I'd like to take my boyfriend away for his birthday the first weekend in November. I'm looking for something within a day's drive or flight from SF, someplace scenic, interesting, with some sports/physical activity, but with nice amenities like massages at the hotel, etc. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Your post brings up the Pt. Reyes area to me. One of the most romantic places we have been is Manka's in Inverness. Check out their web page to see if you like the "hunting lodge" motif.There are great little places to stay out there. depnds on how much you want to spend.

One of the cottages actually is over the bay on a pier.Not super fancy, but wonderful to experience the changes in the tide etc.

Kayaking, hiking, and biking are all possibilities.This is not a fancy hotel type area. I am pretty sure last time when we stayed at Jasmine Cottage and Dancing Coyote that there were numbers for a massage.

You may want to consider Lake Tahoe. It could be a little cold for outdoors stuff but there is a lot to do and see and it is a very pretty area.

Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur is great! We only stayed there one night but wish we could have stayed longer. Very scenic, wonderful rooms, FANTASTIC restaurant, all sorts of spa services. Check out www.ventanainn.com

Linda:

Since I just took a getaway last weekend, I want to recommend San Diego (I think the air fare is around $100). We got a great rate at a luxury hotel on the harbor, two blocks from the Gaslamp district. I had a rental car, but there's really no need, as the ariport is downtown, and there are busses and shuttles to Balboa Park, which, by the way, is one of the greatest parks I've ever visited. In fact, it's so large, you can walk until you drop. But if you do have a rental car, you can also visit La Jolla (gorgeous) and rent a bike.

On the other hand, I like Lisa's idea as well. Ventana Inn is a place I've only seen and never had the opportunity to stay in. Now THAT's romantic.

Still, San Diego was pretty romantic, too. Either way.

Another vote for Ventana. Fabulous, refreshing, gorgeous, the ultimate in sybaritic luxury.

Also for sybaritic luxury, I enjoy Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford (Napa), the Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Sandy Cove Inn in Point Reyes.

Another vote for Ventana. Fabulous, refreshing, gorgeous, the ultimate in sybaritic luxury.

Also for sybaritic luxury, I enjoy Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford (Napa), the Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Sandy Cove Inn in Point Reyes.