Whether you are looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or you just need some alone time with that special someone…taking a romantic getaway can be the perfect way to do that! Whether you are looking for a stress-free relaxed weekend getaway or a trip filled with fun and adventure, there are several romantic West Coast destinations that any couple will love.
The West Coast is my home coast and one of my favorite places. There are fun activities, beautiful scenery, fabulous hotels, and of course excellent food! I’ve put together 10 of my favorite spots for a romantic getaway on the West Coast. I’m sure by the end of this article you’ll be ready to book a cozy trip with your favorite person.
Key Takeaways
- Popular romantic getaways in California include Big Sur, Napa Valley, La Jolla, and Lake Tahoe.
- Washington State’s popular romantic getaways include Walla Walla, Whidbey Island, as well as Seattle.
- And in Oregon, you can visit Cannon Beach or the Columbia River Gorge for some romantic nature vibes.
Romantic Getaways in California
1. Big Sur, California
Big Sur is known for beautiful beaches, incredible hiking adventures, and breathtaking views along the coast of California between Monterey and San Simeon. If you are part of a couple that loves the outdoors and exploring the sights, a trip through Big Sur will be the perfect place to enjoy some quality time together! And let’s not forget the great food you can find in the towns around Big Sur.
Can’t Miss Activities: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Calla Lily Valley & Garrapata Beach, and Point Sur State Historic Park.
Where to stay: If you enjoy staying outdoors, try camping in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. If you prefer to stay indoors there are great options nearby including the upscale Villa Mara Carmel which is near the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the beachfront Ragged Point Inn & Resort on Hwy 1 near San Simeon.
2. Napa Valley, California
If you and your Valentine are big wine connoisseurs, a visit to Napa Valley is one that you don’t want to miss. Napa Valley is known for its many vineyards creating world-class wine and several locations in the area offer the opportunity to tour the vineyard and taste many of the wines. While Napa Valley tastings often have a high price tag, many great wineries have tastings under $50.
Plus, it’s extremely close to San Fransisco, making it an easy escape from the city or easily reached by travelers who need to fly to California for their romantic getaway. If you’re taking a longer romantic trip, consider taking a Pacific Coast Highway road trip from Napa Valley down to Big Sur.
Can’t Miss Activities: Napa Valley Wine Train, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Frog’s Leap Winery, Round Pond Estate, and Hot Air Balloon Rides.
Where to stay: In Napa you can find everything from quaint boutique hotels to full-blown luxury resorts. Some popular choices include the Napa River Inn winery hotel in the heart of Napa, Wine Country Inn & Cottages Napa Valley with vineyard view rooms, and the luxurious Carneros Resort and Spa.
3. La Jolla, California
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach town to relax with your partner, a visit to La Jolla should be in your sights. San Diego, California is known for having beautiful weather nearly year-round and La Jolla is a small community within the area that occupies approximately 7 miles of beautiful coastline along the Pacific Ocean. La Jolla is known as “the jewel” of San Diego, and it surely lives up to its name.
Can’t Miss Activities: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Torrey Pines Gliderport, The Museum of Contemporary Art, a visit to the beautiful beaches of La Jolla, and Scripps Park.
Where to stay: La Jolla is considered an upscale community with many luxurious hotels and lodges that will make for a great spot for your stay. A few popular choices include The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a luxurious golf resort hotel, the La Jolla Shores Hotel on the beach, and the quaint Inn By The Sea La Jolla near many top sites and shopping.
4. Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe has gained quite a reputation for being a popular destination for couples to travel. Whether you’re visiting during the summer months and enjoying the beautiful scenic views or you’re enjoying snow-capped mountain tops with outdoor activities during the winter months, you’re sure to have a great time in Tahoe.
Can’t Miss Activities: Outdoor winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoeing. Summer activities often include hiking and paddling on Lake Tahoe.
In addition to hitting the mountains, there are several fun activities to enjoy in the area including breweries, Yosemite Axe Throwing, and Vikingsholm Castle. You can also take a self-guided audio driving tour around the lake (note, check road conditions during the winter).
Where to stay: Whether you are looking for a campground, a cabin, or a luxury resort Tahoe has many excellent lodging choices in the area. Popular options include Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, the Fireside Lodge cabins in South Lake Tahoe, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort for those wanting a spa and casino near Incline Village, and the well-loved The Incline Lodge ski motel.
Romantic Getaways in Washington
5. Whidbey Island, Washington
Now that we’re in my home state of Washington, I have so many ideas for romantic getaway spots. But, I’m holding myself to just a few options, but they’re some of my favorite places in the state! Starting with Whidbey Island, which despite living here for years I’ve only recently discovered what a gem Whidbey Island is for a vacation destination.
It’s located just over an hour north of Seattle and can be reached by a quick ferry ride. You’ll find quaint shopping in towns like Langley as well as a variety of wineries and of course gorgeous Pacific Northwest nature. This is truly the perfect romantic getaway if you’re looking for charming island towns that could be straight from a Hallmark movie.
Can’t Miss Activities: shopping in Langley and Coupeville, wine tasting at Spoiled Dog Winery and Comforts of Whidbey Winery, among others, hiking and walking at popular parks like Deception Pass and Fort Casey, visiting a variety of art galleries and studios, and finally catching an old-fashion drive-in movie at Blue Fox Drive-In.
