Great Ideas for a Southern California Romantic Getaway

And, the choice of accommodation and dining make it easy to combine romance and travel in the Sunshine State.

Here’s our page full of ideas on where to go to find the best romantic places in California, and some tips on B&B’s, hotels and resorts offering Southern California romantic packages.

Best Time to Visit Southern California: you can enjoy your romantic California adventure or escape any time - Southern California usually has sunshine and warm temps year-round. There doesn't seem to be a real "high season", but it's generally less crowded in the winter months (Nov-Mar).

Romantic Places in Southern California

Santa Monica – Maureen and I love Santa Monica, one of the most fun and romantic places on the Southern California coast.

You can ride the Ferris wheel at the end of the pier, grab an ice cream and people watch, or enjoy a sunny walk south to trendy Venice Beach, CA.

Catalina Island – this is a fun getaway from Los Angeles! Don’t miss catching a flick at the Avalon Theatre, a beautifully restored art deco-style movie house just below the Casino. Golf, dining by the harbor and long walks on the beach are just a few more romantic ideas on Catalina Island.

Romantic Catalina Island Hotels:

• The Avalon Hotel was voted one of the best hotels for romance in the USA!

• Or you could stay the weekend at the more intimate Snug Harbor Inn, a romantic bed and breakfast with fireplace and in-room Jacuzzi tubs.

Catalina Island’s location is just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, and travel time from the Marina del Ray / Long Beach / Newport Beach area is around 90 minutes by catamaran boat.

Romantic Beaches Near San Diego - On a recent Southern California vacation in San Diego, we drove north for a romantic daytrip starting at Oceanside, CA, and travelled south past Solana Beach to Del Mar, CA. There’s lots of places to enjoy a romantic picnic on the sand, or even fly a kite together by the ocean.

Palm Springs - if you’d like to golf, swim and shop on your Southern California Romantic getaway, we suggest a weekend in Palm Springs, CA.

More Romantic Things to Do in Southern California:

• Go hunting for treasure on Antique Row in Pomona, CA.

• One of our favorite spots for dining in Southern California: 21 Oceanfront, a romantic restaurant just across from the pier in Newport Beach, CA (949-673-2100)

• Temecula Wine Tour - for a cheap and romantic weekend getaway, try wine tasting in Temecula, CA. You can walk through the historic Old Town, check out the weekend farmer’s market, and of course, sample wines at the 20+ wineries in and around Temecula in southwest California. And in the evening, be sure to enjoy some romantic dining at Cafe Champagne.

Southern California Romantic Packages

Reserve a romantic, secluded cabin weekend package at the Cienaga Creek Ranch Cottages in Big Bear, CA. Enjoy moonlit walks, a glass of wine on your private porch, and your own in-room Jacuzzi tub.

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