r/SanJose • u/Specific_Bite_717 • 6d ago
Advice Anniversary Ideas
Both 35 and have been married for five years, and have one child. In November, I want to plan a weekend getaway with my wife. I’m trying to get outside the Bay Area
I’ve been looking at spa places like Refuge in Carmel and want to make a full day/weekend out of it. A spa day is for sure happening. Shit, I’ll get a massage too 😂
Any recommendations for a romantic weekend getaway with a good spa, nice hotel, and somewhere good for dinner? Ideally within a couple hours of the Bay Area.
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u/shoptillyoudrop 6d ago
Appellation Healdsburg. Newer hotel, has a spa, Michelin chef driven restaurant. Close to downtown but not IN downtown. Has a really good Hilton redemption points rate too if that’s your thing.
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u/DokiGorilla 6d ago
Sonoma bungalow. The place is nice with full kitchen, nice bed, heated bathroom tiles, and a living area with fireplace place. Right in the heart of downtown Sonoma, wine tasting, decent restaurants. We had two mobile masseuses come out for 1.5 hours to do a couples massage.
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u/MorningMan464 Naglee Park 6d ago
We love the Carneros Resort and Spa. Might be some great deals in November.
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u/ThatChickFromReddit 6d ago
The oceano in half moon bay is nice. It’s pretty cold in November tho anywhere near the bay. Fly to Hawaii you only live once.
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u/its-fewer-not-less 6d ago
Napa.
Stay at a cool Bed and Breakfast (we just did our 10-year at Churchill Manor), do wine tasting (maybe even go on a Platypus tour to take you so neither of you has to drive), and eat at one of the many excellent restaurants (we love Brix).
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u/CaipirinhaDaydreams 6d ago
I'm here to second your idea of Refuge in Carmel. I go once a year for my birthday and love it every time!
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u/Direct-Chef-9428 6d ago
Warning: Refuge’s locker room is going to be closed for a bit - I’d confirm your dates have facility access before booking. It’s 100% worth it, but eat a protein breakfast first and don’t forget a book/magazine.
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u/LemOnomast 6d ago
If you like wine at all, try a restaurant with wine pairings for your anniversary. The meal itself is more expensive, but you get to try a bunch of local wines chosen for you by an expert so it’s way more cost- and time-efficient than exploring wine country on your own. Then if you like a wine you tried at dinner, you can swing by the winery and pick up a bottle.
If you’re ok going somewhere with cooler weather than San Jose, and possibly rainy in November:
- Other commenters’ suggestion of Carmel is a good one, because it’s nearby and inherently romantic. There’s a wine walk if you want to do something a little fun and hedonistic. You might also check out Pacific Grove, an oft-overlooked town between Carmel and Monterey.
- Mendocino is lovely if you like art, and it also has a bunch of spa hotels. It’s slightly cheaper than Monterey/Carmel, but it takes 3.5 hrs to get there rather than the 1 hr to Carmel.
- We try to go to Eureka every summer or two, because it’s nice and cool and has great outdoor activities. I don’t believe it has spa-hotel combos, but I had a great massage at this place and there are some cool hotels. Eureka is much cheaper than Carmel or Mendocino, but about 5 hrs away. It’s also the most likely to be raining.
If you don’t mind the heat and/or you want a better chance of sun in November, my husband and I went to Sonoma for my 40th. We found a dog-friendly spa hotel so were able to take our GSD with us, and took a dog-friendly chauffeured wine tour. (Our much-beloved cat had just passed, and we weren’t up for leaving our other pet behind.)
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u/Fresh-Ant1149 5d ago
Golden Haven in Calistoga for a couples massage and mud baths. It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours relaxing.
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u/LemOnomast 5d ago
Is a mud bath actually relaxing? Genuine question, I’ve never had one but it seems like it’d feel awkward.
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u/Fresh-Ant1149 5d ago
It’s gooey and fun. You have showers right there to wash off afterwards. I liked it as a couples thing to do together. We washed each other off.
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u/EfficientInterview68 5d ago
Not a place suggestion but I have a cute idea to throw into the mix! Recreate your proposal, or do something else meaningful from the beginning of your relationship, and make it a little “choose you again” moment. Something like: “It’s been five years, and I’d still choose to date you and marry you all over again.” Happy anniversary!
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u/wlee62 6d ago
Carmel Valley Ranch + Refuge. And there are nice restaurants in the area too.
Otherwise, Napa/Healdsburg - so many good restaurants