Escape the Crowds: Plan Your Romantic Getaway in California

Planning a romantic getaway in California is easy when you think slightly outside the box. Monterey loves when couples step off the busy path, and we love pointing guests toward Monterey’s quieter side.

Before the planning gets serious, browse our romantic Monterey rooms and suites and pick your favorite hideaway.

Start on the coast, where the Pacific does most of the romantic heavy lifting. Some of our favorite walking paths offer more ocean and more quiet. This option is perfect for couples who prefer a slower and quieter pace.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve tops our list for couples who like a little adventure. Its trails wind past dramatic cliffs and turquoise water, so bring good shoes and a camera. The scenery does the talking, leaving your hands free to hold.

Couples who prefer a slower pace should head to Carmel Beach for a sunset walk. It also stars in our guide to Monterey beaches for romantic walks, and it earns the encore. Time your arrival so the sun meets the horizon right as your toes meet the sand.

Closer to home, the coastal walk to Lovers Point gives you a scenic place to pop the big question. Gently crashing waves handle the background music, free of charge.

A sunset cruise or a guided horseback ride adds a little daring to your days by the bay. Both get you outdoors together while someone else handles the logistics.

Whisper Charters in Moss Landing offers romantic boat tours and sunset cruises on the bay. As you sail across the water, watch for sea lions, otters, and other marine life. The gorgeous view of the bay is lovely, though the otters may try to steal the show.

Saddle up with Monterey Bay Equestrian Center for a guided romantic ride along the coastline. Couples with vintage hearts can book a horse-drawn carriage ride instead. We fully approve of any date that comes with its own clip-clop soundtrack.

In addition, Monterey keeps a few timeless favorites close at hand. Golf lovers can tee up on the Pebble Beach golf courses. Meanwhile, the Monterey Bay Aquarium makes a sweet date for curious couples.

Monterey County pours award-winning wines, and three tasting stops make an easy, romantic afternoon. Here’s the route we suggest, finishing on a cozy patio, which is exactly where a wine day should end.

• Folktale Winery: Start here for a personalized tasting that sets a relaxed tone for the day.

• Wrath Wines: Settle in for a romantic afternoon of tasting with gorgeous views of the Salinas Valley.

• Joullian Vineyards: Claim a spot on the cozy patio for an intimate tasting, just the two of you and a favorite bottle.

Afterward, head back to the inn for our daily wine and hors d’oeuvres from 4–6pm. Yes, that means more wine, and no, we won’t judge.

Book a table with candlelight, history, or the sound of waves below. These three set the mood beautifully.

• The Sardine Factory is our pick for a candlelit dinner for two. The setting feels timeless, and the evening takes care of itself.

• Schooners Monterey sits over the water at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, with a terrace right above the waves. Seafood leads the menu, and the atmosphere manages to feel both lively and elegant.

• Stokes Adobe brings you back to town and back in time, inside an adobe home from the 1830s. Order the pappardelle Bolognese or the scallops with caviar, then toast the house for aging so gracefully.

Ask us at breakfast, and we’ll fold your dinner plans into a personalized itinerary.

Old Monterey Inn is a 1929 English Tudor home, which allows the mood to remain wonderfully hushed. Lush English gardens and water fountains surround the house, and every room has its own fireplace. Our guests are couples and solo travelers only, which keeps the whole house adult and unhurried.

We serve a full gourmet breakfast at 9am, in the garden or beside the fireplace. Down comforters, thick Turkish cotton towels, and French lavender soaps take care of the rest. Some rooms even add a spa tub for two, a detail we consider essential to any romantic getaway in California.

A romantic getaway in California deserves room to breathe, and Monterey gives you plenty of it. Spend your days on cliffs, boats, and patios, then come home to a fire and a garden full of quiet. Love and beauty are worth slowing down for, after all.

Reserve your stay and claim your quiet corner of the coast before someone else does.