Ideas for a Romantic Coast Getaway

For a romantic winter getaway, look no farther than the Sonoma Coast. The thundering waves, velvet gray clouds, and sparks of golden sun streaming through the sea air inspire cuddling with your love.

Even in winter, this stretch of the Northern California coast is often mild and temperate, with plenty of off-season deals for gorgeous lodging. Here is a sweet guide to the most romantic spots on the magical Sonoma Coast this season.

Indulge with The Spa Gourmet

Husband-and-wife team Cindy Scott-Fuchs and Trip Fuchs take spa style on the road. They set up a complete spa on-site at your lodging — often favoring outdoors like a mountainside meadow or oceanfront plateau.

Cindy customizes treatments, like Thai massage with hot stone therapy, warm foot wrap, coconut oil massage, and a steam facial. Trip, a private chef, cooks a feast, ranging from hors d’oeuvres to a full supper. It’s pure relaxation for couples or groups to enjoy a night in their vacation home, with breakfast the next morning.

Take in the Gallery Scene

The town of Bodega Bay brims with art salons and shops showcasing amazing artistic talent and creations that often capture the dramatic coastal landscapes in paintings, sculpture, glass, and more.

In the tiny town of Bodega, you’ll find more art to admire, from early California impressionistic portraits to photography, turned wood, and colorful hand-crafted scarves. Here, the Artisan’s Co-Op gallery features local art and crafts like watercolors, apparel, fused glass, jewelry, hand-woven rugs, greeting cards, and more. While in Bodega, don’t miss The Historic Town of Bodega Art Gallery — an impressive art gallery located in a historic 1850s blacksmith shop.

Take a Hike 

Enjoy the beauty of the easy Bodega Head hiking trail that edges three miles around the headlands, or stretch your legs on the one-mile path to and from the overlook. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, harbor, and town. 

Doran Regional Park is another stunning spot, boasting a two-mile stretch of sandy beach that’s quiet, secluded, and allows your dog on a leash. Protected by the bay, the water is calmer here, and you can splash your toes as you stroll along the sea-washed shore. Take in the rock jetty at the harbor mouth, where you’ll see fishing and crabbing under gentle, wind-swept clouds. Bring a picnic, camping gear, or even your boat.

You’ll also adore Goat Rock Beach, a highlight of the spectacular town of Jenner, just north of Bodega Bay. This easily accessible sandy beach tucked into towering bluffs is a partial cove where the Russian River meets the sea. It’s a great place to see marine wildlife on the Sonoma Coast, like frolicking harbor seals. Explore cliff trails to watch for whales as they migrate off the Sonoma Coast.

Fine Dine

The Tides Wharf was made famous in the early 1960s as the backdrop for scenes in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, ‘The Birds.’ This ocean-front restaurant is part of the lovely Inn at the Tides resort in Bodega Bay and is also known for its delicious seafood, like shrimp, oysters, calamari, salmon, and red snapper. One specialty is crab cioppino, stocked with prawns, scallops, clams, and mussels in a zesty Italian sauce with garlic bread for dunking. 

Drakes Sonoma Coast restaurant in Bodega Bay is another excellent spot to dine by the water. Enjoy seasonal dishes like crab cakes slathered in tomato-ginger chutney and curry-dusted petrale sole.

Terrapin Creek Café in Bodega Bay also invites you to sit down to a special meal with artfully arranged plates and the season’s most sought-after specialties, such as crab salad with the freshest seafood straight from the sea.

Stay the Night

Enjoy a luxury room at the Inn at the Tides. Another favorite hideaway is The Lodge at Bodega Bay, romantic and serene on its seaside perch. As the only AAA Four Diamond hotel on the Sonoma Coast, this lodge offers luxury with rooms that boast real fireplaces, snuggly down comforters, and private balconies for stargazing. Enjoy a couple’s massage with warm tiger clam seashells in spa suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean coastline.

You’ll also love Timber Cove Resort in Jenner. Hugging the cliffs above the crashing waves of the Sonoma Coast, you’ll fall in love with this mid-century modern gem featuring rooms with ocean or forest views. Most have fireplaces or skylights and all include a fun record player with vinyl, eco-friendly bath amenities, a tea kettle with pour-over coffee, and stylish wood trim complimenting crisp white bedding.

This one-of-a-kind resort proudly features its Coast Kitchen restaurant serving locally sourced Sonoma Wine Country cuisine and dynamic regional wines. The dining room is celebrated for its rustic luxury and extraordinary ocean views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests travel from all over for a spectacular cliffside meal, to relax before the huge stone fireplace in The Great Room, and stroll in the crisp Pacific Ocean air. 

River’s End Restaurant & Inn in Jenner is another amazing destination for breathtaking views and mouthwatering California-fresh cuisine. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Russian River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, people in the know flock here to dine while feasting their eyes on the glorious sunset or seasonal whales and seals on their annual journey. The menu is enticingly eclectic, with dishes like wasabi tobiko-oysters, duck confit egg rolls, sea bass with pomegranates and beets, and applewood smoked filet mignon.

Get Your Heart Pounding 

Ready to get out on the water with your sweetheart? Whether you want to board a boat for a coastal tour, whale watching, or try your hand at fishing. If you catch a fish, the crew will clean and prepare it for you to take home for a delicious meal. Explore your options.

Before you head back, you can pick up ingredients from the ocean’s bounty, like rock cod, salmon, albacore, and halibut, at Spud Point Marina. Watch fishing boats bob on the water and look forward to more of Sonoma Wine Country’s coastal flavors in the future.