Most Romantic Honeymoon Hotels in Northern California

Have you been dreaming of a romantic honeymoon set among Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring trees? Your search ends at The Gables Wine Country Inn. Built in 1877, the property boasts Gothic Victorian architecture, a redwood barn (circa 1850), an old milk house, and an original homestead.

Most newlyweds choose to book The Cottage, a standalone honeymoon suite with a queen bed in a loft, a sitting area with a couch, a wood-burning fireplace, a kitchenette, and a hot tub built for two. All guests are welcomed with a glass of wine (honeymooners receive a bottle of champagne), and are tempted every afternoon with fresh-baked cookies.

Enjoy a three-course breakfast each morning on the back deck (weather permitting), complete with fruit and vegetables grown on-site, and other ingredients (like duck eggs) sourced locally.

The Inn brings nature right to your doorstep, with a lavender garden and outdoor firepit situated under the iconic redwood trees. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, you’ll enjoy easy access to vineyards, tasting rooms, and outdoor adventures.

If you're planning a road trip along California's Highway 1, be sure to spend at least one night at the Brewery Gulch Inn. Standing atop a bluff overlooking Smuggler's Cove, this rustic-chic lodge was constructed using eco-salvaged redwood from the Big River.

With just 10 rooms and one two-room suite, the inn is a cozy and intimate home base for exploring Mendocino County. Curl up in a leather chair and challenge your spouse to a game of Scrabble, while sipping local wine personally selected by the innkeeper. For an unforgettable mind-body experience, book a guided forest bathing session (and add a couple's massage). 

Evening wine hour with bento-style hors d'oeuvres (think—sesame-seared ahi, shrimp and beef dumplings, and carrot soufflé) is the perfect complement to a day filled with scenic trails and sandy beaches. Savor a dinner of culinary delights prepared by an acclaimed chef, before retiring to your room where feather-top mattresses, gas fireplaces, and decks with mesmerizing views of the Pacific Ocean promise an atmosphere of romance.

Fairytale honeymoons do come true, especially in a historic Victorian building at the foot of ice-topped Mt. Shasta. Built in 1903, what’s now known as the McCloud River Bed and Breakfast was once the town’s hub of commerce, housing the McCloud River Lumber Company, a bank, and the local telephone switchboard.

Today, each of the five renovated guest rooms holds a piece of that history. The Switchboard Room offers a view of Mt. Shasta and antique furnishings, plus a sitting room with a daybed. And the Waterfalls Room has a two-person whirlpool tub and a cherry wood four-poster bed.

Join other guests in the parlor each morning for a gourmet breakfast prepared by the innkeeper, who is also a baker. The innkeepers are also happy to act as your honeymoon concierges, booking local activities, day trips, and dinner reservations, to ensure you enjoy all the area has to offer.

The inn boasts a selection of fine wines for purchase, which they can deliver straight to your room for a romantic evening spent stargazing on the deck. On Tuesday nights, when most of the restaurants in town are closed, the inn offers a complimentary in-house dinner.

Picture your honeymoon in a rustic, adults-only setting nestled between the Pacific Ocean and dense forest, where every meal is included. You and your spouse may never leave your Vista Hot Tub Suite once you snuggle up to the wood-burning fireplace or enjoy a soak in the outdoor tub.

But for a truly unexpected honeymoon retreat, book one of the two glamping sites situated under the redwood canopy. You certainly won’t be roughing in a safari-style tent, complete with custom-designed mattresses and premium linens. Each site also includes a stocked fire pit, a s’mores kit, a picnic table, and a pair of Adirondack chairs. 

Plenty of activities—like yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and daily hikes—keep honeymooners busy. And, you’ll stay fueled with the resort’s to-go snacks and complimentary reusable water bottles.

Plus, Ventana Big Sur boasts two pools, Japanese hot baths, falconry classes, and self-guided garden tours to round out your stay. Meals are included and can be enjoyed in your room, at the pool, or at The Sur House.

If you plan to spend your honeymoon entirely in your hotel room, book a room with a view at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero. But not just any view will do. Choose a room that allows you to gaze out at the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay, and the city below.

Nothing beats the two presidential suites (1,200-square-foot mini-apartments)— one that faces the city, and the other that faces the bay. Both have spectacular terraces, a deep soaking tub and spacious shower, a separate powder room, and living and dining areas. Room service is available 24/7.

Allow the hotel’s concierge team to craft you a curated honeymoon of activities, including San Francisco Through the Lens, a private photo class with award-winning photographer Adam Jacobs. Or do your own exploring with a short walk to Union Square, the Ferry Building, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Sonoma Valley’s Kenwood Inn & Spa brings the Mediterranean vibe to Northern California, with its classic Italian villa set in a remarkable landscape. Tuscan-inspired buildings are tucked in among three courtyards and connected by vine-covered pathways that lead to lush gardens.

The guest rooms here are also Italian-influenced, complete with high ceilings, king featherbeds, Italian furnishings and linens, and a gas fireplace. No two rooms are alike, and many have private balconies or terraces.

Each morning, you will dine on a full breakfast that’s delivered straight to your room featuring a signature entrée served alongside scones and other baked goods. Then, in the afternoon, relax with a glass of complimentary local wine and an artisan cheese tasting accompanied by freshly baked cookies. In between, head to the spa for a vinotherapy bath in a tub for two overlooking the vineyards.

On Saturday evenings, the Inn serves a pre-fixe, multi-course dinner with wine pairings in the main courtyard. (Tip: This always sells out, so reserve your table when you book your room).

Giant sequoias, sheer cliffs, serene waterfalls, and stunning rock formations are just some of the reasons to honeymoon in Yosemite National Park. But you don't need to spend your first days as newlyweds roughing it. Instead, book a room at The Ahwahnee.

Located inside the park, near the base of Half Dome, this property’s architecture complements its natural backdrop, with a granite façade, log-beamed ceilings, handmade stained-glass windows, and massive stone hearths.

The JFK Presidential Suite (President John F. Kennedy stayed there in 1962) is the hotel’s most elaborate and romantic room. The parlor has a fireplace, chairs, and a sleeper sofa, plus there’s a bedroom with a king-size bed and a full modern bath.

Make your way to the Ahwahnee Dining Room for floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views, and menu items like homemade macaroni and cheese and locally sourced seafood.

Some properties have lived many lives, and Cavallo Point Lodge happens to be one of them. Set on a former military base of the Golden Gate Bridge, this LEED-certified Sausalito retreat redefines what it means to be a sustainable stay.

You and your spouse can choose from two room categories: historical (once served as officer’s quarters), and contemporary (with the best views of the bridge). Both types boast flat-panel TVs, organic cotton linens, robes and slippers, espresso coffee and tea machines, and Dyson hair dryers. 

Cavallo Point offers a comprehensive wellness program focused on the Six Pillars of Healthy Living: active living, healthy eating, restorative sleep, stress reduction, connection, and passion, purpose, and gratitude. As such, guests are encouraged to take advantage of the many experiences throughout their stay.

Rise and shine with a morning yoga class. Book a guided hike or Restorative Sleep Experience. Enroll in a cooking lesson. Reap the balancing benefits of a Himalayan salt stone massage. Or simply, take a dip in the pine-shaded pool.

Four-legged friends are welcome here, too. A pup-approved swag bag stocked with organic treats made by local businesses will greet your dog upon check-in.