Hi A.! Well, our favorite little weekend getaway (we got married there as well!) is Catalina Island! You really feel like you are going on a romantic vacation...it's got a Mediterranean feel to it. You get there by boat or by helicopter...and there are almost no cars allowed on the island. You travel around by golf cart!!!
We stay at a place called Hamilton Cove...they are privately owned condos that you can rent. During the summer it's usually a 2-night minimum. Most of the rental units come with a golf cart, and the complex has a private beach, a pool, gym, tennis courts, a croquet court and putting course. Most of the units overlook the ocean...it's so beautiful, relaxing and romantic!!
You take your golf cart into town (about a 5 minute ride through the hills) and walk around...there are shops, restaurants, there is a 9-hold golf course, sight seeing things to do, a beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat rides, etc. Or you can take a tour of the island by bus and see wild buffalo, bald eagles and all kinds of animals native to the island. It all depends on what you want to do!
We take the boat out of either San Pedro or Long Beach...it's about a 45 minute ride. You can reserve the "Captain's Lounge" on the boat for an additional fee...it's a private room and it comes with a bottle of champagne! It's a great way to start out a perfect weekend!
Here are a few recommendations if you go:
Eat lunch or have drinks at the Blue Parrot, have a romantic dinner at the little Italian restaurant Antonio's (at the beginning of the walk streets), happy hour at Luau Larry's, a homemade waffle cone ice cream at the local ice cream shop (you will smell them far away!!). A few websites that might help too:
www.ecatalina.com
http://www.catalinahotspots.com/index.asp
http://www.catalinavacations.com/ (this is the site where you will find the best deals on Hamilton Cove Villa rentals)
Hope this helps. For us, it's a magical and amazing place! We can get lost there for a weekend and feel like we are on a major vacation without going far from home! Best of luck and Happy Anniversary!