My idea of the perfect spot for a romantic getaway is quiet, with lots of time for holding hands, watching the sunset, flirting over a scrumptious dinner and time for a little afternoon delight. The places on this list were chosen with this in mind.
Ideas for a Romantic Weekend Getaway in California
Big Sur: Crashing waves, sunsets and lodgings from cozy cottages to world-class hideaways.
Carmel: Its storybook architecture may inspire your own romantic story. Walk on the beach, stroll through town, cuddle at sunset.
Catalina Island: With a cute, walkable downtown, beautiful ocean views, cozy bed and breakfasts and the amazing Inn on Mt Ada, it’s our top pick for a romantic getaway.
La Jolla: One of the most beautiful coastal settings in Southern California, fine restaurants and a romantic cliffside walking path give La Jolla all the ingredients for a perfect getaway – just add you sweetie.
Laguna Beach: Stay in a hotel on the beach, watch the sunset and fall asleep counting wave crashes instead of sheep.
Malibu: All those gorgeous beaches provide plenty of places for a romantic stroll.
Mendocino: Wild scenery, charming accommodations and lots of time (and places) to gaze into each others’ eyes in front of a roaring fireplace.
Napa Valley: Besides the obvious wine and food-related activities, you can have fun getting muddy (with or without the kids).
Occidental: Occidental has it all: a sensational spa nearby, a cute little downtown tailor-made for strolling hand-in-hand and an exquisitely beautiful bed and breakfast hotel.
Ojai: Cuddle like kittens in this cute little nest in the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Pebble Beach: California’s best coastal scenery… beachcombing… and a bagpiper at sunset.
Santa Barbara: Movie stars have been planning romantic trysts here (on and off screen) for almost a century and it’s easy to understand why.
Santa Ynez Valley: Stay in tiny Los Olivos, go wine tasting in town, take a little stroll and go to bed early.
Big Sur, California Weekend Getaway
Plan a Weekend Getaway in Big Sur, California
Big Sur, California, is a place defined by its natural features – mountains and water. Here at the edge of the continent, mountains plunge into the sea with little regard for the tiny ribbon of highway that clings tenuously to the slopes or the thousands of tourists clustered at every turn, taking photographs and chattering about the views.
Looking up on a clear, Big Sur night, it seems that someone
imported extra stars and scattered them across the sky until Orion almost disappears, wrapped in a twinkling blanket. In the day, the ocean is the star of the show, with crashing waves and sweeping vistas that end only at the horizon.
You most likely saw news coverage of the Big Sur wildfires in 2008, but thanks to the efforts of the firefighters, the scenic areas along the coast were spared, and the most you will see during a drive along Hwy 1 is a few fire-blackened hillsides.
You can plan your Big Sur weekend getaway using the resources below.
Scenes from Big Sur
Enjoy some of our best shots in this Big Sur Photo Tour
Why Should You Go? Will You Like Big Sur?
Big Sur is a good place to get away from it all, popular for relaxing and romantic getaways, and with those who love natural beauty and its unique beaches.
See what other visitors think about Big Sur
Best Time to Go to Big Sur
Big Sur weather is best spring
to fall, but the coast may be shrouded in fog during mid-summer.
5 Great Things to Do in Big Sur
Take a drive on Highway One: It’s great in both directions: south toward Hearst Castle or north toward Monterey. Just be careful you don’t get so lost in the view that you have an accident.
Point Sur Lighthouse: This beautifully sited lighthouse just north of Big Sur has an interesting history.
Pfeiffer Beach: It would be very easy to drive right past the road leading to this beach, but you’ll be glad we told you about this unspoiled spot with its unique purple sand.
Rest and Relax: If you’re looking for relaxation, try the spa at Ventana Inn, or Post Ranch Inn. Or spend the weekend relaxing with a workshop at the Esalen Institute. Esalen Hot Springs’ relaxing, natural waters are also open to the general public (reservation only, 831-667-3047) from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Lunch at Nepenthe: This charming spot is a great spot to linger over lunch and enjoy the view.
Isn’t It Romantic?
Big Sur’s ocean views and sunsets are enough to bring out the romantic in most of us, but if you or your honey need another nudge, try Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn for cozy cottages or Ventana Inn for woodsy rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and private decks. For a big splurge, you can’t beat the Post Ranch Inn.
