Envisioning a honeymoon where you can walk on a beach, roam through city streets or do some world-class wine tasting? Why not consider staying in California? San Francisco, San Diego, South Lake Tahoe, the Central Coast and Napa Valley all make ideal romantic getaways.

San Francisco
It’s easy to find a breathtaking, panoramic view in this urban escape. Book a room at the four-star Hotel Vitale, a charming Embarcadero waterfront hotel in the Financial District. Relax in a deep outdoor tub on the spa’s penthouse level and soak in ocean views.

Across from the hotel, try one of several restaurants for lunch or dinner, including the Slanted Door, an upscale Vietnamese restaurant where you can sip cocktails with the city’s chic set. Take a walking tour of the Ferry Building with San Francisco City Guides or choose from more than 40 neighborhood tours, including one that stops at Coit Tower. Visit nearby North Beach for sidewalk cafes and Italian eateries. Stinking Rose, a well-known Italian restaurant in the heart of the district, will satisfy your love for garlic.

For an elegant evening, splurge on opera tickets at the lavish War Memorial Opera House. For dinner, try the nearby Breezy’s Restaurant & Bar for Mediterranean and California fusion cuisine.

Spend a day exploring Golden Gate Park. See American paintings, African art and textiles among the wide-ranging collection of the newly renovated de Young Museum. Have tea at the Japanese Tea Garden, then stroll through the Conservatory of Flowers. In case of bad weather, choose from the Museum of Modern Art, the Legion of Honor and the Asian Art Museum.

At night, see a show at The Fillmore, one of the country’s most notorious concert venues. Check the website to see who’s playing (thefillmore.com). For a swanky evening meal and cocktails, stop into The Grand Cafe at Geary and Taylor streets.

Time permitting, walk the San Francisco Bay Trail along the beach, with a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick it up at Crissy Field in the Presidio. This kind of walk is perfect for fall in the city, when the fog has cleared and the sun is shining.

San Diego
Beaches, dramatic cliffs, culture, shopping and nightlife round out a San Diego honeymoon. The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla is a five-diamond Craftsman-style resort adjacent to the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Relax at the hotel’s spa and pool, or play a round of golf. Dine at the Zagat-rated A.R. Valentien restaurant onsite, which showcases a seasonal menu.

Window shop and people watch your way through La Jolla’s ritzy shopping district. Weather permitting, hike along sandstone cliffs and rare pine trees at Torrey Pines State Reserve, just north of La Jolla.

Don’t miss Balboa Park with Spanish Renaissance architecture, more than a dozen museums, plus cultural centers, gardens and the San Diego Zoo. Stop by the House of Hospitality information center for a self-guided audio tour explaining the park’s history, architecture and landscaping.

For an eclectic mix of nightlife, shopping and restaurants, walk the energetic Gaslamp district, a 16.5-block historic district. Check out live jazz at Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar, honoring the legacy of 1970s folk rock legend Jim Croce, or boogey down at Cafe Sevilla, a dance club spinning Latin tunes, with a separate tapas bar, Spanish restaurant and weekend flamenco shows.

For sunbathing and beach strolls, drive to Coronado Island, home of the 120-year-old Hotel Del Coronado. The Victorian hotel with its distinctive red turrets is worth a visit. Then walk through downtown Coronado with its lively array of shops and restaurants. Take a one-hour gondola ride through Coronado Cays’ canals. Bring some bubbly and you’ll get glasses, an ice bucket, hors d’oeuvres or chocolate-covered strawberries. For a spectacular sunset view on your way back to the hotel, visit Sunset Cliffs Park, between Point Loma and Mission Beach, and its 68 acres of bluffs and walking trails overlooking the Pacific.

South Lake Tahoe
A popular wedding and honeymoon destination, South Lake Tahoe offers both relaxation and nightlife. Gambling, shopping, skiing and golfing are just a few of the activities you can partake in.

Hit it big at MontBleu, Harrah’s, Harveys, The Horizon, Bill’s or Lakeside Inn—the casinos, just across the Nevada state line, are open 24 hours. They offer more than penny slots and high rollers’ rooms, with cocktail lounges, 24-hour restaurants, coffee shops and dance clubs inside.

