Top 10 places for an awesome company retreat in California, United States

Sun, sand, surf, and mountains: California’s got it all.

The Golden State is home to some of the US’ most recognizable landmarks—from the Hollywood Sign in LA to the Golden Gate Bridge in SanFran—and some unmissable views and experiences in between.

California has something for everyone—and is the perfect spot for your team’s next company retreat. Here are the top ten picks for giving your team an offsite they’ll never forget.

5 Perfect regions for your next corporate retreat in California

1. San Francisco: for a picturesque and vibrant retreat in the Bay Area

San Francisco—SF for short: the hilly home to the Golden Gate Bridge, your favorite tech companies, and the so-say inescapable Alcatraz Island.  It’s the ideal spot to take your team for some well-deserved downtime and entertainment. 

With vibrant nightlife, rich cultural and historical offerings, and a diverse, multicultural community, SF has lots to offer. Plus, the central and well-connected San Francisco Airport (SFO) makes getting there simple—you’re no more than a 20-minute taxi or 30-minute train from downtown SF.

There’s ample restaurants, culture, and history to enjoy during downtime, and Silicon Valley is a must-visit for the tech heads in your team. 

• Team building activities: Golden Gate Bridge and Park, Alcatraz Island tour, Silicon Valley. 
• Best time of year: Fall or Spring to avoid Summer crowds
• Price meter: $$$

2. Los Angeles: for a jam-packed retreat 

Next on our list is the City of Angels: L.A. Movie studios, the Sunset Strip, Venice Beach, landmark museums, world-famous theme parks, wineries, breweries, outdoor activities, exciting nightlife, and much more—there’s definitely something for everyone.

LAX offers ample international flights and direct city links, so getting to and from your company retreat is a breeze for the entire team. You’ve got endless options when it comes to deciding how to spend your time—and you might even bump into some famous faces while you’re visiting.

Check out our comprehensive list of company retreat locations in Los Angeles for the full scoop on what’s on offer in the City of Angels. 

• Team building activities: The Getty Art Museum, Venice Beach, Santa Monica pier, the Hollywood Sign, Echo Park pedal boats, Beverly Hills segway tour, outdoor scavenger hunt
• Best time of year: Late Spring or early Fall
• Price meter: $$$

3. San Diego: for sun, sea, and city in Southern California

San Diego is one of the West Coast’s top seaside cities, with some of the best weather on offer in the Golden State and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Whether your team is into sand and seas or hills and hikes, San Diego has great offerings for a company retreat to remember.

Heading to downtown San Diego for a tour of the USS Midway Museum and discovering Balboa Park before checking out the world-renowned San Diego Zoo are among the many entertaining days out that San Diego has to offer. Alternatively, you can take your pick of the many water sport activities on offer along Mission Beach.

• Team building activities: watch the baseball at Petco Park, catch a play at San Diego Civic Theatre, jet ski rental at Mission Beach
• Best time of year: late Spring or early Fall
• Price meter: $$

4. Napa Valley: for a beautiful and relaxing trip to the countryside

Napa Valley, nestled away in the world-famous CA Wine Country, is the perfect location for a company retreat focused on R&R. The beautiful scenery and vineyards are the perfect backdrop for your team building activities and workshops, and the many wine tours and restaurants make sure you’ve got the perfect location to connect after work.

A popular activity to partake in when discovering Napa Valley is a hot air balloon ride over the valley and vineyards. These rides can accommodate up to 20 people, so ideal for smaller teams and exciting multi-group activities for larger teams. Alongside the hot air balloons, Napa Valley is known for its beautiful hikes, culinary classes, award-winning golf courses, and relaxing spas.

• Team building activities: Napa Valley vineyard tours and wine tasting, Napa Valley bike tours, kayaking on Lake Berryessa, city of Napa, and Yountville art walks.
• Best time of year: late Spring or late Summer
• Price meter: $$$$

5. Lake Tahoe: for non-stop action and excitement

Hidden up in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Lake Tahoe is a beautiful destination for a relaxing corporate retreat. During the summer months, your team can enjoy activities such as hiking, horseback riding, white-water rafting, kayaking, swimming, and cycling. Alternatively, winter months are perfect for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and winter camping. 

