What’s more romantic than mountains and water, Mother Nature at her finest, and your beau by your side? Big Sur, CA located about 300 miles from Los Angeles, is the kind of place where people go to propose.

Where to Stay

Post Ranch Inn.  It’s a splurge but it’s worth it. 30 rooms. 2 private houses.  Cliff House is stunning. With a deck suspended over the cliffs, this extraordinary single structure floats.  Guests enter through an enclosed garden courtyard into the lap of luxury, and the private, glass-walled bedroom features custom-built furniture, a wood-burning fireplace and radiant-heat floors.  Sip champagne in the indoor large soaking tub, or breathe in the stars in the outdoor stainless steel hot tub.  Post Ranch Inn features an award winning spa and Sierra Mar serves delicacies from acclaimed Executive Chef Craig von Foerster who uses seasonal, local and garden ingredients to craft four-course, prix fixe menus that change daily.  At Post Ranch Inn you can’t help but feel wrapped up in romance.

What to Do

For lovebirds who like to get out in nature together, Garrapata State Park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific.  Or try Point Lobos State Reserve, yet another ideal location for sightseeing and hiking.  There are headlands, coves, and rolling meadows. In February, you might even catch migrating gray whales. Whether you want to picnic or jog, there’s love around every bend.

And finally, what’s more picaresque than a lighthouse?  Even though the last keeper left Point Sur in 1974, there are tours at Point Sur Lighthouse Saturdays and Sundays at 10am.  They last three hours and give you a breathtaking view from the top where you can survey and smooch in the company of the Pacific.

-Arianna Schioldager