According to a recent poll taken by Virtuoso, nearly four months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 coronavirus a pandemic, travel is beginning to come back. Albeit with strict new protocols in place. Countries are cautiously reopening their borders. Airlines are adding more routes to their schedules. Those that postponed, and didn’t cancel, are emerging from quarantine with a serious desire to get out, rebook and get back to travel!
If you’re eager as ever to get back to planning a getaway, destination wedding or honeymoon but aren’t quite ready to fly internationally, we’ve got suggestions you’ll love! Check out these forty breathtaking US resorts for post-pandemic weddings & honeymoons. They’re all quite easy to drive or fly to; most are open now, and ready to welcome you!
California
The Golden State
Northern California
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur
Suspended from the cliffs in Big Sur, California, Post Ranch Inn is all about intimate elegance. They offer 39 guest rooms and a separate villa on the property. Views of the rugged mountainside and sea are hypnotic. Wood burning fireplaces, organic bath products, walking sticks, and binoculars are some of the available amenities you and your guests can enjoy!
Ventana Big Sur
Along the coastal region near Monterey sits Ventana Big Sur in all its glory. All meals are included in the room price (dine in your room, at the pool or The Sur House), as well as the Ventana Picnic Program and use of a Volvo house car (within a 3-mile radius). Sounds like the perfect option for a destination wedding or honeymoon.
CALISTOGA/NAPA VALLEY
Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort
Enjoy rustic luxury in one of the 50 freestanding guest lodges—shower under an open sky. Relax on your porch in front of the private fireplace as you enjoy this total immersion in nature. Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort, is a destination wedding and honeymoon paradise.
Solage, an Auberge Resort
If you’re a Mercedes Benz owner, you’re in luck! Solage, an Auberge Resort, offers a $100 Credit + Upgrade just for you! And everyone else wins, too! Cycle the legendary Silverado Trail on the bikes available to each guest. Soar high above Napa Valley in a hot air balloon! Settle down for a ceremony under the stars and a reception late into the night.
Meadowood Napa Valley
The 3 Michelin star restaurant Dining on the Estate sets the tone for the uber elegant Meadowood Napa Valley. Add golf & tennis, car service to downtown St. Helena and Yountville, and one of the top spas in the region, and you’ll enjoy an unmatched wedding & honeymoon experience.
CARMEL
Carmel Valley Ranch
A golf lover’s paradise, Carmel Valley Ranch, has the only 18-hole, par-70 course designed by Pete Dye in Northern California. And there’s plenty of room to roam on this 500-acre resort. Enjoy fine dining on locally sourced, sustainably caught, fish delivered daily from the Monterey Bay. Book the Bath Butler to set up something romantic for two or something fun for the kids. Here it’s all about family. Your guests will appreciate it!
FORT BRAGG
Inn at Newport Ranch
Escape the lockdown blues to this hilltop destination when the land meets the sea. Your very own private oasis made up of nine rooms in four buildings on 2000 acres. Close family & friends will witness your nuptials on the oceanside bluff as the glorious sunset is behind you. The Inn at Newport Ranch awaits!
HALF MOON BAY
Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Located near San Francisco & Silicone Valley, the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, is a sprawling family-friendly resort. Great outdoor venue spaces hug the coastline offering dramatic backdrops for weddings. Award-wining cuisine will wow you and your guests. Historic Old Town is nearby for a fun excursion pre or post celebration or after your guests have departed. Honeymoon time!
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
OJAI
Ojai Valley Inn
A premier Southern California resort, Ojai Valley Inn is an excellent choice for guests looking for endless activities or simply to relax. Horseback riding, Farmhouse cooking classes, open studio Artist Cottage, sailing, surfing, even trolley rides are all right here to enjoy. Perfect for a 3-night destination wedding or honeymoon.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Terranea Resort
With panoramic 270-degree views of the Pacific, Terranea Resort is one of the rare places where one can see the sun both rise and set over the ocean from a single vantage point. Luxurious accommodations and a unique 9-hole par three course make this a perfect choice for your destination wedding or glorious sunny Southern California honeymoon!
NEWPORT BEACH
The Resort at Pelican Hill
With the Coliseum pool, ocean-view Fazio golf course, and 504 acres of unrivaled coastal beauty, The Resort at Pelican Hill, is as close to paradise as a resort can get. The iconic wedding rotunda is the picture you’ll want on the front of your wedding album!
