If playdates and sippy cups are putting a cramp in your mom time, this is the list for you! These hotels are all within a few hours drive of the Bay Area but you’ll feel miles away from your mom responsibilities when you book some time there for a moms getaway. Invite your other mom pals in need of a long weekend with wine tasting, spa treatments and NO DIAPERS on the agenda. Peek at some of our favorite spots below!
The Sandman—Santa Rosa, CA
Right off of 101, The Sandman’s Santa Rosa location is super convenient for moms visiting wine country. The welcoming staff and chill mid-century modern decor will make you feel relaxed the minute you arrive. Spend your days lounging by the heated pool where you can purchase snacks and their homemade Frozé at the Pool House & Bar. Summers at The Sandman bring their food truck nights and live music by the pool.
While you are there: For the ultimate wine tasting experience, book a private wine tasting with Bucher Wines at Grand Cru Custom Crush in nearby Windsor. For only $25/person, owner Diane Bucher will share with you five of their estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the heart of the Russian River Valley. Grand Cru Custom Crush has private tasting rooms that can accommodate up to eight guests. This intimate tasting experience offers you unfettered access to everything you'd want to know about the grape-growing and wine-making business in a way you cannot experience at typical tasting rooms around town.
Where to eat: We love the casual vibe at Stockhome Restaurant in nearby Petaluma. Husband-wife owners Roberth and Andrea Sundell bring you Swedish favorites, which have heavy influences from the Middle East, that are perfect for sharing with your mom crew. Start off with pita to enjoy with hummus and tabbouleh, and follow with the Swedish meatballs.
The Sandman
3421 Cleveland Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA
Online: sandmansantarosa.com
EuroSpa and Inn—Calistoga, CA
Wine country is the perfect destination for your moms-only weekend and Calistoga has the relaxation, good food and wine tasting that you are looking for. The quaint downtown is very walkable and even offers a convenient shuttle service to get you to area wineries.
The EuroSpa and Inn is located just two blocks from Calistoga's main street and is just the oasis you are looking for when planning your weekend away from the kids. The 13 rooms are all oversized to allow you to spread out or share with friends. A delicious breakfast is included in the outdoor courtyard or grab a tray to take back to your room (make sure you try their homemade granola). Relax in the hot tub after a day of wine tasting.
The Inn's onsite spa is an added bonus and offers massages, facials and a wine country special—the Calistoga mud wrap. Spend some time after your treatment enjoying the detoxifying properties of the FAR Infrared Sauna.
While you are there: Head up the hill to take in some stunning wine country views 1,000 feet above the Napa Valley at Burgess Cellars. You'll feel like esteemed guests when you enjoy a private or small group wine tasting (by reservation only) in the mountainside room or cellar. Learn about this family owned and operated mountainside winery while sipping the products of their Winery Ranch Vineyard and Haymarket Vineyard.
Where to eat: Make your moms' getaway a true culinary celebration with a meal at Solbar at the Solage. Executive Chef Gustavo Rios recently took the helm to offer Napa Valley cuisine that's as fresh as you can get with veggies and herbs harvested from the kitchen garden out back. The service is attentive and happy to help you choose from between selections like Kabocha squash agnolotti with trumpet mushrooms and pan-roasted Alaskan halibut with oyster stew.
EuroSpa and Inn
1202 Pine St.
Calistoga, CA
Online: eurospa.com
The Clement Hotel—Palo Alto, CA
All-inclusive luxury service is the name of the game at The Clement Hotel in Palo Alto and it starts before you even arrive. Guests are sent a short questionnaire requesting food and beverage preferences, providing booking services and requesting specifics that would make your stay more comfortable. All food, beverages (including alcohol), valet and tips are included in your stay. Enjoy meals in the dining room adjacent to the open kitchen and snacks from the guest pantry that are available 24 hours. Sip some local wines on the roof deck with views of Palo Alto and the Stanford campus while you take a dip in the heated pool and hot tub. The hotel's 23 rooms are all suites with a separate living room and balcony.
