We promise not to say the dreaded V-word, but we will say that this month is all about romance and reconnecting with the people who matter to you. That’s why we put together five romantic getaway ideas for every kind of couple, from adventure-seeking nature lovers to those who just want a little R&R by the beach.
5 Romantic Getaways Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
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Published Feb 6, 2020
Courtesy of Chamisal Vineyards
For The Wine Lovers
Destination: San Luis Obispo, California
Napa? Been there. Sonoma? Done that. This time, head south and discover what SLO’s wine country is all about. Did we mention that San Luis Obispo has been named one of the happiest cities in America?
Stay: Station yourself right downtown at the gorgeously modern Hotel San Luis Obispo, just a short 15-minute drive to the Edna Valley. After a day of wine tasting, experience SLO’s vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene. And don’t forget to book a rejuvenating spa treatment at the hotel’s Sol Spa before you head home.
Do: Home to only 30 wineries, SLO’s wine country has the kind of laidback and unpretentious vibe that we wish we could still find in Napa and Sonoma. Located only four miles from the coast, Edna Valley is the state’s coolest wine region, making it a primo locale for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Albariño. Sip on Chardonnay at Chamisal Vineyards, taste single-vineyard Pinot Noir at Tolosa Winery and quaff Provençal-style rosé at Malene Wine’s Airstream trailer tasting room.
Tubay Yabut Photography
For The Sweethearts
Destination: Yountville, California
Skip the wine and eat your way through the area’s decadent food scene instead. If The French Laundry isn’t in the cards, try Thomas Keller’s much more affordable new Mexican concept, La Calenda, instead.
Stay: Feel like you’re in the South of France at Maison Fleurie, a charming bed-and-breakfast on half an acre of landscaped gardens. Make time to warm up by the huge brick fireplace in the historic main building before retreating to your room.
Do: Local food celebrity Chris Kollar, who just won the premiere episode of this season’s Chopped on Food Network, hosts special demo and tasting workshops (email info@kollarchocolates to schedule) at his Napa chocolate shop. Learn about the history of chocolate making, sample Kollar’s signature creations and then get your hands dirty designing and creating your very own truffles.
Courtesy of Hotel Healdsburg
For The New-age Hippies
Destination: Healdsburg, California
Great food, wine, sweets, shopping and art—this quaint wine country town has it all.
Stay: Hotel Healdsburg is a classic right off the square, and now’s the time to visit. The hotel is offering a Winter Bliss package with a $100-per-night property credit that can be used toward dining on-site (or at nearby sister properties) and at the spa.
Do: Spiritual seekers won’t want to miss The Spa Hotel Healdsburg’s winter wellness treatments, which include an energy ritual massage and body polish that uses amethyst crystals to de-stress and attract positive energy; a regenerative emerald facial integrating ancient healing herbs and botanicals; and a couples massage and soak using oils charged with amethyst.
Courtesy of Brasada Ranch
For The Outdoor Adventurers
Destination: Bend, Oregon
If a road trip is your idea of a romantic getaway, then a drive north to central Oregon is the perfect winter escape.
Stay: For the ultimate snowcation, book a stay at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte, just outside Bend. Sign up for daily snowshoe tours, where beginners can stroll the flat lands, while the advanced can leap off powder-covered lava flows. Then cozy up by the firepit and roast s’mores at the Ranch House.
Do: The truly adventurous can book a Snowcamp Weekend at Brasada Ranch. Strap on snowshoes and head into an old-growth hemlock forest to Mount Bachelor in the Deschutes National Forest, where you’ll sleep in an outdoor snow cave…that you’ll build yourself. Your hard work will be rewarded with a campfire-cooked meal and a moonlit snowshoe stroll.
Courtesy of Palmaïa, The House of Aïa
For The Eco Travelers
Destination: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Desperately seeking sun and sand? Hop on a flight and escape the winter blues with a quick trip to Mexico.
Stay: Treat yourself to a stay at the newly opened and sustainably designed Palmaïa, The House of AïA. At this eco-minded oceanfront resort on the edge of the jungle, you’ll be able to reconnect with nature—and your significant other—in no time.
Do: Stroll across pristine white-sand beaches, plunge into tranquil cool-water cenotes and experience a traditional temazcal (sweat lodge) in the middle of the jungle, all without leaving the resort property.
