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Why stick with the traditional roses and in-town dinner when so many special hotel packages are just a short drive or train ride away?

As new developments and hidden finds are popping up in neighborhoods such as Old Town Pasadena and South Pasadena, Joshua Tree National Park's wildflowers are just beginning to blossom.

Citing the double-whammy of Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day falling on the same weekend, several scenic locales are piling on the perks. So here's your guide to some easy-to-do getaways that won't break the bank.

Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
(760) 367-5500
www.nps.gov/jotr/

The recent rains may have made morning commutes harder, but it certainly didn't put a damper on this national park's foliage. Wildflowers have begun to bloom on the south end's Cottonwood Canyon entrance, just past Indio off of Interstate 10.

Although the park doesn't have food service, romantics can always turn up the charm with pre-packed picnics from hometown farmers markets and bakeries. The holiday weekend also marks the kickoff of the spring season events, says park publicist Joe Zarki.

Guided walking tours of the historic Keys Ranch and a natural history walk will be available for $5 each. Park admission costs $15 per vehicle; car camping at the park's six campgrounds costs $10 to $15 per night. Call (877) 444-6777 or go to www.recreation.gov for reservations.

Hotel Oceana Santa Monica
849 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 393-0486
www.hoteloceanasantamonica.com/

Decked out in warm, beachy pinks and yellows, this cozy little retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean recalls memories of family vacations at the pier.

A popular destination for the visiting stroller-accessorized set, the 70 recently renovated suites beckon couples to ditch the sand pails and floaties and make a memorable holiday weekend for two that barely requires leaving the room.

Champagne and strawberries wait at the front desk with the Oceana Escape package; in-suite perks include a one-hour couple's massage before the Oceana Lounge sends up a candle-lit dinner.

Prices for the hotel package ranges from $650 to $950 per night, with a third of the rooms offering a view of the water.

Canary Hotel
31 W. Carrillo St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 884-0300
www.canarysantabarbara.com

The newly updated and renamed Canary Hotel (formerly Hotel Andalucia) has large four-poster Spanish beds for midday breaks between short drives to wine tasting in nearby Los Olivos and Solvang. Plus, its downtown location makes dinner at local institutions such as Bouchon and Downey's an easy walk.

Introductory rates for the 97 rooms in the Spanish and Moroccan-themed hotel start at $249 a night. The Canary Canoodle package offers a king bed, valet parking and dinner for two at the hotel's Coast restaurant, (sister to one of the owners' other properties, Shutters in Santa Monica) for $449 per night.

Westin Hotel
191 N. Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 792-2727
www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/pasadena

The renaissance of new restaurants and bars in South Pasadena and Old Town Pasadena give romantics an opportunity for some one-on-one time while still being able to get back if the baby sitter calls.

Just off Colorado Boulevard, the airy, modern Westin Pasadena boasts a one-night $189 Indulge Package, which includes an in-room breakfast and 4 p.m. checkout, allowing guests to make the most of the signature pillow-top mattresses. Meanwhile, hiking and walking maps are at the front desk, and romantic strolls through the Huntington Library's grounds and foodie hangouts such as 750ml wine bar and bistro are a few minutes away.

Avalon Hotel
124 Whittley Ave.
Avalon, CA 90704
(310) 510-7070
www.theavalonhotel.com

Aurora Hotel
137 Marilla Ave.
Avalon, CA 90704
(310) 510-0454
www.auroracatalina.com/

While Catalina Island is a heavy-trafficked family-themed tourist destination in summer, cooler temperatures make the small island off of San Pedro and its one official city, Avalon, a remote place for cuddling by the sea.

The California Craftsman-style Avalon Hotel near the bay and its recently acquired 19-room sister hotel, the Aurora, have getaway deals in February. Starting at $395 per night for a garden room at the Avalon and $353 per night for city-view rooms at the Aurora, the respective Indulgence and Just Flirting packages cater to sweet-tooths with a tray of gourmet chocolates and a bottle of champagne, along with with transportation to the island via Catalina Express, which leaves from San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point.

The Inn at Fawnskin
880 Canyon Road
Fawnskin, CA 92333
(888) 329-6754
www.fawnskininn.com

Some innkeepers bake great cookies; others make sure the pillows are fluffed. But Nancy Walker offers up a Valentine's Day holiday package at her Big Bear inn that's all heart -- mostly hers.

In addition to dinner for two, a dozen roses and two nights at her five-room B&B, visitors also receive two tickets to the musical "Diva," which she wrote and performs in, at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center on Feb. 15 and 16. Proceeds go to the Big Bear Valley Foundation, which raises funds for the local hospital -- the second smallest in the state after Catalina's.

The log inn is set amid trees and away from the main hubbub of Big Bear. A package for two for two nights ranges from $410 to $670 for the top-of-the-line garden suite (If you miss Valentine's Day, check out some of the midweek specials.)

Wuksachi Lodge
Sequoia National Park
(866) 807-3598
www.visitsequoia.com/SpecialsAndPackages.aspx

For romantics who embrace the snow (tire chains required), the 102-room lodge offers a moonlight snowshoe to stargaze, check out the night wildlife and then sip a cup of well-deserved cocoa afterward.

This natural-wood lodge, built in 1999, with a cozy dining room is more upscale than the usual national park digs. But the real draw of this lodge is the breathtaking Sierra setting and its proximity to the big sequoias in Giant Forest and Crescent Meadow (also a good spot for snowshoeing amid the mammoth trees) -- oh and the romance of being out in nature.

Along with the guided snowshoe hike, the Romance Package includes dinner for two and chocolate truffles. Rates start at $209 per room per night; if you miss Valentine's Day, the deal is good through March 15.