Northern California's top inns for romantic getaways--part one

With honeymoons, anniversaries, and the summer heat all begging to be celebrated, Northern California has its fair share of places to woo your sweetheart. Selecting which is right for you is the only problem. Here are my top romantic inns for all budgets.

1. Inn at Victorian Gardens in Mendocino County's Manchester is the ideal inn for folks celebrating a special anniversary. Located on a farm, set back from the sea, the innkeepers assure that no detail is left unchecked. From the bath soaps on the clawfoot tubs to the gourmet breakfasts, you'll be inspired to linger here long after your are scheduled to check out.

2. Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County's Forestville has a deserved place on this list. To call the inn and gourmet restaurant one of Northern California's finest is an understatement. For my recent article on the inn, click here.

3. Kenwood Inn doesn't just claim to be a diva, she has others do it for her. In fact, this past year, Conde Nast Travelers' readers  called this the finest inn in all the world. Fancy that. And it is fancy, from the Travertine floors to the Romeo and Juliet balconies, you'll feel like royalty through and through.

4. Hotel Boheme's bohemian ambiance works perfectly for couples finding the romance in tinny rooms once inhabited by great writers. Sip sherry late into the night and talk about your favorite books with your sweetheart, while the masses enjoy wine in San Francisco's North Beach just outside your door.

5. Inn Above Tide is Sausalito's offering to honeymooners who want to drink wine on a private balcony overlooking San Francisco and her bay. The rooms rely on eastern themed modernity rather than frilliness and the beds make you want to never get up.