Where to stay: The island has a few different towns all with unique and quaint places to stay. Two of my favorite spots are the Comforts of Whidbey and the Saratoga Inn, both in Langley, WA.
6. Walla Walla, Washington
While it may not be as commonly known as a top spot for wine tasting and tours as Napa Valley, Walla Walla, Washington will give Napa a run for its money. The Walla Walla Valley is known as one of the most beautiful towns in Washington and it is home to more than 130 wineries as well as over 300 acres of beautiful agriculture areas.
I don’t know about you, but there is something about a stroll through a winery that just screams romance to me! But even if you’re not in the mood for driving around to vineyards, Walla Walla also has a fabulous downtown wine district where you can eat, drink, and sleep all within its cute little town streets.
I also want to give a shout-out to the nearby region of Tri-Cities as another possible region you could use as a home base for a romantic getaway in Washington!
Can’t Miss Activities: Wine tasting, of course! Red varietals are the highlight for this region, FYI. Also check out the Whitman College Outdoor Sculpture Walk, the Fort Walla Walla Museum, The Walla Walla Drag Strip, Blue Mountain Lavender Farm, and Lewis and Clark Trail State Park.
Where to stay: When it comes to places to stay in Walla Walla, I highly recommend checking out one of the local Bed and Breakfast spots including the The Barn B&B, Inn at Blackberry Creek, or Inn at Abeja wine hotel. There are also plenty of chain hotels in the region if you want to travel on points. And The Finch is one of the newest hotels with great reviews.
7. Seattle, Washington
Known as one of the most popular cities in Washington, Seattle is an excellent getaway spot for you and your special someone. Seattle has a diverse culture featuring arts, music, sports, and of course what the city is known for… coffee! The famous Pike Place Market is the origin point for probably the most famous coffee in the world, Starbucks; but there are so many other independent coffee shops throughout the city that deserve your notice.
In addition to the downtown region where you’ll find many of the popular tourist attractions, Seattle has some amazing things to see outside of downtown. You can take a day trip by ferry across to Bainbridge Island which has some fabulous shops and restaurants. Or you can plan to visit the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park.
Can’t Miss Activities: Pike Place Market, The Space Needle, The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, or catch a Seattle sports game.
Where to stay: There are several excellent lodging choices in the Seattle area. If you want to stay close to downtown in walking distance to many of the activities, consider the Thompson Seattle, Inn at the Market, Westin Seattle, or Hotel 1000. A couple of other popular romantic spots are The Edgewater Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle.
Romantic Getaways in Oregon
8. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Take in the sights, get some exercise, and enjoy some quality time with your loved one with a visit to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The Gorge is a river canyon spanning 80 miles along the border between Washington and Oregon with many hiking trails, walking paths, and waterfalls! One of the most popular waterfalls in the region is Multnomah Falls.
Can’t Miss Activities: Lookout from the Crown Point Vista House, hiking trails, horseback riding, outdoor water activities on the Hood River such as boating, tubing, and swimming, as well as wildlife viewings. And of course, there is wine tasting in the region as well. During the winter you can go skiing or snowshoeing around Mt. Hood.
Where to stay: Whether it is a cabin in the woods or a luxury resort nearby, the Columbia River Gorge has several great lodging options in the area. Popular choices include the Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins (WA side), Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa (OR side), and the Inn at the Gorge (OR side).
9. Cannon Beach, Oregon
While Oregon may not be the first place you think of when you’re looking for a beach to visit, trust me when I say you will not regret a visit to Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach has earned the title of one of the “World’s 100 Most Beautiful Places” by National Geographic as well as one of the “Top 10 Most Romantic Coastal Destinations” by USA Today, making it an excellent choice for a romantic vacation.
Can’t Miss Activities: Wander the beach and check out Haystack Rock, shop along the cute streets of Cannon Beach, visit The Lewis & Clark Expedition History, The Cannon Beach History Center, and even the unique Cannon Beach Nursing Museum.
Where to stay: Cannon Beach offers a variety of lodging options including RV parks and camping, oceanfront properties, and even vacation home rentals. You won’t find many chain hotels along the Oregon coast. Popular choices in the area include The Wayside Inn, Hallmark Resort, the Inn at Cannon Beach, and the Cannon Beach Hotel Collection.
10. Willamette Valley, Oregon
While I am partial to Washington wine regions, no one could argue that Oregon has its own wine region that is perfect for a couple’s getaway. The Willamette Valley is known for its Pinot Noir wines and is easily reached from Portland. The region also happens to be near my daughter’s university, Oregon State University.
Can’t Miss Activities: Hike the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park, bike along the Willamette Valley scenic bikeway, go wine tasting throughout the valley, and perhaps even try a horseback wine tour!
Where to stay: With Willamette Valley stretching along a large portion of I-5 through Oregon, including Portland, there are many great places to stay. Some of the popular romantic spots include the adults-only The Setting Inn B&B, Atticus Hotel, and the Oregon Garden Resort.
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and whether you’re looking to make plans for the holiday or just a random romantic getaway time, you are sure to find some great options on the West Coast. I hope that my list of the top 10 romantic spots on the west coast has been helpful to you. Which city are you most excited to visit?! Feel free to share your favorite romantic getaway in the comments below!