LAGUNA BEACH
Montage Laguna Beach
Perched on a prime oceanside bluff, Montage Laguna Beach sits in the midst of one of the world’s most famous artist colonies. Stroll the winding streets going in and out of galleries. Enjoy afternoon tea served daily in the lobby lounge. Watch the seagulls soar over the glistening Pacific. Host your wedding out on the rocks and stay at least a week for your honeymoon!
MONTECITO
San Ysidro Ranch
One of the exclusive Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, San Ysidro Ranch is a luxurious Santa Barbara hideaway. Seven unique venue spaces are excellent options for intimate gatherings or large celebrations. Tucked between the Santa Inez mountains and the Pacific Ocean, just a short drive north of Los Angeles, you’ll want to extend your stay for sure!
Rosewood Miramar
At this beautiful seaside resort, you can enjoy early-morning yoga on the sand and sunset walks along the shore. Step out from your bungalow to lounge by one of the two pools, and unwind at the inspired Sense® spa. Rosewood Miramar Beach is the perfect setting for an unforgettably romantic beachfront stage to exchange your vows and celebrate your love!
RANCHO SANTA FE
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
This Spanish Colonial Hacienda-inspired enclave in Rancho Santa Fe, California, enjoys the Forbes 5-star rating. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa’s 49 private, luxuriously-appointed, individually heated and cooled guest casitas with spacious patios and fireplaces are scattered across 45 acres of lush gardens. Glorious grounds abound for weddings of all sizes. The citrus groves offer space, privacy, and the comfort of your own coastal ranch. This is the perfect honeymoon hideaway.
SANTA BARBARA
Belmond El Encanto
This Santa Barbara enclave boasts California Craftsman seamlessly intertwined with Spanish Colonial architecture. Host your destination wedding at this iconic retreat reflecting 1920s style coupled with splashes of modern artistry. Your destination wedding guests will appreciate two nights and three days at the Belmond El Encanto, a hilltop sanctuary in one of the rooms, bungalows or suites.
Midwest
America’s Heartland
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, Tabernash, Colorado
How do 6500 acres of pristine Rocky Mountains sound after being holed up in the city for the last 4+ months? We think it sounds purdy darn good! You and your wedding guests can enjoy a day of archery, fly fishing, horseback riding, ziplining, and more as they settle into nature’s glory. Celebrate sooner rather than later and receive special rates while keeping the full experience of beautiful mountain views and luxury amenities limited to an intimate gathering at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa.
Viceroy Snowmass, Snowmass (Aspen), Colorado
Family-friendly and pet-friendly, this newly renovated resort high in the Colorado mountains is a sanctuary and hub of activity all at the same time. Relax in the spa or enjoy the great outdoors, Viceroy Snowmass is a destination to fall in love with every time you return. Thinking about eloping? Here’s a perfect place to go, get married, and stay for a week in the hot tub!
Further West
The Town, Colorado
Here is something we can almost bet you’ve never seen before. An authentic Western town, replicated from original buildings, lovingly restored. The accommodations, pool hall, saloon, barbershop, mess hall, restaurants, stables, railway station, sheriff’s station, and so much more (120+ buildings), are completely authentic, with fully modern conveniences. The Town in an undisclosed location is available for 3-night minimum buyouts only, exclusively through Wedaways.
The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulf, Beaver Creek, Colorado
Another awesome option for a wedding with family & friends is The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulf. Here you’ll find 33,000 sq ft of event space, so no worries when it comes to social distancing! Whether you choose a ceremony spot near the National Forest or prefer a rustic cabin from the early 1900s, or, if you’re going all out, choose the grand ballroom with wrought-iron chandeliers. Tell your guests to bring their kids! There’s the Ritz Kids club, in-room camping, and even nanny skiing!
Dunton Hot Springs Hotel, Dunton, Colorado
Paying homage to the past, Dunton Hot Springs Hotel created a unique retreat that includes a village dance hall, bathhouse, and saloon, yet didn’t overlook the modern pastime of yoga and boxing with studios for each! Majestic mountains, a winding river, and a sleigh make up the backdrop for your intimate gathering or romantic honeymoon. The cabins feature heated slate floors, unique bathtubs, and very cool antiques.
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana
Located in Big Sky Country, The Ranch at Rock Creek was designed with love in mind —and convenience! Here your experiences are all-inclusive! Food, activities, everything! And the ranch is featured in Forbes Travel Guide, which will pretty much guarantee a five star plus visit. Elopement & honeymoon couples can choose from a variety of awesome accommodations (imagine a glamping tent or romantic cabin) and will enjoy customized activities designed to inspire.
