10 Over-the-Top Romantic Suites in California

With incredible views, soaking tubs, romantic lighting, fireplaces and more, these 10 suites in California pull out all the stops on romance.

In the heart of San Francisco's bustling Union Square, the Inn at Union Square has just completed a top-to-bottom renovation. Its newly-transformed Alma Spreckels suite–named for grand dame of San Francisco's arts–is a spacious hideaway in the city. This top-of-the-line suite features a spacious living area with plush velvet lounge chairs, a wood-burning fireplace and a half bath. The spa-like master bath features Carrera Marble, floating glass shelves, dual shower heads with multiple body sprays, a sitting area and a walk-in closet. The suite also features a king pillowtop bed with a tufted headboard, a 60-inch LCD TV with wireless connectivity, KEYPR in-room service tablet, black out draperies and artwork inspired by San Francisco and Alma Spreckels' love for dance, theatre and French Baroque design.

The dramatic Mendocino coastline, misty sea air and rugged buffs provide a breathtaking backdrop for Brewery Gulch Inn's exclusive Serenity Cottage, where guests will find a retreat from the world. The 700-square-foot cottage sits on five private oceanfront acres surrounded by beautiful gardens. The cottage features rich woods, a warm fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful ocean views. Large sliding doors open onto a private deck. A queen bed features a feather mattress topper and Sferra linens. The bath features plush robes, a heated towel rack and a walk-in closet. The cottage is also furnished with a couch, leather arm chairs, a writing desk, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer. A three-night minimum is required.

Tucked away in Santa Barbara wine country, the Victorian Mansion Bed & Breakfast has not one, but six luxury suites that transport guests to exotic locales and eras. Together with over 200 expert craftsmen, sculptors and artists, the owner spent the better part of a decade creating the inn's six masterfully-themed suites. The entire inn is a collection of objets d'art and experiences, including painted murals and tiles, hidden bathrooms, spiral staircases, a cannon coffee table, an Egyptian sarcophagus, a chariot, a gypsy caravan wagon, and a 1956 Cadillac convertible. The fantasies do not come at the expense of luxury or taste. Each suite features a fireplace, hot tub, premium mattresses and linens, and impeccable décor. A gourmet breakfast magically appears each morning via a private food butler. The Victorian Mansion was selected as one of France's "Le Guide Du Routard's" 'must sees' in California.

In the remote, western edge of Paso Robles wine country, JUST Inn offers four exquisite suites nestled amid the vineyards at Justin Winery. Three of the suites, which are tucked behind the winery's restaurant and tasting room, feature a soothing pale green palette and mid-century modern furnishings with gas fireplaces, Tempur-Pedic® mattresses, Frette linens and hydro-spa tubs. A fourth suite, the Vintners Villa, is a 1,400-square-foot townhouse built above the winery's production facility, which is located a quarter of a mile away. After enjoying an incredible five-course, farm-to-table, wine-pairing dinner in the restaurant's intimate dining room, take a glass of wine outside to the concrete-and-glass gas fire pits lining the edge of the patio. The dark night skies above this quiet, remote vineyard turn out an expansive blaze of stars once the sun sets.

For a completely private hideaway in Paso Robles wine country, book the exquisitely-restored farmhouse at HammerSky Vineyards. The elegant, 1904 colonial farmhouse sits on a 50-acre vineyard with a small winery, tasting room, barn, and graceful old oaks. The winery produces hand-crafted, Bordeaux wines in small lots. Once the home to the family of a pioneer farmer and pastor, the house offers a large gourmet kitchen, dining room, living room, three bedrooms, and two full baths. The décor is an eclectic but tasteful mix of contemporary and antique furnishings, fixtures, and colors. Outside, a shaded side deck offers patio seating, a barbecue grill, and a private hot tub with picturesque views of the vineyards. Lights strung from the trees and provide an enchanting glow at night.

The Gingerbread Mansion in Ferndale is a meticulously restored Victorian with lavish guest rooms furnished with period antiques that evoke scenes from a fairytale. The grandest of the suites is the Empire Suite, which is located on the third floor. Double doors with stained glass open to the spacious suite with vaulted ceilings and gable windows looking out over the Victorian town and redwood-covered hills. Elegant columns stand at the foot of an opulently-appointed king-size bed. With two marble fireplaces on opposite ends of the suite, couples can choose to snuggle on the living room sofa to watch the flames or recline beside the fire in a romantic claw foot tub. The luxurious bath also features a large marble and glass shower with dual showerheads, multiple jets, and a built-in bench. Breakfast is delivered to the suite each morning.

The elegantly-restored Tallman Hotel in Lake County evokes the romanticism of California's Old West. Among the most beguiling of the rooms are the Lower Garden Rooms, which feature spacious, private patios with deep, Japanese Ofuro soaking tubs and outdoor showers. The beautiful Ofuros are made of teak, the water is set to a comfortable 101 degrees, and two people can snuggle up in the warm water and gaze up at the multitude of stars overhead. Inside, the rooms feature king-size beds with Eastlake style furnishings and a mélange of custom-designed wallpaper and fabrics that evoke a bygone era while appealing to modern sensibilities. Couples can request a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries to enjoy in the room or order room service from the inn's on-site restaurant.

From the private balcony of the Romance Room at On the Beach Bed and Breakfast in Cayucos, guests have panoramic ocean views that extend from the iconic Morro Rock to the south to Cayucos Pier to the north. It's an incredible to perch from which to watch the sunset each night. Inside, the spacious, light-filled room has vaulted ceilings and clerestory windows. It features a mahogany four poster king bed draped with romantic curtains, a luxuriously comfortable foam mattress and divinely soft sheets. A fireplace stands in the corner opposite a large reading chair with an ottoman. The bath features an oversized Jacuzzi tub. At stay at the inn includes a social hour with wines and appetizers each afternoon, dessert each evening, and a gourmet breakfast each morning.

Nestled against a scenic mountain backdrop in a quiet residential enclave of Palm Springs, Las Fuentes Inn & Gardens is a single-suite hideaway with a long list of amenities. Outside, a heated, 60-foot saltwater lap pool is surrounded by desert gardens, trickling water fountains, spectacular night lighting, and a shaded patio for lounging. Inside, the suite is furnished in a contemporary Southwest style with modern Native American art. The suite also features vaulted ceilings, recessed, dimmer-controlled lighting, a gas fireplace, an etched-glass enclosed steam shower with a bench and both rain and hand-held showerheads, a tiled soaking tub, a separate spa tub, an extensive library of books and DVDs, a harpsichord, and more.

Hotel Catalina and Courtyard Garden Suites' 1,800 square-foot Ocean View Owner's Penthouse Suite is one of the most unique and exclusive accommodations on Catalina Island. The suite's open beamed ceilings, original hardwood flooring and richly-crafted wood furniture give guests the impression of staying in a European-style lodge. The Penthouse Suite is accessed by private elevator or stairs, and offers a private terrace with panoramic views of the ocean and Avalon Bay. The suite features a master bedroom with a king-size Posturepedic mattress, master bath with a jetted spa tub and separate shower, a living room with a fireplace and 60" LED flat screen television, a lounge area off the living room with an upright piano, a queen-size bed and second full bath, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a dining room with seating for six.

For more information on these and other romantic California inns, visit www.cabbi.com.