12

Top Romantic Destinations in Northern California

Sarah Rachel
Northern California provides couples with a variety of scenic destinations that inspire romance. This area has everything from thick, dense redwood forests to vast wine vineyards and ocean adjacent to woodland areas. Enjoy going for a quiet walk with your spouse in the redwood forest or have a private romantic picnic on the beach and watch the sky transform as the sun goes down.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National park is one of the major highlights of Northern California. This park provides ample opportunity for romance and alone time, with more than 1,200 square miles of forest. Enjoy camping in the park directly under giant trees or rent a cabin for a romantic weekend together. The Upper Pines campground is open as long as weather permits, and it operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Go for a hike with your spouse and feast your eyes on lush waterfalls, tall mountains, forest and plant life throughout the park. Most trails are open throughout the spring and summer, depending on weather conditions. Driving tours are also available for couples who would rather spend the day driving through this majestic forest. The Curry Ice Village Rink is sometimes open in the winter and spring.

Redwood Tour

Go for a trip through into the redwoods with your partner. This area is reminiscent of the past because of the sheer size and age of the trees. Many redwood trees are wider than a standard vehicle. Enjoy spending a day driving through Highway 101 to view the vast amount of forest that surrounds your car. Stop and drive through some of the bridges that go directly through live trees. The bottom center of trees are cut out so that vehicles can drive right through. Hiking trails are also available if you want to stop and spend more time with your spouse within redwood country. The Franklin Grove is a short 2.27-mile hike that takes you through the forest and eventually leads to a picnic eating area. The William Kent Grove hike is a 15-mile hike that moves in a circular loop around the forest.

Wine Tours

Go on a trip with your spouse through one of Northern California's wine tours. Visit the vineyards and enjoy tasting fresh wine. See how the wine is made and pick fresh grapes directly from the vine. Napa Valley is one of the most well-known wine tour destinations, but many other tours are offered in vineyards throughout Northern California. Amenities vary depending on the type of tour you want to take. Some tours are provided in luxury vehicles that take you from one area to another. Catered food may also be provided.

Heart's Desire Beach

The Heart's Desire Beach is one of Northern California's hidden treasures for couples. This small beach is located in Point Reyes Station, California. Couples can enjoy a quiet walk together and collect seashells without the worry of huge crowds in some other over-populated areas. Soak up ocean views and enjoy spending together on this secluded beach. Nearby trails such as the Shell Beach Trail are adjacent to the beach for active nature-loving couples. The Shell Beach Trail is a 9.2-mile hike that offers both steep hills and steady trails, along with waterfalls and thick forest.

Published by Sarah Rachel

Sarah Ince started writing professionally in 2007. She has written articles about many topics such as holistic medicine, nutrition, herbs and pets. Ince's articles have been published in "Boating Times Long...  View profile

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.