10 Labor Day Weekend California Getaways
We wanted to know the best spots in California for a Labor Day Staycation and we asked our gorgeous friend Harmony of The Bridal Bar to help! Read on to find her favorite spots.
Holiday weekends are packed full of weddings, but if you happen to find yourself without an rsvp for this coming Labor Day, a staycation with your love, away from wedding stress might just be the perfect pre-honeymoon getaway. I’ve handpicked my top ten favorite staycations in Southern California for the upcoming three-day weekend.
For a Swanky Stay
Pull up to the posh lobby drive and check in to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in North County San Diego where you’ll immediately be transplanted to a European getaway. Chill at one of the four private vanishing edge pools, dine at one of San Diego’s finest restaurants, Addison, and soak in your sexy tub below a window to your bedroom to jumpstart that pre-wedding romance. And for a day out, enjoy the last weekend of the Del Mar Racetrack too. You might even win back those staycation costs too!
For Vintage Fun
If you like it hot, head to Palm Springs this Labor Day weekend to the Colony Palms Hotel and stay at this once-speakeasy property turned boutique hotel with plenty of modern-day character and charm. A short walk to the downtown strip, the trendy Purple Palm restaurant by Chef Nick Tall, and of course a pool to stay cool are everything you could ask for in this staycation. Book a room with an outdoor tub and you may never leave!
For Quintessential California
Head slightly north to Santa Barbara and stop in at Belmond El Encanto for an enchanting weekend away and a spa experience you won’t soon forget. The relaxed old California vibe sets the tone for an intimate getaway complete with rainfall showers and soaking tubs and farm-to-table cuisine (they have a cow on property that produces milk for their cheese!). For a little outdoor adventure, arrange a tour of the nearby sea caves by kayak or hit the beach of course.
For a Sophisticated Summer Camp Experience
If you venture to the other side of PCH in Laguna Beach, you’ll find an undiscovered new property unlike anything else in the area. The Ranch at Laguna Beach is summer camp for grown ups at its finest. Check into a beach chic room designed by local fave, Tuvalu Home, and your neighbors will be the local deer wandering the property. There’s golf tucked between two mountains, a lodge-like lobby bar and restaurant to snuggle up fireside in, and even golf cart access to the sands of one of the most famous beaches in the world. You’ll feel close to the action but worlds away from everyone else.
For City Sunning
The Andaz West Hollywood has it all on the Sunset Strip – including a rooftop pool overlooking the City of Angels. If a nightlife scene and shopping are on your agenda, then you’ve landed in the center of the universe at Andaz West Hollywood. Dine on local fare at Riot House Restaurant, enjoy the nightly complimentary cocktail hour for guests and stay in a suite designed by Jonathan Adler (a portion of proceeds go to the RED Foundation). And a bonus if you’re a rock n’ roll fan, this property has been deemed a landmark thanks to its history of hotel guests including Zeppelin and Morrison.
For a Spa ExperiencE
Weekend getaways aren’t complete without a couples massage, right?! If romance and pampering are what you prefer, head to Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe where you’ll enjoy a private outdoor tub and treatment rooms for two in their world-class spa. You can even work on your pre-wedding wellness with yoga and pilates, hiking, tennis and more.
For a Trip Back in Time
Stay at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, where you’ll sleep among grand towers and winding staircases and be truly mesmerized by the grand architecture of this one-of-a-kind spot. Keep it casual by day at Las Campanas restaurant for giant margaritas in the sun and dine in style in the evening at Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood for a more formal dinner for two. And don’t miss a visit to local favorite and Cupcake Wars winner, Casey’s Cupcakes, located in the lobby for some sweet treats on this holiday weekend.
For Beachfront Beauty
The Pacific Edge Hotel sits right on the sand in Laguna Beach and makes for the perfect setting for a summertime staycation in So Cal. Book (in advance) a beach cabana on the deck for the day and get the best of both worlds – sand and surf and shelter complete with indoor TV, private restroom, living space and food and drink delivery whenever you need a nosh.
For Outdoor Activities + Great Golf
Just past Palm Springs in Indian Wells sits Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa where you can take a private Jeep tour to So Cal’s fault line, go rocking climbing with a guide in Joshua Tree, lace up for tennis where the pros play, and golf on property at one of the two ranked courses. Then relax fireside at one of the over-sized fire pits and dine at their new Citrus and Palm Restaurant for foods from local farms with freshly grown ingredients. And of course, the sunsets here are sure to get you in the pre-honeymoon mood!
For all the Action
A weekend away can be mellow and upbeat at the same time when you stay at Pechanga Resort & Casino, located in Southern California’s wine country region of Temecula. Hop on a wine tasting tour, hit the spa, take a poker lesson, see a comedy show and perhaps even score tickets to a headliner in their concert theater before ending the evening at the on-property night club, Eagle’s Nest, for some late night dancing!
To truly get away from wedding planning, no matter where you go, make this staycation one that includes only the moment you’re in!