7 Places to Visit on Valentine's Day
Dreaming of the perfect romantic getaway to celebrate this Valentine's Day? Whether you’re in the mood for beach sunsets, or a cozy retreat for two, these are our favorite February destinations for romance. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have.
Warm Weather Places to Visit on Valentine's Day
Craving a warm-weather destination to get away for a romantic Valentine's Day vacation? Here are my favorites - no passport required!
Wild Side Specialty Tour in Hawaii
The week leading up to Valentine's Day is the sweet spot time for a trip to Hawaii. There are the romantic sunsets, and warm weather (of course!) but we also loved learning about (and seeing!) whales during the peak whale watching season.
In fact, Wild Side Specialty Tour on Oahu is one of my favorite tours in Hawaii because it gives you such an eco-focused way to experience the ocean.
We love that Wild Side Specialty Tours is easy to join from Oahu. In addition to seeing whales, you get the chance to experience dolphins, sea turtles, and manta rays from up close.
What makes this tour extra special is that it's biologist-led. Trust me, you learn a lot about the ocean in a very short time!
I have to warn you that whale watching is unpredictable, even during peak whale season (Jan through early March in Hawaii). One day you may see whales following you and being curious but on other days they keep their distance. But the good new is that you nearly always see them breaching in the distance.
- Average temperature on Valentine's Day: 66°F – 81°F (19°C – 27°C)
Local tip:
Afterwards, stopping for some amazing Hawaiian food at Highway Inn was my personal highlight!
We loved staying in an Ocean View guest room with a King Bed with Sofa bed at Turtle Bay Resort for two days. We enjoyed unforgettable sunsets on Oahu's North Shore, a tropical island paradise.
Bradenton Beach, Florida
Bradenton Beach is nicknamed "The Friendly City" and you can quickly see why. In fact, I thought this was one of Southwest Florida’s most underrated Gulf Coast escapes. For sure, it was absolutely perfect for an affordable romantic Valentine's Day. Why?
First off, the weather is warm and sunny in February. Secondly, you get to enjoy white sand beaches, long with a slower island pace along the waters of Anna Maria Island!
You can start your day with a walk along the shoreline. In fact, kick off your shoes while the sand is still cool enough and enjoy a barefoot stroll. For me, just watching the waves roll in while holding hands, made this Valentine's Day trip perfect.
Then we had a light lunch followed by more time on the beach. In late afternoon, we enjoyed strolling along Bridge Street where you'll find shops and several cafes.
For Valentine's Day dinner, we shared fresh seafood at Beach House Waterfront Restaurant while watching the sunset. But I have to warn you that you need to book your table weeks in advance!
- Average Valentine's Day temperature: 57°F – 74°F (14°C – 23°C)
Need a place to stay? From Tampa, Chris and I drove just over an hour south and spent two romantic days based in a Palm Court guest room at 2-star Tortuga Inn Beach Resort (around $330/night over Valentine's Day Florida weekend).
Largo, Florida
If you are in the mood for an off-the-beaten-path Central Florida Valentine's getaway that's also along the Gulf, Largo is a standout. It's just an hour north along the Gulf coast from Bradenton Beach so you can easily visit both on the same road trip as we did.
I love Largo because it's a wonderful hidden gem for a Valentine’s escape that not too many people know about (for now!). We discovered it be chance and it instantly became one of my favorite places to visit in Florida.
Our first stop was actually a romantic walk through Florida Botanical Gardens. This 100+ acre botanical garden is such a cool spot and completely free to visit. If you are coming from wintery East Coast or Midwest, you will love all the flowers blooming here in February! I absolutely adored The Tropical Fruit Garden area, with over 30 different plants that bear fruit.
Our Valentine's Day lunch was at Latin Bowl Restaurant nearby, affordable and delicious.
Since Largo is less than 20 minutes from Clearwater Beach, we brought a picnic with us and spent the rest of the day enjoying the sandy beach.
Local tip:
Locals told us that just a 10-minute drive from downtown, Indian Rocks Beach is less crowded than Clearwater. We checked it out and it was a dreamy spot to wait for a sunset, my personal highlight.
We stayed in a Studio with a King Bed at 3-star Hampton Inn & Suites Largo with breakfast included for our romantic weekend.