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
America’s biggest private national park, with ten miles of Blackfoot River running through it. The Resort at Paws Up even boasts a hidden mountain treasure: The Island Lodge at Salmon Lake. This is a must-see. A private retreat nestled among the pines, serving as the central gathering spot for a host of summer lake activities. This is a majestic destination for elopements & honeymoons.
Amangiri, Canyon Point, Utah
Located in one of the most geographically dramatic places on earth, you’ll enjoy access to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Monument Valley Tribal Park, home of the Navajo Nation. Whether you’re looking for a family or romantic getaway, you can be sure the experiences at Amangiri will be transformative.
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Wanship, Utah
If you love the outdoors, and perhaps have a glam cowboy or cowgirl living inside you, you’ll fall in love with the Lodge at Blue Sky. This is the ideal “go west” getaway for the urban dweller. Wake up to, as the name states, blue skies and spend the days out on the sagebrush hugging trails. The refurbished, rustic-chic barn is a perfect venue to host events of all kinds.
Amangani, Jackson, Wyoming
A Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort with year-round activities and grounds filled with wildlife, Amangani offers an endless variety of adventure. Escape the city and celebrate proposals, elopements, weddings, honeymoons or just have some quality time with your nearest & dearest. Curl up in a woven cowhide chair with a faux-wolf throw as you gaze at the mountain views from your terrace or balcony.
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming
Hop in the car and drive four hours from Denver to The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch. You’ve found the jet-set crowd’s top choice to host Western chic events, weddings, and getaways. Don’t expect a dude-ranch experience here. Starting at $6,000 a night for a family of six (all-inclusive), you can spend the entire day outside, come back for a hot tub and glass of wine, and finally get ready for an elegant dinner by candlelight.
SOUTHWEST
Deserts, mountains, plateaus, mesas, broad basins, and plains.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado is home to hiking, biking trails, and the Santa Fe Ski Area. Tour dwellings from the 1400s and spend days roaming in and out of art galleries. The Santa Fe Opera’s summer season is world-famous for family fun. Escape, propose, elope. All here.
Commodore Perry Estate, an Auberge Resort, Austin, Texas
A new addition to the 19 properties in the Auberge Resorts Collection, and in one of the most desirable cities in the USA, Austin, Texas. With 54 rooms in all, 42 rooms and 12 suites, Commodore Perry Estate is an urban retreat in a historical setting. Five of the suites are in the original mansion built during the Jazz Age in 1928. Are you a golf enthusiast? You’ll find Hancock Golf Course just across the street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion, on-site chapel, and sunken gardens have local landmark status. This truly wins Grand Dame status in Austin.
SOUTHEAST
Acqualina Resort & Residence, Sunny Isles, Florida
Boasting Five Star, Five Diamond status, Acqualina Resort & Residences sits on the pristine white sand beaches of Sunny Isles Beach, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. This world-class resort and Mediterranean-style beachfront escape hug 4.5 beachfront acres with 400 feet of stunning Atlantic Ocean coastline. There are 98 luxury accommodations to choose from, a fabulous SPA, a popular kid’s club, and plenty of indoor/outdoor fine & casual dining. Lots of event space make this a top choice for celebrations of all kinds.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Miami, Florida
This Art-Deco inspired hotel most definitely has a chic Hollywood-vibe. That’s because director Baz Luhrmann served as the hotel’s creative consultant. Inside the lobby, you’ll walk a 30-foot-long red carpet. Enjoy the tropically themed floor-to-ceiling murals, and zebra-print couches. And outside? Linger by the gorgeous pool surrounded by candy-striped umbrellas and red chaise lounges. Just about ten blocks from South Beach, you’ll stay in a 100% smoke-free environment, indulge in fine dining, and catch a Paris-style cabaret show at the two-level, 150-seat onsite theater.
Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
Fine dining, 32 miles of river to explore, and 20,000+ acres to bike, horse or hike, are just the beginning of what you’ll enjoy at Montage Palmetto Bluff. Golfers find heaven on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Equine enthusiasts get lost in Longfield Stables, home to Palmetto Bluff’s exceptional equestrian facility. The May River Chapel overlooks the pristine May River, a perfect destination to celebrate a romantic wedding ceremony for 2 or 200. Branches of ancient oak trees draped in cascades of Spanish moss welcome your guests just a few steps away in the quaint Village Square.
Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee
One of the select North American Relais & Chateaux properties, Blackberry Farm, meets the standards of an heir and gatekeeper of not only the rich cultural history of hospitality but also the wonderful variety of cuisine within its region. Luxury here is second to none. Sixty-eight accommodations include the intimate charm of a Historic or Estate Room, the legendary elegance of a spacious Singing Brook, Farmstead Cottage, or Holly Glade Suite, the luxurious comforts of a Hill Cottage, or the sweeping views of a Carriage House Suite. All beautifully appointed and furnished with fine antiques. The result of all this combined is a five-star plus experience you will return to again and again.
Blackberry Mountain, Walland, Tennessee
Set on a ridge overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blackberry Mountain is rooted in rhythm and the nature it resides in. The beautifully appointed cabin accommodations are built for couples, families, and friends. There are plenty of indoor & outdoor activities to enjoy year-round, as well. Morning fitness and wellness classes are included in the stay rate, so you’ll be able to begin each day inspired and invigorated in the Great Smoky Mountains!
NORTHEAST
New England, Mid-Atlantic
Inn at Perry Cabin, St Michaels, Maryland
Pack your white linen button-down & chinos, or nautical stripes, skinny whites, and deck shoes for this excursion to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Sailboats provide the perfect backdrop bobbing up and down in their slips or gliding along in the distance. With a great selection of 78 rooms to choose from, including 26 suites, you’ll enjoy bedside chocolate chip cookies at the end of the day.
Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, Massachusetts
Ditch the high heels for flip flops and the suit for button-down shirts and shorts. Stroll the private quarter-mile beach of Chatham Bars Inn with views onto the sparkling waters of Aunt Lydia’s Cove, protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Cape Cod National Seashore’s North Beach Island. Lobster bakes on the sand, glowing fire pits under the stars, boating experiences like fishing, whale watching, or a relaxing sunset harbor tour with a glass of champagne. Whether its a casual or formal experience you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont
Another North American property belonging to the prestigious Relais & Chateaux collection, Twin Farms is a unique country estate in the Green Mountain State. Private ponds, wildflower meadows, ancient gardens, and forests surround the original 1790s farmhouse and lodge, which have been converted into beautiful living and dining rooms and six elegant suites. Ten guest cottages, each uniquely designed, are peppered throughout the property. The Farmhouse at Copper Hill houses four additional suites, ideal for small gatherings.
HAWAII
The Aloha State
Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort, Big Island
Adventure to America’s only island state. The dramatic Kohala Coast of the Big Island, the largest and most volcanically active of all Hawaiian islands, is home to Mauna Lani, proudly one of the 19 resorts in the Auberge Collection. Visitors refer to this destination as “heaven on earth.” Newly renovated, yet popular for return guests year after year, Mauna Lani’s secluded beaches, coral reefs, and ancient fishponds set the stage for transformative experiences.
Four Seasons Lanai, Lanai, Hawaii
Made famous by the wedding of Melinda & Bill Gates, Four Seasons Lanai is one of the most exclusive resorts in Hawaii. Although Lanai is the smallest of the accessible Hawaiin Islands, it’s big on luxury. The resort features two lagoon-style pools, one for families and one for adults only. You can dine at Nobu or Malibu Farm. Spend endless hours on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Manele Golf Course, one of Hawaii’s best. Just a 45-minute ferry ride or a 20-minute flight from Maui, you’ll feel worlds away from civilization!
Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui
Set more remotely than just about any Maui resort, the surroundings of the Ritz Carlton Kapalua are far more exclusive and peaceful than the setting of most other resorts clustered at the beach. A stunningly massive property, the resort has 100 miles of walking trails and two golf courses. A free on-call shuttle takes guests to any Kapalua resort location from early morning ’til late at night. This one is pricey, yet the 466 rooms are often near full occupancy.
Four Seasons Maui
A prestigious resort on Maui to receive both the AAA Five Diamond Award and the Forbes Five-Star Award, Four Seasons Maui, is impeccable. Stunningly appointed rooms, three luxurious saltwater pools, each with a distinct atmosphere, including a private adults-only area. Wolfgang Puck’s acclaimed Spago, one of Maui’s best eateries. The hotel is known for its customization efforts (mattresses, spa menus, pillow menu), and a dedicated wedding planner can help create bespoke weddings, elopements, and vow renewals.
Ready to go to one of these fantastic resort getaways? Let us know, and one of our dedicated travel advisors will help you!