While you are there: Book one of the hotel's packages to maximize your mom time. The Clement shopping experience provides you with car service to Stanford Shopping Center, a personal shopper at Bloomingdale's with 15% discount and beauty consultations. Or, book the perfect pampered day experience with spa treatments at LaBelle Day Spa. Wine tasting excursions are also available.
The Clement Hotel
711 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA
Online: theclementpaloalto.com
Ventana Big Sur—Big Sur, CA
A few nights in the woods are just the getaway that you and the mom crew needs (without having to set up a tent, of course). Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, is an iconic resort ensconced in the heart of the California Central Coast’s rugged landscape, perched at the edge of the continent overlooking the majestic Pacific coastline. Set among 160 sprawling acres of rolling meadows and towering redwoods, the intimate 59-room property reopened in late 2017 after a multimillion-dollar resort-wide renovation. Whether you select a suite or one of the "glampsites," you'll be able to enjoy this serene landscape unlike any other.
While you are there: Book some massages or facials at Spa Alila, located on the Ventana property. Afterwards, spend the day relaxing by the Meadow Pool with infinity-edge hot tub.
Ventana Big Sur
48123 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA
Online: ventanabigsur.com
Little River Inn—Little River, CA
Make it a "Moms in Mendocino" weekend and head to Little River Inn. Located in the town of Little River, the property offers sweeping views of the Mendocino coastline and large rooms that are perfect for sharing. Pick up a box of their homemade fudge when you check in and then sip some wine on your deck as you enjoy the sunset. Try the Swedish hotcakes for breakfast in your room or dine at the onsite restaurant. Little River Inn is just a short drive to downtown Mendocino, beaches and wineries. Sign up for the hotel's newsletter to learn about seasonal events like mushroom foraging and whale watching.
While you are there: Book some time at the onsite spa or play a round of golf as you breathe in the fresh coastal air.
Little River Inn
7751 CA-1
Little River, CA
Online: littleriverinn.com
Carmel Valley Ranch—Carmel, CA
Carmel Valley Ranch is California’s ultimate summer camp-inspired resort sprawling across 500 acres in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on California’s Central Coast. This resort is a one-stop playground with fun activities and adventures. Home to a 3-acre organic garden, a pinot noir vineyard, a refreshed Spa Aiyana and more, Carmel Valley Ranch is the perfect destination for your mom getaway. Moms can participate in the resort’s “Wine Tasting in Valley Kitchen” where guests will taste the best of Monterey’s wine offerings with the guidance of the resort’s certified Sommelier including wines from Carmel Valley Ranch’s very own Swing Label. Hilltop yoga is available in the summer months as are many other year-round fitness options. Book a beekeeping seminar or foraging hike for your crew.
While you are there: Head to the onsite spa for a customized, hydrating 50-minute massage with a fruity 25-minute enzyme facial to prepare your skin for the outdoor season. Finally, let your worries float away with a soak in the infinity hot tub overlooking Carmel Valley, a glass of bubbly in hand—naturally!
Carmel Valley Ranch
One Old Ranch Road
Carmel, CA
Online: carmelvalleyranch.com
Costanoa Lodge—Pescadero, CA
Costanoa is an eco-adventure resort located between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz where you can simply retreat from the chaos of everyday life and discover the pace of nature. Whether you book rooms at the lodge or bunk up in the tent cabins, your days will be spent in the crisp, ocean air. Hike out to the coast for views of Pigeon Point and Año Nuevo Island and then spend your night in an Adirondack chair around the fire pit. Enjoy local, California cuisine at the Cascade Restaurant on the property or grab a bottle of wine from the General Store to enjoy back at your room.
While you are there: Head out to visit the nearby elephant seals or to check out the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Then book some time at the onsite spa.
Costanoa Lodge
2001 Rossi Road at Hwy 1
Pescadero, CA
Online: costanoa.com
—Kate Loweth
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