Orange County is a consumer's dream, inundated with food and shopping options for nights out. But instead of gorging yourself and emptying your wallet for date night, take advantage of the beautiful scenery that makes OC so damn expensive to begin with. South County is home to some of the prettiest beaches, as exemplified by Calafia Beach in San Clemente. There is ample (free) street parking at the top of Avenida Calafia, then take the windy road leading down to the beach, so long as you don't mind ambling with your special so-and-so. Join countless other sappy couples and carve your initials into the sand cliffs, or venture into the private nooks formed by the imposing slabs of sand. The beach is deserted during off-season, when the gray skies manage to make the views even more beautiful.