Annual Events You Should Know About
The Big Sur Marathon: You may not want to run 26 miles, but you do need to know that this race, held in late April, closes Highway One for almost half a day.
Tips for Visiting Big Sur
If you are only driving one direction through Big Sur and you have flexibility to choose which one, try to do it from south to north. The skies will appear clearer and you’ll be on the inside of the curves.
If you or anyone in your vehicle is prone to motion sickness, bring your favorite remedies or let them drive.
This is not a place to try to find a hotel room as you go. Reserve ahead or you end up like I did once, unable to find a place to stay.
Best Bites
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. If you’re headed north on your way home, try the Sunday brunch at Mission Ranch in Carmel. With live jazz music playing and pastoral views, this place could get you so relaxed that you won’t be able to leave.
Getting There
Big Sur is 140 miles from San Francisco, 100 miles from San Jose, 218 miles from Sacramento, 310 miles from Los Angeles, 212 miles from Bakersfield. Find out how far Big Sur is from other California places.
Catalina Island Weekend Getaway
Plan Your Escape – Quick and Easy
California’s only coastal island retreat is a short trip away from Los Angeles and part of the same county, but it’s surprisingly different from its mainland counterpart. Most of its land is preserved as a nature conservancy, surrounding the small town of Avalon where about 3,000 people live. Avalon is a small, walkable town centered on the small boat harbor and waterfront, with enough hotels, restaurants
and activities to keep visitors happy.
You can plan your Catalina day trip or weekend getaway using the resources below.
Scenes from Catalina Island
Enjoy some of our best shots in this Catalina Island Photo Tour
Why Should You Go? Will You Like Catalina Island?
Catalina is a cute place that’s popular with scuba divers, hikers, families and anyone who needs to get away from the city or wants to take a romantic escape.
See how other California for Visitors readers rate Catalina
Best Time to Go to Catalina Island
Catalina weather is best in spring and fall. Summer days can be overcast until noon or later. In winter, storms can make the ferry ride unbearably choppy.
It’s busiest during summer, and during big events like the marathon and jazz festival. See the list below.
Cruise ships stop in Catalina several days a week, temporarily filling the town with visitors. If you want to avoid them, check the cruise ship schedule.
Don’t Miss
If you’ve only got a day, your best bet is to hang around town in Avalon.
Take a short city tour if you want to learn more about the place. Walk along the waterfront. Sit and watch the people or do a little shopping.
More Great Things to Do in Catalina
If you want the short list, try the best things to do in Catalina
If that’s not enough, browse through 101 Things to Do in Catalina
Isn’t It Romantic?
Most romantic thing to do? Just walk along the waterfront, hand-in-hand.
Annual Events You Should Know About
Catalina Marathon, March: Even if you’re not running, you should know about it because the hotels fill up.
Flying Fish Festival, end of May
Jazztrax Jazz Festival, October
Catalina Triathlon, November
If you’re looking for everything that might be going on while you’re there, check the Chamber of Commerce calendar.
Tips for Visiting Catalina
Plan ahead. Hotels fill up early during busy times and so do the most convenient ferry runs.
You can take your pets on the Catalina ferry boats, but dogs must have a muzzle. However, pet friendly lodging is in short supply and canine friends are not allowed on the waterfront walk between Metropole and Clarissa Avenues.
It costs a lot to get things to the island. Expect to pay 15% to 20% more for everything than you do on the mainland.
If you have an option, schedule tours in late morning or afternoon. You’ll have the best chance of clear skies then.
If you have humidity-sensitive, frizzy hair like mine, bring your strongest defenses. Or a hat. Or a razor in case things get really bad.
Best Bites
We like the Bluewater Grill’s patio for a sun-drenched lunch. For other meals, Avalon is small, making it easy to just walk around and pick something that looks good. Our rule of thumb: The more people inside the better.
Where to Stay Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds. This is not a place to arrive in without a reserved place to stay. Not only do the hotels get filled up, but if you arrive without a reservation and can’t find a place, you might not be able to find room on the boat back to the mainland, either.
Getting Around
Avalon is small and fun to walk in, but if you need transportation, here are some options:
Avalon Trolley: Runs from Pebbly Beach or Descanso Beach to the Botanical Garden, daily in summer, weekends and cruise ship days the rest of the year.
Golf Cart Rentals: Rent by the hour, near the ferry terminal and in town.
