How to Spend a Romantic Weekend in Northern California

Contributor

By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (0 Ratings)

Northern California is often overlooked as a romantic area for Southern California. But there are two very romantic areas in Northern California that you may enjoy; spending a romantic weekend at Lake Tahoe in the mountains and the Monterey area, by the coast. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

If You Plan on Visiting Lake Tahoe in Northern California

Step 1

Stay in many of the hotels or bed and breakfasts in the area such as The Squaw Valley Lodge or the Hyatt Regency. The hotels offer swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and comfortable rooms. Bed and Breakfasts such as the Shore House, the Cottage Inn, offer a more intimate setting. Many offer fireplaces and pet friendly rooms.
Step 2

Think about gambling. Lake Tahoe spans California and Nevada, and gambling is legal in Nevada. Once you cross the state lines, there are casinos everywhere, many within hotels such as the Hyatt Regency. For many, nothing is more romantic than winning a jackpot.
Step 3

Get married. One of the best ways to send a romantic weekend is to get married and Lake Tahoe is one of the best places.
Step 4

Use the lake. If you go to Lake Tahoe during the summer months, before the snow starts, plan on spending some of your romantic weekend at the various beaches such as Sand Harbor and Meeks Bay, around Lake Tahoe. You can even rent boats at various beaches to explore the lake further.
Step 5

Hike. If you're the outdoor type, you may find it great to spend your time hiking around Lake Tahoe. You may even want to hike into Emerald Bay, a unique beach only available to hikers or boaters.
Step 6

Have fun in the snow. There's nothing more romantic after spending the day skiing or snowboarding, to spend the evening cuddling in front of a fireplace, perhaps with a bottle of wine. Many hotels and bed and breakfasts offer fireplaces inside their hotels.

If You Plan on Visiting the Monterey Area in Northern California

Step 1

Visit Carmel. A short drive from Monterey is Carmel, full of shops and fine dining. There's an expansive shopping area full of unique stores, called Carmel by the Sea. It's a great place to spend an afternoon shopping for souvenirs and unique gifts.
Step 2

Go to Point Lobos. One of the most beautiful coastal reserves is Point Lobos. There you can watch for whales, hunt for interesting creatures in the tide pools, seal harbor seals and hike around this natural reserve.
Step 3

Plan to spend a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium is one of the best in the world, with sharks, sea otters and gigantic kelp beds. Have lunch in their casual restaurant so you can spend the entire day exploring this aquarium.
Step 4

Spend the night at Bed and Breakfasts. Dotting the Monterey area are many Bed and Breakfasts such as the Old Monterey Inn and the Jabberwock.
Step 5

Drive the 17 Mile Drive. This pretty drive along the coast is a great way to see many of the beauties of Monterey and Carmel.