In case you haven’t noticed the heart-lined grocery aisles and end caps stocked with all things red, next Friday, February 14 is Valentine’s Day. And while some prefer sweet treats and flowers, others prefer adventure. Though the holiday is sneaking up on us, it’s not too late to plan. But given how busy Valentine’s Day tends to be in the world of hospitality, there’s no time like the present to map out your route and make some reservations. Here are some of our favorite romantic road trips in the West that’ll make for a swoon-worthy weekend.
Craft & Cluster/Visit the Santa Ynez Valley
Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez Valley
The California coast is a real stunner this time of year, and as you make your way up to Santa Barbara County’s wine country, you’ll find all sorts of little gems, from the campy, quirky Danish town of Solvang to some world class wines and dining in Los Olivos. Be sure to book in for a reservation at an old faithful like Bell’s, or check out the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. For more on what to do in the SYV, you can read our guide here.
Rendering courtesy of Banyan Tree Group
San Diego to the Valle de Guadalupe
This road trip from San Diego has become incredibly popular with food and wine fans in the last couple of years, and for good reason. Cross the border to Tijuana, then stop into the fantastic fishing village of Popotla in Rosarito before heading into the Valle de Guadalupe, the up-and-already-there wine region just south of the border. Dine at spots like Finca Altozano or Bruma, then afterwards luxuriate with a stay at Encuentro.
The Allison Inn & Spa
Portland to Willamette Valley
After spending a night in the foodie hub of Portland (you’ll want to snag a table at Kann if you can swing it), make your way out to the Willamette Valley, just about an hour outside the city. The quant and charming towns of McMinnville, Dundee, and Newberg serve as hubs to the region, replete with fantastic wineries, excellent farm-to-table restaurants, and beautiful boutique hotels like the Allison Inn & Spa and the new Tributary. There’s nothing more romantic than enjoying a bottle of cool climate pinot by the fire pit and watching the sunset with your partner. If you have time, bop over to the Oregon Coast on the way bag for moody, magical vistas and world-class seafood.
Jonny Valiant
San Luis Obispo to Carmel
There’s a reason why driving this stretch of Highway 1 is one of the world’s most famous road trips. And thankfully, there are countless new accommodations that have opened up along the way including the darling surf shack at the Pacific Motel in Cayucos, the Cambria White Water, and the Le Petit Pali in Carmel by the Sea. To give your journey a culinary focus, take a seafood-centric approach by following our guide to uni, oysters, and more along the Central Coast here. Who says you have to go to Hokkaido to get the world’s finest?
Thomas J. Story
Canyonlands to Moab
If hiking and national parks are more your style as a couple, head out to Canyonlands and Moab to check out the three parks in the area: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse State Park. While there’s excellent camping in the area, for a real treat, splurge on a stay at the new ULUM. Set on hundreds of acres of ochre landscapes, it’s a stunning safari-style stay that you won’t forget.
Courtesy of The Harbor House Inn
San Francisco to Fort Bragg
This stretch of the highway heading up the North Coast from San Francisco offers a staggering amount of beauty in just under five hours of total drive time. It starts when you cross the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and Marin County, where you’ll encounter the coastal hills and redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument, followed by the dramatic sea cliffs and remote beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore, where you’ll most definitely want to pop-in for oysters at Nick’s Cove. You could stop there and be in absolute heaven, but if you want, make your way further north into Mendocino for its magnificent state parks and charming country inns, like The Harbor House, which has the cozy appeal of a European bed and breakfast. Finish the trip at Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach, which looks like it’s covered with jewels.
Thomas J. Story
Los Angeles to Orange County
This endless-summer drive through Orange County starts at the southern origin of Highway 1: Dana Point, known for its excellent whale-watching during winter. Then, head to Laguna where you’ll not only find the darling boutique Hotel Joaquin, but also one of the state’s prettiest beaches at Crystal Cove State Park. Next, head to Newport Beach, known for both its yacht-filled harbor, then head on up back to Los Angeles through Surf City USA, a.k.a. Huntington Beach, where you’ll find great breaks as well as some of the country’s most renowned beach volleyballer playing in the sand. It may not be the Amalfi Coast, but it sure comes close.