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11 getaways · 22 hotels with a private tub · At a glance · FAQ
For a romantic getaway in California, couples head to Napa Valley for a balloon ride at sunrise, to Big Sur for 90 miles of cliff coast and to Palm Springs for mild winters in the desert. This guide covers 11 places across the state, among them Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara and Lake Tahoe. For each one you get what to do, when to go and hotels where the room has its own jacuzzi, whirlpool or hot tub.
| Getaway | Best for | Best time | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Napa Valley and Calistoga | Balloon rides, hot springs | Late summer and fall | About 1 hour from San Francisco |
| 2. Sonoma Valley | Historic plaza, wineries | Late September | 45 miles from San Francisco |
| 3. Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Monterey Peninsula | Storybook village, beach walks | Fall and winter | About 2.5 hours from San Francisco |
| 4. Big Sur | Cliff coast, waterfalls | December to April | 26 miles south of Carmel |
| 5. Santa Barbara | Spanish architecture, wine | Year round | 90 miles north of Los Angeles |
| 6. Lake Tahoe | Emerald Bay, mountain lake | Fall, or winter for snow | About 3.5 hours from the Bay Area |
| 7. Big Bear Lake | Fall color, skiing | Fall, or winter for snow | |
| 8. Palm Springs | Desert spas, mountain tram | Fall to spring | About 2 hours from Los Angeles |
| 9. Mendocino Coast (Mendocino and Fort Bragg) | Headland trails, redwood train | Winter | |
| 10. Pismo Beach and Avila Beach | Sunsets, monarchs | November to February | |
| 11. San Diego and Coronado | Island beach, sunset cliffs | December to April |
Visit Napa Valley calls the valley the ultimate destination for romance in any season, and its romance guide includes a hot-air balloon ride at sunrise. Calistoga, at the north end of the valley, has been a spa town since the 19th century, thanks to its hot springs. The Napa Inn is a Victorian B&B in downtown Napa, and its Roman Suite has a two-person jetted tub below a large stained-glass window. The Inn on Pine, in Calistoga, has rooms with a two-person whirlpool tub.
Romantic hotel with Jacuzzi suites, spa and massage service, 1 mile from the Wine Train and Oxbow Public Market. Full details about The Napa Inn
Serene inn with private whirlpool tubs, pool and free breakfast, surrounded by wineries, 5 miles from the Petrified Forest. Full details about The Inn on Pine
Sonoma Valley has more than 100 wineries, and the town of Sonoma is built around its historic plaza, with old adobe storefronts, tasting rooms, restaurants and galleries. Sonoma is also the birthplace of the California Bear Flag. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is in the Springs area, known for its natural underground hot springs, and its Mission Spa Suite has an oversized Jacuzzi soaking tub.
Refined Sonoma stay with hot tub in room, vaulted ceilings, balconies, and complimentary wine near Sonoma State Historic Park. Full details about Ledson Hotel
Romantic Sonoma retreat with in-room whirlpools, scenic grounds and spa, 1.3 miles from Sonoma Golf Club. Full details about Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Carmel-by-the-Sea calls itself a one-square-mile fairytale village, with a white-sand beach, galleries and tasting rooms all within walking distance of the inns. Its storybook cottages began with Hugh Comstock's Hansel and Gretel in the mid-1920s. Many rooms at Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge in Carmel have an oversized Jacuzzi tub, and Old Monterey Inn, a B&B in Monterey, has rooms with a marbled two-person jacuzzi tub.
Affordable luxury stay with ocean views, fireplaces, and private hot tubs, in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Full details about Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge
Tudor-style bed-and-breakfast with fireplaces, private Jacuzzi tubs, spa, and wine-and-cheese reception, near Fisherman’s Wharf. Full details about Old Monterey Inn
Big Sur is a 90-mile stretch of rugged coastline south of the Monterey Peninsula. Bixby Bridge has drawn visitors for more than 90 years, and at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay Falls drops 80 feet from granite cliffs into the ocean. Ventana Big Sur has suites with a private hot tub on the deck, and at Post Ranch Inn, the southern rooms of the Ocean House have an indoor spa tub.
Romantic resort with Japanese spa bath, private deck, wood-burning fireplace, in-room dining, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Full details about Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort
Adults-only Big Sur resort with private pool in room, spa, and yoga near Ventana Wilderness. Full details about Post Ranch Inn
Santa Barbara rebuilt in the Spanish Colonial Revival style after the 1925 earthquake, and that style gave the city its look. Many people call the Santa Barbara County Courthouse the country's most beautiful government building, and Stearns Wharf is California's oldest working wharf. Simpson House Inn has the Abbeywood Cottage, with a two-person whirlpool tub in a sunlit bay window over the gardens. Cheshire Cat Inn & Cottages has one Jacuzzi room, the Tweedledum Suite, and the Kingfisher cottage at Secret Garden Inn & Cottages opens onto a private redwood deck with a hot tub.
Hidden gem with free breakfast and an in-room spa tub, located 2 miles from Stearns Wharf. Full details about Simpson House Inn
Top-rated Victorian-style hotel with private spa tubs, gardens, fireplaces, and balconies, 2 miles from Stearns Wharf. Full details about Cheshire Cat Inn & Cottages
Secluded inn with private spa tubs, French dining, and massage services, mile from Old Mission Santa Barbara. Full details about Secret Garden Inn & Cottages
Emerald Bay, on Lake Tahoe, has a rugged shoreline and blue-green water, and it has been a National Natural Landmark since 1969. In South Lake Tahoe, the gondola at Heavenly Resort rides up to a panoramic view of the lake. At Cedar Glen Lodge in Tahoe Vista, on the north shore, some cottages have an air tub for two.
