Monday, June 29, 2015

Most Romantic Travel Hotels & Resorts In Sonoma Wine Country To San Diego, Catalina Island, Yosemite & The Sierra Foothills

The California Coast, Sierra Foothills & Wine Country invites honeymooners & destination wedding couples  to immerse themselves in a combination of luxury, outdoor experiences and romantic settings. The warmest areas for beach lovers are in San Diego, Orange County and the fun an funky Santa Catalina Island of Romance.  Whether staying on a rented yacht or enjoying a beach side hotel, you will find a great number of quality restaurants, unique adventure sports and laid back sun-cozy spots on the beaches.

Find very romantic honeymoon hotels in our digital magazine and on WeddingLinks.co
"Best Style California Wedding & Honeymoon" e-magazine offers ten distinct regions of California with ideas for destination weddings & honeymoons.

The Sonoma & Napa Wine Country are the 2nd most enjoyed Destination Wedding Area in the United States. The last twenty-five years have seen a flourish of awe inspiring wedding venues, tucked into the vineyard views or gold medal winning wineries, inns & B & Bs.  The expert wedding professionald in this region bring life to flawless celebrations with their talents. They love living and working in this region, so they know it well.  They assist couples in fine tuning wedding celebrations from the "unique engagement to the elopements and same day weddings, to the exciting family weddings where people meet from all over the world to explore the beauty of the area.
                                                  photo by DUPhotography.com
You will find some of our favorite venues for the Wine Country plus quality services on WeddingLinks.co


There are many romantic honeymoon hotels in the San Diego Area.  We especially love the La Jolla area, just north of San Diego.  We so appreciated The Pacific Terrace. is perched on an easy access bluff to boardwalk and beach below. Sound of the surf and glorious sunsets are part of the enjoyment.

Couples are enchanted with the Bali influenced decor and tropical island feeling of Paradise Point Resort in San Diego.  The luxury of spa, marina, water sports, beachfront and pool with restaurants all add up to a very enjoyable honeymoon or romantic getaway.  For those with a longer time away, we encourage a few days at a nice San Diego resort and then hop on a cruise ship for a fun week at sea.  "So much to see and so little time to do it!" San Diego continues to live up to this phrase.

                                                    Photo of San Diego by Wikipidia.com

Just 22 miles on a ferry ride out of Orange County or Long Beach is the fun island of Catalina. Couples love the island feel of this location. The snorkeling and diving, along with the village and casino make for full days and fun evenings.  This is a beautiful little harbor.

For best views:  The Catalina Island Inn offers a few rooms with great harbor views
For quiet:  The Catalina Canyon Resort offers an excellent spa, great food, pool and peace away from the bustling harbor.
For beach:  The Hotel Metropole is modern, chic and not far from the beach fun.

                                                     Photo by AdventurePeople.net


While there are very few hotel locations to stay in the National Park, there continues to be the fablous
Ahwahnee Hotel for the most romantic weddings and honeymoons. Whether you want to sit, climb, hike, walk through, dine, bike or meditate ... this is a very spiritual and rewarding location.

                                               Yosemite Valley Photo by EveningSends.com


The Sutter Creek and Sierra Foothill country of Highway 49 guarantees your experiencing the old Gold Country western town flavor.  You fill find delightful restaurants, beautiful inns and bed and breakfasts. We were very impressed with the crisp, modern boutique-style of the Hanford House rooms.   They offer spa services and one of the most amazing breakfasts ever experienced!


Sierra Foothills Vineyard Views are found at the Amador Harvest Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast with four bedrooms, gardens, inspiring views in Plymouth. A very relaxing location with access to the many fine wineries in the region and unique towns along the route.

                                                         Photo by SutterCreek.org

Another great asset to the Sierra Foothills is in the glorious county of Calaveras.  The California Big Trees Park  is near near Arnold.  Murphys and the California wine country are fun to explore here. We found a lovely resort with fine accommodations called the Mountain Retreat Resort.  These beautiful condos are available to rent from owners.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Boutique Hotels in Sonoma Wine Country, Santa Monica, Chicago & Miami


Half the fun in going somewhere is finding a great hotel to enjoy with all the amenities, spa, pool, beach and accommodations to meet my budget for that trip.  Friends ask, "where .... what do you think ... and of course I try to suggest a few.  But, what I have found in this conversation is the underlying fact - some people want large hotels with 3 or 4 restaurants, gift shops, golf courses etc. while others want small luxury boutique hotels with all those amenities.  Well we have been scouting out some that are very romantic boutique hotels with many extras.

We found the Miami. Florida hotel in the South Beach region will fit most of the criteria in a grand and luxury way. The happy colors, inspiring palm tree-shaded lawn, sun deck and very nice stretch of sunny Atlantic beach is a definite YES at the Betsy Hotel South Beach.  The restaurant has raves as Miami's best steak house - yet the menus are varied and they also offer sushi. Lunch, dinner or dessert, this is a happy face for indulgent eating and splendid relaxation.  61 guest rooms, not far from the nightclub action and tons of to dos in this beautiful area.
                                                            Photo by Cynergistic.com

What do you go to the Sonoma wine country for?  The vineyards!!  So why book a hotel that does not have views of the vineyards.  The Vintner's Inn has rooms and a restaurant that look out over the beautiful vineyards, as well as a spa. It is adjacent to the famous chef's restaurant JOHN ASH on the grounds.
You have immediate access to the Russian River Vineyard region, the Healdsburg wine regions and glorious
hilltop vineyards of Paradise Ridge.  Just east in 20 minutes is the Valley of the Moon vineyards.... and with Napa Valley just a half hour away.

