Crazy in Love in California: The 10-day Roadtrip Just Made for Romantics

Follow your heart through California with a perfectly planned road trip for two.

Picture yourself waking up in the grand rooms of The Argonaut boutique hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, looking into the eyes of the one you love; then wandering hand-in-hand down to a breakfast of strawberries and waffles, drinking coffee and gazing across the graceful arch of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Ahead is a day exploring quirky local hoods, like Haight-Ashbury with its Summer of Love vibe, crowded with charming bookstores, vintage clothes to rummage through and record stores with rare finds to uncover together. All this, and it’s only day one of your uber-romantic trip across California.

The experience of falling in love is like a glorious freefall, wild and free; and that’s exactly why so many newlyweds, honeymooners and star-struck lovers are choosing California to celebrate their romance. From San Francisco, all the way to San Diego, a road trip through certain spots perfectly captures that crazy-in-love vibe for couples. From old-world wharves peppered with sun-weathered fishermen to towering castles set against craggy cliffsides and glamourous wineries nestled in rich green valleys, where the deep red wine flows freely as the sun sets beyond the hills, there’s nowhere like California to get the heart pumping.

So, after your sojourn in San Francisco, it’s time to hit the open road; just you and your lover on an iconic California road trip, stopping off for stays at boutique hotels, romantic restaurants and to spoil each other with some outlet or high-end shopping. Here’s our plan:

Your Ten Day Road Trip At A Glance:

• San Francisco

• Napa Valley

• Big Sur

• San Simeon

• Santa Ynez Valley

• Huntington Beach

• La Jolla and San Diego

Napa Valley, north of San Francisco
The next stop (after the abovementioned breakfast by the bay in San Francisco) is Napa Valley, which is around two hours at a leisurely pace (read: stopping off for sugared donuts a diner on the way). Once there, explore The Silverado Trail, which is the ultimate Napa Valley wine route, with views of vineyards, gorgeous groves of plump grapes plus places to bunk down for the night and chic eateries for candlelit meals where you can toast to your big adventure together. There’s a lover’s offering every month of the year in Napa, so it’s always a good time to go, from fresh fruit harvests to cozying up over a log fire sipping on a fruity white. On this trip, plan ahead and stock up on some cabernet for a picnic to have when you hit Big Sur.

Big Sur
You can go straight to spectacular Big Sur from Napa Valley in about four hours, or true romantics can take the scenic route through Sonoma County, adjacent to Napa, through Bodega Bay and up northwards to Mendocino. At Bodega Bay, wine country turns to wild beaches and coastline; stop off at tiny local stores for the region’s classic snack of Bear Claws and saltwater taffy, then stay a night and snuggle up watching old movies – perhaps the Alfred Hitchcock classic The Birds, which was filmed around the shallows and the rocky outcrops of Bodega Bay in 1961. You can find a recommendation for good place to stay if you book through an expert (try the Flight Centre website for a personalised and trusted reccy).

Whichever way you get to Big Sur, once you’re there your hearts will be overcome by the drama of the coastline, especially as you wind your way along Monterey Bay and across to Bixby Bridge – the world’s highest single-span bridge (a great excuse to hang on tight to your lover!). Try your luck spotting once-in-a-lifetime sights like elephant seals, migrating whales and creatures you won’t find in your backyard in Oz, like condors and bobcats. Finish the day with an invigorating hike along a trail near Pfeiffer State Beach (half an hour from Bixby Bridge crossover), and enjoy a sunset picnic of cheese with that bottle of full-bodied red wine collected during your stay in Napa.

San Simeon
From Big Sur, set out early the next day and take your time driving six hours to your next stop, San Simeon, a town on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo. Here’s where your romantic vision of an old-world castle comes to life with a visit to Hearst Castle. The clear Californian sun cuts across the bright white cut stone walls of the towering structure as you approach, and after you make your way through the opulent 115 rooms to the rooftop you’re rewarded with the glittering vision of the newly reconstructed, refilled Neptune rooftop pool adorned with nubile marble statues and 20,000 marble tiles making up the Grecian-style mosaic floor. Romantics and movies stars alike were drawn by the castle’s siren song (think Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Cary Grant) so you’ll be enchanted by the beauty and romance of the sprawling love nest and its many scandalous secrets.

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
The Santa Ynez Valley is only a couple of hours away, so that’s your next stop. Here the valley is a deep set love nest almost hidden between the high ridges of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains. Like Napa Valley, ‘now’ is always the perfect time to book for Santa Ynez, because the lovely warm climate allows you to indulge in romantic escapades year-round, from hot air ballooning across the cloudless skies at dawn to horseback riding through the rolling, rugged mountains.

Huntington Beach
Tear yourself away from the beauty of Santa Barbara (don’t forget to sample to windswept beaches and upscale eateries before you leave!) and head off on the 3.5 hour trip to Huntington Beach, otherwise known as Surf City USA. This is where you’ll get your hit of that addictive Californian sunshine and you can splash in the surf with your partner by day and take those famous romantic walks along the beach by night. There’s 500 fire pits that ring the beach so grab yourself a spot and make the famous USA snack of s’mores while you cuddle and watch the sun set over the ocean.

La Jolla and San Diego
It’s a 90-minute trip to La Jolla and another half hour on to San Diego from there, where your dream honeymoon-style trip will wind up. In La Jolla you can team up to explore the mysterious coves and caves of La Jolla Cove or La Jolla Shores, and since the trip is close to coming to a close, go all out: treat yourself to a couples massage at one of the gorgeous spas then glam up for a top dinner somewhere with a view, like cocktails (with handcut ice!) and a meal at George’s at the Cove. Whether you linger overnight in La Jolla for full luxury, or choose to move on to your last stop in San Diego, make sure you leave yourself time for a classic trolley ride together through the city. Or, to make the most of your final moments, take a gondola ride around the Coronado Cays and gaze upon the neighbourhood’s gorgeous homes, jawdropping boats and breathtaking scenery while sharing a bottle of wine.

And if you’re big on romance but short on time (or know-how) to plan the perfect romantic getaway, there’s easy ways to get yourself sorted. Try Flight Centre’s website where you can get linked up to a whole host of deals and offers that can be tweaked to perfectly fit your vision for your trip, all with the help of someone experienced who has been there, done that, and can give you the best hot tip. They’ve got the inside track on trusted places to stay (so you’re not going off a random online review) plus they can suggest spots for you to design your own self-drive itinerary to follow as you head off into the wild blue yonder. Any dramas and you can just tap into their 24/7 support, which leaves you free to focus on making some romantic memories with the one who matters most. And hey, if you or your partner are really feeling it, there’s no better place for a destination wedding. A Californian castle might be the perfect place to say ‘I do’.

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