It’s a beautiful retreat venue for teams located in or heading to Northern California—full of stunning outdoor spaces, crackling fireplaces, and glamping galore.

• Team building activities: The Gondola cable cars, helicopter tours of the lake, Emerald Bay State Park hiking.
• Best time of year: Summer or Winter, depending on what you’re after
• Price meter: $$

5 Hotels for a team building retreat to remember

1. Stanford Court San Francisco: for exploring the streets of SF

This four-star hotel located on the famous Nob Hill puts your team in the heart of San Francisco—a mere ten minutes walk away from Union Square, Chinatown, and the Financial District.

The hotel offers all the amenities you could need, and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The corporate event and meeting spaces are great places for your team to connect, and you’ve got ample transport links to all the major attractions you don’t want to miss. Definitely worth the price for an unforgettable experience.

• Team building activities: Ferry Building, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience
• Best time of year: late Spring or early Fall
• Price meter: $$$

2. Fairmont Century Plaza: for an upmarket experience

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This five star hotel is a great option if you want to push the boat out for your hard-working team. It’s located at the crossroads of West LA and Beverly Hills—one of the most walkable areas of the notoriously unwalkable Los Angeles, making venturing out to the bars and restaurants an easy, smooth experience. 

The hotel is in a great location for exploring the locations that LA has on offer, with Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills being a mere 10 minute drive away. You can expect to drive to most places in LA—and this spot is a great starting point for your team. Plus, it’s right next to a WeWork!

• Team building activities: Rodeo Drive, Warner Bros Studio Tour, LA County Museum of Art
• Best time of year: Late Spring or early Fall
• Price meter: $$$$

3. SpringHill Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayfront: for stunning SD views

This centrally-located, four-star hotel is exactly where you want to be in San Diego. It looks out onto the San Diego Bay, and is a ten-minute drive from Petco Park, San Diego Zoo, and more of SD’s top offerings.

It’s also within easy walking distance from the charming Gaslamp Quarter, the fascinating Maritime Museum, and the historic USS Midway. The rooftop lounge and bar provide incredible views of San Diego Bay—a great place to relax and connect as a team after a busy day of exploring and activities. 

• Team building activities: USS Midway Tour, Maritime Museum, The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo
• Best time of year: late Spring or early Fall
• Price meter: $$$

4. The Westin Verasa Napa: for an idyllic and relaxing retreat

The Westin Verasa Napa is the perfect base for exploring Napa Valley. It blends downtown convenience with upscale comfort—located just down the road from Oxbow Public Market and right across the street from the famous Napa Wine Train.

The versatile event spaces and on-site event planners ensure you’ve got the space to entertain your team during your corporate retreat. The resort-style hotel is the perfect base for exploring the many vineyards and eateries on offer in Napa Valley. 

• Team building activities: Napa Wine Train, Oxbow Market, vineyard tours, Vichy Springs.
• Best time of year: Summer
• Price meter: $$$$

5. Basecamp Hotel South Lake Tahoe: for a camp-like experience without the tents

The idyllic spot nestled at the very bottom of Lake Tahoe is ideal for corporate retreats in the area. It’s a five minute walk from the lake—and all the watersports and activities it offers—and a four minute walk to the Heavenly Gondola cable car.

This is a different type of hotel for a different type of corporate retreat—visiting Lake Tahoe is an opportunity to connect with nature and one-another. There’s no better place to do this than sat around a campfire toasting s’mores.

• Team building activities: Heavenly Gondola, Lakeside Beach, Action Watersports, Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster.
• Best time of year: Summer for sun, Winter for snow
• Price meter: $$

If that wasn’t enough for you, we’ve rounded up a few more hotels to consider that didn’t make our top five, but still well worth considering: 

• Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square
• Chamberlain West Hollywood Hotel
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley
• Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
• Porto Vista Hotel San Diego
• Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge Lake Tahoe

California calling! Make your next company retreat unforgettable

The Golden State has lots to offer, and finding the best option for your company getaway can be hard work. We suggest starting with what sort of activities you’re looking for—cultural, historical, outdoorsy, or other—and then choosing a location that offers a wide variety of options for your chosen activities.

If the strategic planning of a successful retreat is weighing you down, TravelPerk Events offers stress-free organization for you and your team—so you can spend less time planning and more time doing.