Getaway to Laguna Beach
How to Spend a Day or a Weekend at Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is perhaps Orange County’s least-overdeveloped beach town and one of its prettiest. Created as an artist’s getaway, Laguna Beach retains an artistic, with nice galleries and some fun summer arts festivals. You’ll find great beach atmosphere in Laguna, too.
You can plan your Laguna Beach day trip or weekend getaway using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like Laguna Beach?
If you’re a shopper, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained in Laguna Beach. The streets are lined with clothing boutiques, jewelry stores, art galleries and shops selling decorative items. A few t-shirt and souvenir shops mix in, but don’t dominate. Its seaside location sets the mood for romance.
Laguna Beach can also keep you busy for a weekend if you go during the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters (July through September) or for the alternative art fair, the Sawdust Festival (late June through late August).
Best Time to Go to Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is great almost any time of year, but like most of the California coast is susceptible to “June gloom,” when, like a cranky child, the sun may refuse to come out for days on end. During the summer and especially during the arts festivals, it can get very crowded.
Don’t Miss
If you’ve only got a day, take a walk on Main Beach and browse through some of the shops.
More Great Things to Do in Laguna Beach
Shopping: The walkable downtown part of Laguna Beach extends along Forest Avenue and Coast Highway. You’ll find art galleries, clothing shops and local boutiques offering all kinds of wares.
Sherman Library and Gardens: Don’t let the name fool you – it has more plants than books. Located a little north in Newport Beach, this little jewel box of a garden is the perfect place for a relaxing stroll.
Take a Walking Tour: Pick up a brochure at the Visitors Center (252 Broadway) for a self-guided walking tour of the bungalows, cottages and historic homes built by the early residents.
Take to the Water: Take a surfing lesson and feel like a real surfer dude or dudette in no time. A kayak tour is also a great way to enjoy the Laguna Beach shoreline without getting wet.
Laguna Playhouse: This repertory company stages a variety of works, including some local and world premieres and productions which have won award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
Laguna Beach is a lovely spot to base your weekend getaway, but depending on how active you want to be, you may have to mix in a few activities in nearby Newport Beach or Dana Point.
Isn’t It Romantic?
If you find the sound of crashing waves an aphrodisiac, Laguna Beach has more nice hotels close to the beach than anywhere else in southern California.
Annual Events You Should Know About
Besides the Festival of Arts, Pageant of the Masters and Sawdust Festival mentioned above, the Doheny Blues Festival, held in mid-May features singers such as Bonnie Raitt and the Tall Ships Festival happens in September. Both are in Dana Point, just down the road.
Tips for Visiting Laguna Beach
Parking is limited and Laguna Beach is very popular. Get there early, bring quarters for the parking meters or use the public change machines on the busier streets. Most meters have a two-hour limit. Public parking lots are on Forest Avenue next to City Hall, at Forest and Broadway and at 400 Glenneyre.
On busy days, traffic backs up along Coast Highway. Instead of inching along being frustrated, think about stopping somewhere, parking and going to the beach. If you’re south of town, try going a block uphill and following a street parallel to Coast Highway.
During the summer art festivals, the city operates free shuttles from the Act V Parking Lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road. They also run along Pacific Coast Highway, making it easy to get around without having to drive yourself around.
You’ll find public restrooms at the beach, but they’re often busy. Instead of joining the queue, walk up Forest Avenue, where you’ll find signs directing you to a couple of places to “go.”
If you bring your four-legged friend with you to Laguna Beach, know the rules. Dogs are not allowed on any beach from June 1 through September 15 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The rest of the year, they have to be on a leash.
Best Bites
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. Las Brisas Mexican restaurant (361 Cliff Drive) was voted among the best places for breakfast by Citysearch readers in 2022. Zinc Cafe at 350 Ocean Ave serves a nice selection of organic foods and The Cottage (308 N Coast Hwy) has been a local favorite since 1917.
Where to Stay
Laguna Beach has southern California’s highest concentration of beach hotels. Casa Laguna Inn and Sunset Cove Villas earned some of our highest ratings and either one makes a great place for a relaxing getaway. For more ideas, check our recommended hotels and campgrounds. In summer, choose a hotel on the free shuttle route, use it to get around and you may not have to move your car until you’re ready to go home.
Getting To Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is 80 miles from San Diego, 167 miles from Bakersfield and 274 miles from Fresno.