Date Day or Night in Dana Point

The romance is built into the landscape. In his 1840 memoir Two Years Before the Mast, Richard Henry Dana Jr. singled out the cliffs of what is now Dana Point as the most romantic spot on the California coast, and the town took his name. Nearly two centuries later, the bluffs, harbor lights and sunsets still deliver.

Pack a blanket and walk the Headlands trails an hour before sunset. Stay for golden hour over the harbor, or try Lantern Bay Park or the bluff above Salt Creek Beach. Finish with a stroll along Dana Point Harbor. For more free ideas, see our free things to do guide.

• Coastal Kitchen: set in Dana Point's oldest commercial building from the 1920s, with a patio and fire pits. Save room for dessert.
• Craft House: a Lantern District favorite from a locally raised chef, known for seasonal New American plates, craft cocktails and one of South Orange County's best American whiskey lists. Find it in our restaurant guide.
• Want a view? Browse ocean view restaurants, then keep the night going with our bars and nightlife picks.

• OC Wine Cruise: a 90-minute evening cruise with wine tastings and a cheese plate, offered year-round on Friday and Sunday evenings for ages 21 and up. Details at Dana Wharf.
• Live Music Harbor Cruise: a seasonal 21+ sunset cruise with a live band aboard the Dana Pride. Check Dana Wharf for dates.
• Golden hour whale watching: select evening departures pair sunset with dolphins and whales. See whale watching in Dana Point.
• December magic: the Boat Parade of Lights fills the harbor with lit-up boats. The 2026 parade runs December 11 to 13. See our festival guide.

Book side-by-side treatments at a clifftop resort, then linger by the pool until dinner. The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach spa offers personalized experiences overlooking the Pacific. Compare all spas in Dana Point and look for romance packages on our offers page.

• Paddle the harbor together on a tandem kayak through our kayak and paddleboard partners.
• Take a surf lesson at Doheny State Beach. See surfing in Dana Point.
• Sail to Catalina for the day on the ferry from Dana Point Harbor. Read our Catalina day trip guide.

Stay the night and skip the drive home. Ask about romance packages when you book.

• Blue Lantern Inn: a cozy boutique inn with harbor views, our pick for a romantic getaway.
• Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club: the couples spa splurge.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel: sunset from the bluff and dinner without leaving the resort. •
• More ideas: the romantic getaway on our weekend itineraries page, plus romance offers.