Valentine’s Day is all about love, but who says it has to be romantic? Here are ten Valentine’s date ideas to take on solo or with a group right here in Orange County.
1. Express your love for food.
Morning Lavender Cafe in Tustin has new Valentine’s drinks, including a special flight for the month of February featuring a rose milk tea, Cupid’s Crush, Pink Cloud, and strawberry lemonade. Buy yourself something pink and pretty to match from the boutique.
Make a date with friends at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and check out the “Heart Tea” event featuring a Valentine’s-inspired tea menu available from February 6 through 9 and 13 through 16. $110 per adult.
GameCraft Brewing Co. in Laguna Beach is hosting an Unlikely Valentine’s Dinner on February 10. Each $50 ticket includes bottomless American small plates, a sit-down dinner, and two beers.
Parkestry Rooftop Bar in Anaheim has both a Galentine’s Day event and a Bros + Brews event, both happening on February 10. Tickets are $55 and include two drinks. Tickets for Galentine’s include one dessert, while Bros and Brews include one appetizer.
2. Attend a show.
If you’re looking for laughs and bubbly, the Comedor at La Casa del Camino Hotel in Laguna Beach is hosting “Valentine’s Day is a Drag,” a fun bottomless mimosa brunch and drag show. Tickets for the February 12th event on start at $60.
House of Blues Anaheim is hosting “Swift Me Away,” a Taylor Swift Valentine Dance. If you were slighted by Ticketmaster trying to snag Taylor concert tickets, these $20 dance tickets may offer you some relief and an evening of fun on the 14th.
For fans of upbeat Banda and live music, the Anaheim Indoor Marketplace is hosting a free, live Valentine’s Day Concert on February 11. The first 100 people in attendance will receive a free rose, and the concert will be headlined by la Banda Santanera de Oro and Los KasaNova’s Del Sabor.
3. Go to an Anti-Valentine’s Day event.
Cafe Sevilla is hosting their second annual “Don’t Text the Ex” Anti-Valentine’s day Brunch Party on February 11. Enjoy a free Love Potion #9 shot with any brunch entree.
Paddy’s Station Bar and Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano is hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party of their own. The single’s night will feature live music by Soundcake and a Single’s Pinata for party goers to take a swing at. No reservations are required.
4. Get active. Or watch other people get active.
Take your mind off the holiday entirely by training for this charitable event. Grace OC is hosting Hearts & Heroes, a 5K fun run on February 18 to raise money for foster children in Orange County. The $35 registration fee includes a T-Shirt and pancake breakfast after the run.
Valentine’s Day happens to be just a couple of days after the Super Bowl. Newport Dunes is hosting a special Big Game watch party at Back Bay Bistro on February 12.
5. Attend a floral workshop.
Take a note from Miley Cyrus and buy yourself flowers. Or better yet, attend a floral arrangement class. Hadley & Ren Floral Co. is offering a Valentine’s Day Floral Workshop at their flagship studio in Costa Mesa on February 11. The $80 fee includes all the supplies to create your own floral arrangement as well as a handmade card from Tortoise Designs.
Further south, FloraFay Design Studio is hosting a Season of Love Floral Workshop at Okto Cafe and Marketplace in Laguna Niguel, also on February 11. For $85, workshop attendees will leave with their own arrangement and a glass vase.
6. Check out a themed market.
The Anaheim Farmers Market is hosting Cupid’s Row, a Valentine’s Day themed farmers market featuring local vendors of all things from food to jewelry. The event on February 9 is free to attend.
The Modern Makers Mart is happening on February 11 and 12 at Woodbury Town Center in Irvine. The outdoor market is also free to attend and will feature handmade goods, treats, Valentine’s themed photo ops, and live music.
7. Take in some views.
Enjoy some meditative alone time with a beautiful vista. Watch the sunset or sunrise at one of the many amazing beaches in Orange County. Or park yourself in front of an easily accessible overlook such as Seaview Park in Laguna Niguel.
8. Take a cooking or baking class.
Cha Cha Cuterie Board and Broken Timbers Brewing Company in Anaheim are teaming up to hold a “Love Is in the Air” charcuterie board class on February 12. The $52 class will include four beer tastings from Broken Timbers and a charcuterie kit from Cha Cha Cuterie Board to create during the class and take home afterwards.
Maven’s Treats is holding a “Gnome One Like You” cookie decorating class. Participants are provided with all the tools and instructions needed to decorate at least six sugar cookies, which they can eat or take home. The remaining dates for this Valentine’s themed class, held at Pinot’s Palette Rancho Santa Margarita, are February 9 and 13.
9. Create a work of art.
Pinot’s Palette has multiple locations across Orange County with Valentine’s Day-themed sip and paint events. The Tustin location events include Cosmic Nightfall on February 11, Romance at Dusk on February 14, and River to My Heart on February 15.
Potter’s Touch in Westminster is holding a Valentine’s Day Clay Class where participants will be making Love Gnomes. The $45 class includes all the supplied you’ll need and takes place on February 14. After two weeks, participates can return to paint their gnomes.
10. Practice some self-care.
Oh Yoga in Orange is hosting a post-Valentine’s Self Love Event on February 26, complete with journaling, meditation, and a sound bath. The self-care package also comes with a rose, chocolate covered strawberries, a piece of rose quartz, a collagen face mask, and a self-warming eye mask that participants can take home or use during the event. Tickets start at $25.
Couples massages aren’t just for romantic couples. Garden Wellness Spa in Orange is offering five different Valentine’s packages you can enjoy with a friend. Each package comes with Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Laguna Niguel offers a series of Healing Heart Ritual treatments such as a 60-minute massage with focus on heart chakra and keepsake rose quartz gemstones ($325), a Love Well rose quarts gua sha facial ($325), and a 90-minute peach and rosebud pedicure ($130).