Stay at Black Bear Inn, a luxurious bed-and-breakfast a half mile from Lake Tahoe, with its river rock fireplace, pine staircase and cabin décor. 

In fall, hire a ride on the catamaran Woodwind II for a sunset cruise of the lake, which will be less crowded this time of year. Your choice of wine, beer or Champagne is included. During winter, hit the slopes to ski or snowboard at Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort or Heavenly. You also can ice skate at The Shops at Heavenly Village’s ice rink.

Any season works well for shopping at Heavenly Village, where boutiques, jewelry stores, cafes, art galleries and ski and snowboarding shops are open year round.

For a lakeside meal, dine at Riva Grill. Order a Wet Woody—a signature blended drink of cranberry, orange and pineapple juices, sweet and sour, peach schnapps, and three types of rum—and fried zucchini strips to start. The service is great and you can’t beat the view. Make reservations at Christiana Inn for a dressed-up evening out, and try Blue Angel Cafe for a casual, tasty lunch with worldly flair. 

Hit the greens at the famed Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. If the course is packed, drive northwest about 85 miles to Nakoma Golf Resort (open May through October) in Clio for the day—Frank Lloyd Wright designed the clubhouse.

Central Coast
California’s central coast is dotted with sleepy beach towns and dramatic views of the Pacific. The Cliffs Resort, a luxury hotel in Pismo Beach that overlooks the ocean, is a perfect beach hideaway. Take a dip in the swimming pool, indulge in a spa treatment or take a walk on the beach. Order a Kir Royale from the hotel lounge, and watch the waves crash just beyond the outdoor patio.

Start your day with an hour-long horseback ride on Pismo Beach with J&J Riding (available year round). A short walking distance from your hotel, De Palo & Sons serves deli sandwiches. Stock up for a picnic, then head 50 miles up the coast to Hearst Castle, a Mediterranean Revival hilltop estate whose two pools, sprawling gardens and three guesthouses can only be seen on a docent-led tour. After the tour, look for a spot to eat your lunch overlooking the ocean as you head south to Cambria, a cozy town with a wine tasting room, Fermentations.

Morro Bay is a small coastal town known for its monstrous, 576-foot tall Morro Rock. In fall, explore the calm bay waters by kayak, where you may see otters, herons and harbor seals. In winter, browse gift stores, surf shops and numerous art galleries.

Hang out in downtown San Luis Obispo, packed with chic boutiques and restaurants. Join residents from 6-9 p.m. every Thursday, when seven blocks are closed for one of the largest year-round farmers markets in the state. More than 20 restaurants and caterers dish up curbside while bands play and vendors sell flowers, produce, clothing and keepsakes.

Napa Valley
In the Napa Valley, you’ll find rambling hills and lush vineyards, and food and wine among the best in the world. Stay in your own private cottage at The Cottages of Napa Valley. Along with romantic respite, each cottage comes with a soaking tub and fireplace.

The Napa Valley has more than 400 wineries—where to start? Arguably one of the valley’s most dramatic wineries is Castello di Amorosa. After almost 15 years of construction, Daryl Sattui opened this medieval castle with a vineyard and tasting room in 2007. On a tour, you’ll walk through the eight-level castle and most of its 107 rooms, including a frescoed great room and dungeon.

At Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate, you can intersperse wine tasting with an exhibit on movie memorabilia before savoring a glass of wine alfresco at Mammarella Wine Bar, a leafy outdoor cafe that looks like it belongs in Paris. At Merryvale in St. Helena, sign up for a weekend morning wine tasting seminar, or sip wine and look at art at Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville.

See Napa Valley from the clouds. Lift off at sunrise in a hot air balloon, followed by a Champagne brunch. Visit Oxbow Public Market, a new, permanent farmers market with artisan food vendors and restaurants by the Napa River.

Have dinner at Redd in Yountville, with its minimalist décor and wine country cuisine, or order from the small plates menu at the bar.

Unwind at Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort in Calistoga and sink into a mud bath. For culture, visit the di Rosa Preserve in Napa. The 217-acre preserve houses an art collection of nearly 2,300 pieces by more than 900 Northern California artists.