While the Los Angeles area has plenty of world class beaches and attractions nearby, the city itself is home to many treasures as well. The Santa Monica Mountains split the city into two overall regions. Within the Santa Monica Mountains you will find hiking trails, horseback riding opportunities, golf courses and more.
Couples who want to spend their anniversary trekking should visit the rugged trails of Topanga Canyon. Located near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Topanga Canyon has a range of trails that will give you breathtaking vistas of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
If you plan to stay in a more central part of Los Angeles, take a visit to Griffith Park. One of the nation's largest city parks, Griffith Park offers a diverse set of activities. You and your loved one can begin with a morning hike through Griffith Park's mountainous region, followed by lunch at the site of the former LA Zoo. Spend your afternoon at the Los Angeles Zoo or the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. At night, either look at the stars and planets at the Griffith Park Observatory or take in a concert at the park's Greek Theatre.
While a drive between Los Angeles city's southernmost and northernmost border may take hours in rush hour traffic, Los Angeles' peculiar shape allows drivers to discover faster routes that will take them out of the city completely. Some of Los Angeles County's most romantic destinations are within 30 miles of city limits. Outdoor lovers will find lush vegetation and wild life in the Angeles National Forest. Located in the San Gabriel mountains, the Angeles National Forest has several places where nature-loving couples can set up a tent and celebrate their anniversaries in nature.
For couples who find the beach more romantic, drive along the Pacific Coast Highway 30 miles north or south of Los Angeles and descend upon some of the country's most picturesque beaches. To the north of LA, beaches such as Zuma Beach nestle against the Santa Monica Mountains to provide extraordinary scenery.
South of Los Angeles are beach towns such as Newport Beach and Manhattan Beach. These beach towns are perfect places for couples who want to enjoy the warm Pacific water but also want to take in some beach culture. These towns are so close to Los Angeles city limits that couples may wish to spend the day at the beach and the night back in the city for a glamorous anniversary dinner.
Los Angeles residents who wish to leave town for their anniversaries will discover plenty of other cities, national parks and getaway destinations within three hours of Los Angeles city limits. To the east of Los Angeles, the desert communities of the Palm Springs region offer luxurious hotels, fabulous golfing and gorgeous hikes in the nearby mountains.
Northeast of Palm Springs is the mysterious Joshua Tree National Park. Comprising the Sonoran and Mojave desert, Joshua Tree has rock formations, mountain hikes and of course the famous Joshua trees that give the park its name. For couples with springtime anniversaries, check with the National Park service to see when the wildflowers of Joshua Tree will sprout. The colorful sight of a desert in bloom is quite the glorious way to spend your anniversary.
If larger cities are more to your liking, consider an anniversary visit to San Diego. From one of the world's greatest zoos to delicious fish tacos, San Diego has several treasures that couples will gravitate toward. Other romantic cities and towns within three hours of Los Angeles include Santa Barbara to the north and Laguna Beach to the south. Fun loving couples may also want to consider an anniversary at Disneyland in the nearby city of Anaheim.
