With its expansive, lovely Pacific Coast shoreline, pleasant climate, and laid-back atmosphere, California features numerous towns and cities perfect for a babymoon getaway. The unrivaled beauty of the state’s landscapes serves as the ideal backdrop for exciting outdoor activities. Many California vacation rentals are within minutes from unending opportunities for sightseeing, cultural excursions, leisurely spa visits, and fine dining. Here are the six best babymoon vacation destinations in California.
1. Mendocino
Mendocino lies on a picturesque headland overlooking the Pacific Ocean in northern California. Renowned as an artists’ colony, the town has several fascinating shops to explore, including Prentice Gallery, which showcases paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, and woodwork. Other unique establishments include Gallery of the Senses, a welcoming scent shop that specializes in over 1,000 natural fragrances, and Rubaiyat Beads, which offers candles, stained glass, ethnic textiles, and all sorts of items made from beads. Don’t miss a stroll along the bluffs at Mendocino Headlands State Park. The park also has two lovely beaches that are perfect for relaxing and sunbathing: Portuguese Beach below the bluffs at the west end of Main Street, and Big River Beach on the south side of town. Join a guided tour of the iconic Point Cabrillo Light Station, whose grounds include the Lighthouse Museum, the Lightkeeper’s House, and a Marine Science Exhibit. When you need to relax, head for Mendocino Massage for a soothing couple’s massage and special prenatal massage. The Flow Restaurant offers elegant meals of organic meats and vegetables with a beautiful ocean view.
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2. Monterey
Located on the south end of Monterey Bay in Central California, the hospitable seaside city of Monterey offers innumerable unique experiences. The world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium features colorful marine life displayed in enormous tanks with specialized environments such as kelp forests, coral reefs, and open ocean waters. Stroll along Old Fisherman’s Wharf and watch sea lions and otters lolling or playing near the docks. Browse through the specialty shops and art galleries at famous Cannery Row. Nearby on Monterey Peninsula is a gorgeous 17-Mile Drive along Pebble Beach at Carmel-by-the-Sea. Discovery Whale Watch out of Fisherman’s Wharf takes you out on the ocean on a comfortable cruise ship to view humpback whales, blue whales, gray whales, and orcas. When you need to rest, head for Monterey State Beach, and relax on the soft sand. Spa on the Plaza near Fisherman’s Wharf offers aromatherapy massages, seaweed wraps, whirlpool tubs, and a plunge pool. Enjoy a fabulous dinner with a magnificent view at Chart House in Cannery Row.
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3. Santa Barbara
Beautiful Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera, is a coastal city that lies two hours north of Los Angeles in southern California. MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, is a unique establishment that provides several floors of vast galleries focusing on interactive displays of science and creativity. Don’t miss a stroll around the fascinating park-like complex of the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Zoo, located in a pristine garden setting near the ocean, provides an absorbing look at exotic animals such as African lions, lowland gorillas, Asian elephants, and giraffes. To experience unsurpassed colorful beauty, stroll along the paths in Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Nearby Refugio State Beach offers shallow waters for swimming and soft sand for sunbathing. For a unique wellness experience, try Salt, Santa Barbara’s underground Himalayan salt caves. The unforgettable treatments include salt scrubs, salt massages, and hot stone massages. The Angel Oak Restaurant, with floor to ceiling views of the Pacific Ocean, offers outstanding steak meals in a luxurious setting.
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4. Palm Springs
Located east of Los Angeles in lovely Coachella Valley, Palm Springs offers year-round warmth, sunshine, relaxation, and fun activities for your babymoon getaway. Desert Art Tours offers guided assistance in getting to know the city. The Day at the Museum Tour takes you through the fascinating collection at the Palm Springs Art Museum, and the Art of Shopping Tour gives you VIP treatment at the high-end shops at El Paseo, Palm Springs’ exclusive shopping area. Don’t miss a trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which brings you on a rotating tram car from the valley floor through rugged Chino Canyon to the Mountain Station at Mount San Jacinto State Park. For an unforgettably romantic experience, take a hot air balloon flight over the Coachella Valley with Magic Adventures Balloon Rides. To relax, have a long soak in natural hot mineral waters at Miracle Springs Spa in nearby Desert Hot Springs. Enjoy fine dining with a European ambiance at Al Dente Trattoria Toscana.
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5. Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, often known simply as Catalina, lies southwest of Los Angeles off the coast of Southern California. Its scenic beauty, warm weather, and pleasant pace make it a popular babymoon location. The famous Glass Bottom Boat Tour with Catalina Adventure Tours takes you to a marine nature preserve with crystal-clear waters where you can observe swaying kelp forests and the colorful sea creatures that inhabit them. View amazing local artwork and learn about the island’s history at the Catalina Island Museum. South Beach, Middle Beach, and Step Beach are all public beaches around the town of Avalon that offer peaceful waters for swimming and soft sand for sunbathing. The Metropole Market Place is a charming cobblestoned village in the midst of Avalon that offers an eclectic range of art galleries, jewelry shops, boutiques, and other shopping venues.
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6. Encinitas
Encinitas is a beautiful seaside city on the southern coast of California just north of San Diego. The Moonlight State Beach offers a great location for relaxing swimming and sunbathing. Stroll through the lovely San Diego Botanic Garden, which includes a tropical rainforest, bamboo groves, desert gardens, and other environments with plants from around the world. The San Dieguito Heritage Museum provides fascinating insight into local history.
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