Holualoa Inn, Kona
While we lived on the Big Island of Hawaii for six years, getting away for Valentine's Day was always such a treat. Best of all we didn't have to go far! Kona was just 20 minutes from our home and it was one of the dreamiest Valentine’s escapes we've every had. It's a sunny paradise where volcanic beaches, and amazing sunsets you can count on automatically set the stage for romance.
We took a tour of a Kona coffee farm, shared quiet moments snorkeling in a hidden cove, and strolled through downtown Kona.
I loved that Kona is such a foodie destination, with options like freshly caught seafood at Huggo's and Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill, or locally sourced Hawaiian & Filipino staples at Broke Da Mouth Grindz.
- Average temperature in February: 66°F – 81°F (19°C – 27°C)
- Location Map
- Location: Western coast of the Big Island (Hawaii Island), in Hawaii County
What I loved best:
We spent our Valentine’s Day weekend in a romantic Plumeria Suite at Holualoa Inn, one of my favorite vacation ideas. I loved the ocean views and a sense of seclusion, while still being incredibly close to activities and the Big Island’s culture.
In the evening, we watched a pink and gold sunset, then dined under the stars with fresh island seafood and sweet lilikoi desserts, my personal highlight. I have to warn you that Hawaii is incredibly popular in February, so make sure you have all the reservations (hotel, car rental, restaurants, spa) before you land.
Best Cold Weather Places to Visit on Valentine's Day
Ready for a cozy winter getaway in the U.S.? Check out my favorites below!
Ogden, Utah
If you are in the mood for skiing and romantic evening by the fire, Valentine's Day is the sweet spot. I especially like Utah because it's generally less expensive and less crowded than Colorado.
When I'm feeling active, I like to go and ski at Snowbasin Resort about 30 minutes from downtown. But there are actually three places to ski in Ogden Valley. Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and Nordic Valley altogether have 11,600 acres of skiable terrain.
But I have to admit that although I've been skiing since the age of five, not that I'm middle aged I actually prefer other things to do. Around Valentine's Day in Ogden, my favorite activities were walking down Historic 25th Street, popping into local shops, and stopping at local cafes for hot chocolate.
Downtown Ogden was especially romantic with lights in the evening, so we ended the day with a casual Valentine's Day dinner at Slackwater Ogden serving delicious pizzas.
Next day, we explored the fascinating Hill Aerospace Museum as well.
- Average temperature in February: 25°F – 46°F (-4°C – 8°C)
What I loved best:
Back in town, we browsed quirky art galleries (Eccles Art Center with its flower garden was my favorite!).
From Salt Lake City, we drove about 40 minutes north and spent three days based at the affordable 2-star Comfort Suites Ogden (around $95/night).
La Junta, Colorado
For Valentine’s Day we decided to do something a little unusual and headed to La Junta, Colorado. You'll find this town of just 7,000 residents in southeastern Colorado near the Arkansas River (Google Maps pin). Friends told us about visiting this place and going in February was definitely an underrated idea. It was cold on Valentine's but that's exactly why it felt like we had the town to ourselves this month.
There are no ski resorts near La Junta. Instead, the main attraction is Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site about 15 minutes away. I have to warn you that in February you really need to keep an eye on the weather before you drive out there. Walking through the fort, you really get in touch with the history of the area.
The next morning we woke up early and drove toward Picketwire Canyonlands, located 40 minutes southwest of La Junta. Seeing dinosaur tracks together was such a unique experience.
Another must-visit is the Koshare Indian Museum on the Otero Junior College campus with its impressive collection of Native American art.
- Average temperature in February: 21°F – 53°F (-6°C – 12°C)
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was a pancakes breakfast at The Copper Kitchen. I had pancakes but other choices include biscuits and gravy and chicken-fried steak.
We had an affordable stay in a room with a King Bed at 3-star Hampton Inn La Junta (around $89).
Crystal City, Virginia
If you need a quick Valentine's Day idea from D.C., head to Crystal City, Virginia. It's just a 12 minute day trip from downtown D.C. so it doesn't require and planning and you can go last minute for a bit of romance.
I think that Crystal City is one of the best Valentine's day vacations. I love the way Potomac River views create a beautiful romantic backdrop to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Want to stay overnight? Book a guest room with a King bed at Crowne Plaza Crystal City-Washington, D.C. ($103/night).
- Average temperature in February: 31°F – 50°F (-1°C – 10°C)
- Location Map
What I loved best:
We ended Valentine's day with a fun movie and dinner at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Crystal City.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
