Best tent camping in Southern California during Jan/Feb?

I would like to recommend to you Death Valley. This may be a little bit further of a drive than what you would like to do. But, its awesome there and it would be worth it. I usually go during the 3 day weekend that is in February. I live in San Diego and I leave real early on Saturday and come home real late on Monday. Death Valley has some camping areas you can reserve. They also have back country camping where you are seriously the only people around. No reservation needed for that at all. That is what I like to do. Just follow their rules. Check in at the ranger station first thing. As far as activities go. They have hiking trails. They have driving trails. They have a lot of cool sights to see. I like Titus Canyon, The Racetrack, The lowest point in the continental USA, picture taking of flowers, and Scotty's Castle. Plus so much more. Yes it may be cold at night. But, its nothing a decent tent with they fly on, a good sleeping bag, and a cuddle buddy (girlfriend) can't handle. Some tricks for keeping your tent a tad warmer at night is to layer up the flooring. Meaning before you put your tent down lay out a tarp or something (footprint). Place your tent on the tarp. THEN fold up another tarp to fit nicely on the floor INSIDE the tent. Use your sleeping pads too.... obviously. I do this for my girlfriend who gets cold really easy. She likes it. One last trick and I swear I am done. Stuff some of your warm cloths into your sleeping bag while you are trying to get to sleep. So that it replaces any cold air space that may be there. Have a good time no matter what you do.

Have you tried hiking up the dead cinder cone outside Baghdad off Old Route 66 and sleeping inside crater? Hippies used to amble up there with an old tire and set it afire within crater just to laugh at folks passing down below who might be thinking this geological demon was waking-up. Maybe you'll find some fifty year old Summer Of Love artifacts or something.