There s not a lot you can do on that budget, but some places that are romantic and fun for a couple days are the Malibu Beach Inn and then dinner at Beaurivage, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Big Bear, and Catalina Island. If you want to stay local, you might get a room at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and spend the entire day in. The rooms are beautiful and cozy with jacuzzi tubs and all that which is nice.
$200-$300 Total, or per night? If that s the total, you re talking the hourly motel down in San Pedro, and a walking tour of the Queen Mary (which is free).I ve seen the Golden Bear Cottages in Big Bear... they keep sending me emails about last-minute deals. This would be a great time to rent a cabin for snuggling up with your significant other.Or you could go south to San Diego... LOTS of hotels there, and you could go to Balboa Park, the zoo, Sea World, etc.Good luck.
I would probably try something in Cambria (a littles ways from San Luis Obispo).It s beautiful there. Very romantic.And since it s not LA or San Fran, you might get a better deal$300 doesn t go far when you at least $125 a night for hotel ($100 +$25 taxes)