Eco-friendly North Lake Tahoe lodge with private Jacuzzis, cozy cabins, and serene mountain surroundings. Full details about Cedar Glen Lodge
Big Bear Lake is a mountain lake town in Southern California with something to do in all four seasons. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are two of the most popular winter recreation areas in Southern California, and in fall the streets of The Village are lined with red and yellow maples and oaks. Castle Wood Cottages has romantic theme cabins for two with a Jacuzzi tub and a fireplace, and Big Bear Spa Suites has four boutique suites with indoor jacuzzi tubs.
Romantic themed cottages with fireplaces, Jacuzzi in room, cozy décor, and enchanting details in Big Bear Lake. Full details about Castle Wood Cottages
Charming mountain spa suites with Jacuzzi in room, fireplaces, spacious living areas, and rustic details in Big Bear Lake. Full details about Big Bear Spa Suites
Greater Palm Springs is known for mild winters and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and its tourism office points couples to massages for two and soaks in the mineral hot springs of Desert Hot Springs. Palm Canyon, in the Indian Canyons on the ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, is one of the largest wild palm groves in the world. Sensei Porcupine Creek, an adults-only resort in Rancho Mirage, has four casitas with a private back patio and a heated spa, and every suite at Talavera Palm Springs has a private spa.
Jacuzzi on balconyAdults-only wellness retreat with Nobu dining, private spa tub, golf, tennis and serene estate, 2.8 miles from Sunnylands. Full details about Sensei Porcupine Creek
Historic boutique hotel with private jacuzzis, mountain-view pool, lush patios, steps from Downtown Palm Springs in the Tennis Club District. Full details about Talavera Palm Springs
Mendocino Headlands State Park wraps around the village of Mendocino on three sides, and miles of trails run along the cliffs with views of sea arches and hidden grottos. In nearby Fort Bragg, the Skunk Train has run through the redwood forests since 1885. Both stays are in Fort Bragg: North Cliff Hotel has ocean view suites with a jetted tub, and The Beachcomber Motel and Spa on the Beach has whirlpool tub rooms with a view.
Oceanview inn with Jacuzzi, gas fireplace, private balcony, and complimentary sparkling wine in select rooms. Full details about North Cliff Hotel
Oceanfront hotel with stunning views, free breakfast and Jacuzzi in-room, near Fort Bragg’s city center. Full details about The Beachcomber Motel and Spa on the Beach
Pismo Beach has about seven miles of oceanfront and is known for its sunsets, and its monarch grove is one of the largest Western monarch overwintering sites in California. Avila Beach has its own sunny, warm microclimate. Both stays are in Avila Beach: every room at Avila La Fonda Hotel has a two-person whirlpool tub, and Avila Village Inn has rooms with a private outdoor hot tub looking over Avila Valley.
Romantic Spanish-style boutique hotel with Jacuzzi in room, wine receptions, and 24-hour concierge and pantry service. Full details about Avila La Fonda Hotel
Hot tub on balconySecluded boutique inn with private balcony Jacuzzi tub overlooking Avila Valley, California king bed, and gas fireplace. Full details about Avila Village Inn
The San Diego Tourism Authority pitches Coronado, a ferry ride from downtown, for a romantic getaway, and Visit California sends couples to La Jolla for the sunset. In Point Loma, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park has 68 acres of carved bluffs, arches and sea caves. 1906 Lodge in Coronado has rooms with a huge in-room spa tub, and Old Town Inn, in Old Town San Diego, has hot tub suites.
Romantic retreat with Jacuzzi in rooms, flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and free parking, in Coronado, CA. Full details about 1906 Lodge
Family-owned Spanish-style inn with Jacuzzi in room, outdoor pool, movie library, and near Old Town State Park. Full details about Old Town Inn
Big Sur is the classic answer. Its chamber of commerce lists Best Romantic Getaway among its awards, and its 90 miles of cliff coast take in McWay Falls and Bixby Bridge. Ventana Big Sur has suites with a private hot tub on the deck. Carmel-by-the-Sea, 26 miles north, is the small town pick, a one-square-mile village with a white-sand beach.
Fall for most of the state. Napa Valley harvest runs late summer through fall, Lake Tahoe has golden aspens and thinner crowds, Big Bear Lake has fall color into late October and Palm Springs calls fall its secret season. Winter suits the coast, with gray whales off Big Sur December through April and monarchs in Pacific Grove and Pismo Beach.
Napa Valley. Downtown Napa is about an hour from San Francisco on a weekday, and the valley has sunrise balloon rides and Calistoga mud baths. The Roman Suite at The Napa Inn has a two-person jetted tub below a stained-glass window. For the coast, pick Big Sur or Carmel.
Yes, with delays. Highway 1 reopened through Big Sur in September 2026, according to the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce. Repair work after the 2026 Timber Fire still brings one-way traffic control and planned closures, and winter storms can close the road, so check Caltrans before you drive.
Palm Springs is about 2 hours from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara is 90 miles north. Big Bear Lake is the mountain pick, for snow in winter or fall color in October.
Napa Valley is the easy pick, about an hour away on a weekday, and Sonoma is 45 miles north of the city. Carmel is about 2.5 hours away, and South Lake Tahoe is about 3.5 hours from the Bay Area.
Where the facts on this page come from. Hotel details come from our own listings, checked as described in How we verify.
