Want a break but don’t have time for an extended trip?

We can recommend nine of our favorite local resorts that are just right for a short trip from Marin and San Francisco. These destinations, from Sausalito to Napa, are perfect for unwinding without the stress of planning a long vacation. Here are our recommendations, from near to far. 

Inn Above Tide, Sausalito

30 El Portal, Sausalito, CA – 7 Miles from Central Marin

Tucked away on the waterfront in downtown Sausalito, this small hotel with 33 elegant rooms and suites, provides panoramic views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline. Some rooms have balconies and fireplaces. It is a few steps from the ferry terminal and fine dining in town.  A delight in every way! Prices start at about $500 a night.

Features & Activities:

• Minutes walk to the ferry terminal
• Close by a variety of fine restaurants and shops
• Buffet breakfast
• Afternoon wine and cheese
• Million dollar views

Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito

601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA – 9 Miles from Central Marin

Located just below the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, Cavallo Point is a former military base in the Marin Headlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Cavallo Point has been repurposed for a luxurious resort with two different lodging areas (historic and contemporary), three restaurants (Farley and Sula) and a spa with massages and skincare treatments. Come here for an unforgettable vacation in one of Marin County’s best locations. Prices start at about $600 a night.

Features & Activities:

• Morning yoga
• Guided hikes through the Marin Headlands
• Cooking classes
• Watercolor classes
• Personal fitness training
• Fort Baker history tours
• Kayak and stand-up paddle board training and expeditions
• Three different restaurants, each with unique cuisines
• Electric bicycles and loan cars
• 2,200 fine wine selection

MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa, Sonoma

29 E MacArthur St, Sonoma, CA – 30 Miles from Central Marin

MacArthur Place is known for its full-service spa which offers massages and natural treatments using ingredients grown in its own garden. Located near the downtown Sonoma Plaza (a 15-minute walk), this luxury resort allows you to enjoy award winning service right next to the charming restaurants and shops on the square. Prices start at about $1,000/night. 

Features and Activities:

• Full service spa offering massages, facials and enhancements
• Wine tasting and excursions
• An all-day restaurant and bar
• The Porch marketplace

Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, Sonoma

100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma, CA – 34 Miles from Central Marin

The Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers fine accommodations in the heart of wine country. With four different room types (suites, guestrooms, legacy suites, and accessible rooms), the inn offers housing arrangements that fit every taste and budget. Located just 45 minutes from Central Marin, the resort boasts geothermal mineral pools, farm to table dining, and a neighboring Sonoma Golf Club, making it a great place for an easy vacation. Prices start at about $250 a night.

Features and Activities:

• Full service spa offering massages, three outdoor mineral pools, one indoor pool, one indoor pool, and four hydro-pools (one indoor), aroma therapy, and a roman-style bathhouse with steam and sauna rooms.
• Neighboring golf course.
• Concierge service offering wine tours and guided hikes.
• All-day Sante Restaurant, food truck, two bars, and a poolside cafe.
• Pets welcome.

Gaige House, Glen Ellen

13540 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA – 36 Miles from Central Marin

The Gaige House in Glen Ellen offers an elegant blend of vintage and contemporary Asian style in its 23 rooms. If you want ultimate luxury, suites offer a hot tub, hammock, rock garden, and fireplace. The resort is less than two miles from the fascinating Jack London State Park and a five-minute walk to the Glen Ellen village, with several attractive dining options. Prices start at about $300 a night.

Features and Activities:

• Signature wine and cheese trays every afternoon
• breakfast for two, thoughtfully prepared in the on-site kitchen
• Picturesque setting on Calabazas Creek
• Meditation alcove
• Outdoor pool
• Large rooms with personal decks
• Walking distance to charming downtown Glen Ellen with excellent restaurants.
• Nearby wineries

Olea Hotel, Glen Ellen

5131 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen – 36 Miles from Central Marin

Located along the hillside of Sonoma Valley is Olea Hotel, an impeccably remodeled boutique hotel in Glen Ellen which provides unique wine tours. The Olea Hotel offers a relaxing and convenient place for guests to stay while enjoying the Glen Ellen village, a five-minute walk, and the Sonoma Valley area’s many attractions. Prices start at about $300 a night.

Features and Activities:

• Gourmet breakfast prepared by in-house chef
• Less than two miles to the Sonoma Valley Regional Park
• Concierge service offering unique wine tours
• Spa services include massages & facials
• Outdoor pool and hot tub
• EV chargers

Kenwood Inn and Spa, Kenwood

10400 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA – 40 Miles from Central Marin

The Kenwood Inn is a boutique resort and spa equipped with everything you need for ultimate relaxation. This classic Mediterranean-style resort offers 29 rooms appointed with fireplaces, featherbeds, and Italian linens. Stay here for a one-of-a-kind, tranquil experience with close proximity to wineries and parks. Prices start at about $500 a night.

Features and Activities:

• Full service spa which includes massages and facial treatments
• Concierge service with guided hikes and wine tours
• Pool and hot tub with a cabana area
• Signature breakfast prepared by the in-house kitchen
• Wine and cheese tastings
• Close to the finest Sonoma County wineries

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville

7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA – 53 Miles from Central Marin

Located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, the Farmhouse Inn is a farmhouse repurposed into a luxury resort. The inn offers two on-site dining options, the all-day Farmstand Restaurant and the six-course Farmhouse Restaurant which serves sophisticated, farm to table dinners. New at the inn is the Wellness Barn and spa, offering massages, body wraps, skin treatments, and guided meditations. Prices start at about $600 a night.

Features and activities:

• Full concierge service offering local curated activities like hiking, biking, yoga, or zip lining
• Wine tasting service with 37 different winery options
• Full service spa with massages, skin treatments, full body wraps, and guided meditations
• Awarded farm to table food

Auberge de Soleil, Napa

180 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, CA – 77 Miles from Central Marin

Showcasing breathtaking Napa Valley scenery and luxury, Auberge du Soleil is nestled within a terraced, sun-kissed hillside, amid 33 acres of olive and oak trees. Rooms, terraces, and balconies offer magnificent views across the Napa Valley. The hotel’s 50 contemporary guestrooms, starting at 520 sq. ft. and “mansions,” providing 1,800 sq. ft, blend relaxed sophistication with understated elegance, earning a long-standing reputation as the wine country’s luxury hotel.  Prices start at about $1,700 per night.

Features and Activities:

• Wine tasting
• Restaurant, with 14 consecutive Michelin Star awards, provides an a la carte breakfast menu and two to six course lunch and dinner services
• Tennis courts
• Spa offering massage therapy and facials
• Concierge service including guided hikes, bike rides, and winery tours
• Walks through Auberge de Soleil’s sculpture garden.

Note that daily rates for all hotels will very depending on season.