                                                        Photo by NeverEndingVoyage.com

I am sooooo in love with Shutters on The Beach in Santa Monica, California - because it continues with great service, good food at three restaurants, a breakfast included each day and extra fun activities.  The beach is where it happens during the day and the nearby pier (a block away) at night.  Enjoy the bicycles, the surf boards and maybe the Tesla house car while there.

This is a retreat with the sound of the ocean, warm sand, inspiring ocean views up and down the coast ... in crisp, clean luxury setting. Years ago I was a So. California sun bunny and do understand the importance of this iconic setting.
Photo by DreamsTime.com

For many, romance is frills, hearts, gifts, lace, silky things, music, perfume, beaches and breathtaking views ... while others indulge in romantic history.  

If  romantic history is your thing, you will love the quite elegant, and very historic, Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago on the "Magnificent Mile". It offers excellent Lake views has a lot to offer those visiting this large city.  History is what we are talking here.  Opening in 1927 rumor has it - they had a speakeasy during prohibition.  It used to be the "Playboy Hotel" during the 70's. The "cocktail" was first created here.  
Always refurbished in the newest trends, the rooms range from standard to large luxury suites.  This Chicago hotel is close to the Observatory, and the Navy Pier with tons of shopping. 

They have one of Chicago's most elegant ballrooms.


                                                            www.millenniumhotels.com

If you desire more hotels, resorts, b & b's or vacation rental links - please go to  WeddingLinks.com or WeddingLinks.co
and search your region.

Hotels & Resorts For Sun Worshipers - From Spain, Italy, Tahiti, Hawaii & Lake Tahoe, California

Ohhh you are a "Sun Worshiper?  We are too, and have found some very enticing locations throughout the world for the most romantic destinations.  Plus more on HoneymoonLinks.co ...

Photo by JR Moore - St. Regis on Bora Bora, Tahiti

Imagine a very blue lagoon, sugar white sand, and slipping into the refreshing water right from your over water bungalow.  Your hotel suite is spacious, with all the comforts of home.  The restaurant offers a waterside table or unique views from the cooled interior.  A water taxi takes you to other restaurants or shopping with just a simple phone call to the desk.  
You will find this and more at the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora. 


Between Valencia and Barcelona Spain, You will find the Mas de La Serra is an off the beaten path luxury boutique hotel within a wilderness.  They offer luxury accommodations, a private chef, and an amazingly restored building with modern conveniences. Near the Els Nature Park and part of Spain' Tuscany, there is no end to the beauty from almond orchards to mountains and forest wildlife. Sports oriented will find kayaking to rock climbing and star gazing are all part of the wonders.  Need a city, airport or a beach, they are just an hour away.  Did I forget? - a fab swimming pool in the full sun.
                                                    Photo by Wickipida.org of Els Nature Park

The Grand Hotel Tremezo is beyond ELEGANT. Surrounded by luxury, amazing views of Lake Como in northern Italy, you will find the sun brings your tan to a mountain high in this setting.
                                                          Photo from DiscoverComo.com
This glorious resort has beautiful gardens, an excellent restaurant, inspiring views and vast accolades from being featured in a number of magazines. Swimming, water sports, sailing and exploring various restaurants around the lake by water taxi or car... are all part of your summer fun and romantic honeymoon in the mountain air.


From the beach to your private suite's sun deck and to the pool, you will find beauty, luxury, tranquility and an amazing setting on Oahu, in beautiful Hawaii.  Near Honolulu for all the hub bub and night life - yet set off from the crowds, we found the Halekulani Hotel to be one of the most romantic settings.
                                                           Photo by Fodors.com

Lake Tahoe offers a few glamour resorts on the North Shore and South Shore. This is my mecca, and has been since I was quite young.  From camping, time shares, private cabin rentals to finding those amazing restaurants and views to remember all year long.  Return I must to this California and Nevada shared mountain lake.  The region is as well known for its skiing - as its tantalizing summer fun.

Even tho it is a casino, we found the Harrah's Lake Tahoe on South Shore provides many nice accommodations looking out over the beautiful Lake Tahoe.  Well known for their restaurants and buffet, you will find it is a comfortable choice in the area.  Many of the beaches are public and/or state parks.  You pick up a sun burn and tan quickly in this region at 6,000 feet.

While the hotel does not have much of a view, the accommodations are very good.  The Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel  on the South shore will give you a feeling of luxury and the restaurant offers a varied menu and is quite enjoyable.
                                                                       Photo of Lake Tahoe by  Ironman.com
We reviewed and love the Squaw Creek Resort - within the famous ski valley and away from the main lake, it is a 20 minute ride to the beaches on the north shoreline.  This is a four-diamond resort in a very beautiful valley where the Olympics were held in 1959-60. From the golf course to the excellent restaurant and the region's additional shops and restaurants, you will find much to do. The ski lift to the top will bring you to an amazing restaurant.

If you want more honeymoon ideas, go to   HoneymoonLinks.co  and WeddingLinks.co or .com