Best Valentine's Day Travel Destinations Near Orange County

Traveling long distances is sometimes a luxury, but Orange County has many different and interesting destinations within reach. No fussing with the security lines at the airport, lost baggage or feeling like a sardine in the middle seat. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, why not plan a short road trip. From budget to luxurious destinations, one of these options is sure to fit the bill for you and your valentine.

Ojai, CA

Ojai lies just north of Los Angeles and Orange County and is the perfect getaway for Valentine's Day. The main place to stay here is the Ojai Valley Inn, which offers several different areas on the property to stay, with several different amenities ranging from a great golf course, terrific dining options, excellent pools and spas and much more. The community of Ojai is not to be missed. With an artsy vibe, the downtown area has tons of interesting shops, galleries and more.

Claremont, CA

Claremont was once part of the booming citrus industry and now has a vibrant college town feel with streets lined with beautiful oak trees. The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is devoted to California flora and a great place to take a leisurely stroll with your blossom. After a nice stroll through nature, you might want something healthy like a freshly made salad from SaladFarm. Claremont Village has an amazing restaurant row and some onolicious burgers at Eureka! DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont is an affordable and quiet getaway hotel with the most amazing chocolate chip cookies.

Fontana, CA

Fontana is the home of the Auto Club Speedway. On Valentine's Day weekend, Rusty Wallace Racing Experience has a variety of adrenaline pumping driving and ride-along experiences to choose from. After getting the blood pumping through your veins, a stop at My N.Y. Pizza for amazing pastrami pizza would be a great option. If you are looking for something a little slower in speed, Memphis: The Musical is combined with dinner at Tibbies Center Stage. Hilton Garden Inn Fontana is the official hotel of the Auto Club Speedway with an outdoor heated pool and whirlpool, fitness center and complimentary breakfast.

In the last 20 years, Long Beach has become a tourist destination owing largely to a newly renovated shoreline area. The Aquarium of the Pacific is where you can spend hours viewing wondrous sea life of the Pacific Ocean and also learn to eat sustainably at Café Scuba. While parked at the Aquarium, take a leisurely stroll to Shoreline Village where you can shop, book a port/fishing tour or grab a funnel cake sundae at The Funnel House. Show your valentine a majestic weekend by staying aboard the Queen Mary with no worries of getting sea sick. Dine at romantic shipboard restaurants like Chelsea Chowder House & Bar, Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge, or eat like a first class passenger at the Sunday Champagne Brunch.

Related: Eat Your Heart Out: Best OC Restaurants To Take Your Valentine To

Oxnard, CA

Oxnard is a coastal farm community and home of the California Strawberry Festival. Those heart-shaped fruits are the sweetest around. Hampton Inn Channel Island Harbor has a coastal feel right on the water with free continental breakfast. Fresh seafood options, cool ocean breeze and barking resident sea lions can be experienced at Sea Fresh on the other side of the harbor, where you can also book whale watching and charter fishing, visit the maritime museum and peruse the farmers' market. BG's Café is a mom & pop joint that is great for brunch, especially the bacon pancakes.

Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica is a beach city with an amusement park pier, shopping and ocean view hotels. While enjoying time on the pier, The Albright will feed your seafood craving with its seafood shack menu of fresh crabs, lobsters, oysters and fish. Stop by Beachy Cream for a Strawberry Surfer Girl or Surfin' Safari Chocolate Chip ice cream sandwich for a treat for your sweetie. Border Grill, of Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken fame (Too Hot Tamales), has a wonderful modern Mexican brunch served tapas style. The Georgian Hotel is an art-deco masterpiece perched on Ocean Avenue with beautiful Pacific Ocean views, the perfect back drop for Valentine's Day weekend.

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