or stake your spot in paradise in a private cabana at Descanso Beach Club. Accommodations here include a wide array of inviting B&B’s such as the Four-Star Inn on Mt. Ada, the former Wrigley estate and home to some of the best views on the island.
Source:- Visit California
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