6 Valentine's Day Road Trips Perfect for a Weekend Getaway

1. PHILADELPHIA: Love is returning to Philadelphia this winter—quite literally. Robert Indiana's iconic LOVE statue was removed from its eponymous park late last year for a refresh, and is due to make a grand return early in 2018. Drop by to see the artwork (and its sibling AMOR statue in nearby Sister Cities Park), throw in a restaurant trip (hit up Vernick, Friday Saturday Sunday, or a.kitchen to sample the best of the local scene), or a stroll through the beautiful Philadelphia Museum of Art, and you'll see why this city is about more than just brotherly love.

Image courtesy of Todd Van Hoosear/Flickr.

2. THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY: The Willamette Valley stretches from Portland down to Eugene, comprises lakes and mist-shrouded hills—and happens to be one of the country's top producers of hops and grapes. That means you can pick up special IPAs or bottles of Pinot to toast with in the evening (just wait until you're done driving and ensconced in your cabin or B&B), and by day avail yourself of the valley's other attractions. We're talking hot air balloon rides, bijou art galleries, and the pretty epic presence of Mt. Hood on the horizon.

Image courtesy of Bonnie Moreland/Flickr.

3. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE: Visiting one of the world's great natural wonders? It certainly beats a cheesy horse-and-carriage ride. Just a quick trip from Toronto, Niagara Falls is less crowded in winter (and looks even more impressive when frosted with snow and ice). Once you've seen the sights, the 19^th-century town of Niagara-on-the-Lake features an Instagram-ready historic downtown, views over Lake Ontario, the RiverBrink Art Museum, and a reputation for being "the Prettiest Town in Canada." Sold.

4. TEXAS HILL COUNTRY: Chocolate-dipped strawberries and candy hearts? Nah, we'll settle for some pretty epic brisket at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que instead. A dinner and movie date? Try a trek to the wildly beautiful Enchanted Rock. A bouquet of roses? We'll take the flowers from Blanco-the lavender capital of Texas-instead. What's clear is that February 14^th looks a little different in the Lone Star State...and that a journey into Texas Hill Country, which begins just north of Austin, is an excellently off-kilter Valentine's Day road trip to mark the occasion.

5. SANTA CATALINA ISLAND: When you already live in what amounts to most people's dream vacay spot, where do you go for some R&R&R (romance and rest and relaxation)? For the SoCal set, the answer is Santa Catalina Island (Catalina for short). Just a quick ferry trip from LA, it's where old Hollywood stars like Errol Flynn once flocked when they needed time out of the limelight. Today, you can alternate between scuba diving in the crystal waters, catching a flick at the Art Deco-era Avalon Theatre, or soaking up the rays on Descanso Beach. Once you motor along to the ferry, park your ride for the afternoon and swap it for a Catalina golf cart (it's a thing).

6. LAKE TAHOE: On the one hand, Lake Tahoe—just over three hours from San Francisco, and two from Sacramento—offers all the highlights of a winter weekend getaway, from cozy cabins to mountain scenery to winter wonderland-style snowfall. On the other hand, it's not so remote that there aren't other engaging activities on tap, from the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows’s Olympic-grade slopes to the throwback diners and bistros in Truckee and Tahoe City. A trip to Tahoe means you can be as intrepid—or as hibernatory—as you'd like.