More LA/OC Date Destinations
Have a Great Hike with Amazing Views at Griffith Park
Griffith Park is famous for its observatory, but it also offers some great hiking trails which offer amazing views of downtown LA, Century City, the Hollywood sign, and the valley. I'm going to tell you about my favorite trail which begins at the Glendale Peak...
Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens – An Ideal Holiday Date Idea
If you want a magical date experience during the holidays, check out Descanso Gardens Enchanted: Forest of Light in La Canada Flintridge. It really is "enchanted"! Logistics You definitely should buy your tickets in advance as this does sell out almost...
The Best Mid-City L.A. Date Ideas
The mid-city area of Los Angeles offers some of the best restaurants and coolest attractions around, making it a prime date destination. By "mid city", I'm referring to the area roughly between La Cienaga Blvd on the West and Western on the East, north of Pico and...
The Best San Diego Date Ideas
Only a few hours away from Los Angeles, (depending on traffic), San Diego is an ideal weekend date destination. These are the highlights from my recent trips to San Diego that I’d recommend to you.
The Most Romantic Date Spots in Venice, CA
Venice has a surprising number of really romantic date spots. It used to be known as a low-end beach town plagued by gangs and crime, but much of that has been cleaned up and it's now hipster-central for the West Side. Here's a list of my favorite Venice date...
The Best Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Los Angeles
Going on dates can be really expensive, but it doesn't have to be. There are some really great date ideas in Los Angeles that are cheap or free. Here's my list! 1. Hiking Hiking tops many lists of cheap date ideas for good reason. I have yet to meet...
My Favorite “Secret” Beach – Lechuza Beach Malibu
There are many wonderful beaches in Los Angeles and Orange County, but many of these are crowded and lack privacy. I'd like to tell you about a "hidden gem" that I found.. a beach that feels like a private beach far away from the crowds of the city. It's a bit of a...
A Fun Beach Hike to Tidepools at Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes
If you want a really unique L.A. beach experience, check out Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes. It offers a short trail hike down to a rocky beach leading to caves and tidepools. It can be a really cool and unusual date experience! One warning though - you will get wet!...
A Relaxing Bike Ride on the West Side – The Ballona Creek Bike Path
The Ballona Creek Bike Path is a beginner-level bike path completely free of cars and signals, extending from Culver City to Marina del Rey. It can be a great date idea if you go at the right time of day (avoiding the heat of mid-day) and make plans to hang out...
The Top Date Ideas in Culver City and the Surrounding Area
Culver City and the surrounding areas have some really romantic and fun places that are ideal for a date. Here are my top recommendations. 1. The Culver Hotel I consider the Culver Hotel to be the jewel of downtown Culver City. Completed in 1924, it...
My Top 20 Downtown LA Date Ideas
It wasn’t that long ago that downtown Los Angeles was a pretty scary place to be outside of work hours, to be avoided at all costs. Now, it’s undergoing a renaissance and is one of the real hip areas to hang out at, with tons of great restaurants, bars, and...
My Top Twenty Pasadena Date Ideas
I believe Pasadena is one of the best places to go on a date in the LA area. It’s got fine restaurants, bars, shopping areas, cultural events, museums, and a lot more, making it worth visiting even if you live far away. Here are my top ten date ideas in Pasadena and...
L.A. Vegan Restaurants Even Carnivores Will Enjoy
Has this ever happened to you: You’re a meat-lover, but your date is a vegan, and you never been to a vegan restaurant before and have no idea where to go. Or, vice versa, you’re a vegan and you want to take your carnivore date to a restaurant they won’t hate. Here...
My Five Favorite Restaurants in Old Town Pasadena
There are so many great restaurants, bars, and hangouts in Old Town Pasadena, it can be difficult to choose. Here are my personal favorites based on food, service, and ambiance, in no particular order. 1. Mi Piace Right in the heart of Old Town on the...
Romantic Restaurants and Bars on Ocean Avenue Santa Monica
If you asked most people what the best date spot in Santa Monica is, many would say Third Street Promenade. But Ocean Avenue has a collection of great restaurants and bars too. Although it's gotten more crowded and touristy lately, it's still a good bet on...
Los Liones Canyon Trail – My Favorite Hike
You might have noticed that I've been going on a lot of hikes in the Santa Monica mountains lately. They've all be great, but each seems to be better than the last. At a friend’s recommendation, I did the Los Liones Canyon hike and I think it’s the best one I've...
Complete List of Summer Outdoor Movies in Los Angeles 2017
Seeing an outdoor movie with someone special can be a fun and cozy date idea. Below is a link to the best list I’ve found of outdoor movies for summer 2017 (from Thrillist): 2017 Outdoor Movie Screenings from Thrillist.com Note that “outdoor” does not necessarily...
Temescal Canyon – An Ideal Date Hike
The Temescal Canyon Loop is a popular trail and is an ideal date hike because it’s the perfect length, it’s just the right difficulty level, it’s very close to civilization, and has some great views and interesting terrain. It’s a great way to spend a weekend morning...
The Best BBQ on the West Side – Baby Blues BBQ
My friend and I were driving to Costco in Marina del Rey but wanted to stop for lunch first. We stumbled upon a nondescript restaurant called Baby Blues BBQ. I love BBQ, so we decided to take a chance on the joint. We were not disappointed! The Ambiance...
Top Tips for Having a Great Time at Staples Center
Home of the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings, and host to concerts and other events, the Staples Center is a prime attraction in downtown Los Angeles. Here are my tips to make your visit fun and hassle-free. 1. Bring a good jacket for Kings games If you go...
Hike the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook for an Awesome View near Downtown Culver City
As a Los Angeles native, I'm always amazed that I am still discovering cool new things to do in the city. One of the things I was recently turned on to is the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. It offers a great stair workout that puts the Santa Monica stairs to shame,...
The Best Museum Date in LA: The Huntington Library and Gardens
I’m a big fan of museums, and Los Angeles has some great ones, including the Getty, the Getty Villa, LACMA/La Brea Tar Pits, and the California Science Center. But, I recently re-visited the continually-expanding Huntington Library and I concluded that it’s the best...
Have a Great Date at Griffith Park Observatory
The Griffith Park Observatory is not only one of the most popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles, it’s also a great place to go for an after-dinner date with someone special, and most of the attractions there are free! Here are my top recommendations to have a...
The Skyroom in Long Beach (Will Return in 2020)
SPECIAL NOTE: Unfortunately, the Skyroom is now closed for a two-year remodel. I'm hoping it returns in 2020 even better than it was! - Brian On my personal short list of romantic restaurants in Los Angeles is Long Beach’s incredible Skyroom. This place is not only on...
A Great Walking Tour of Downtown Los Angeles
If you are into history or architecture, the highly-rated Free LA Tour can be a great outdoor date idea! I recently took an out-of-town friend on the tour and we enjoyed it. Here are my experiences. The Logistics You'll need to register for the Free LA...
A Fun, Unique Date Idea: Horseback Riding in Malibu!
I recently had a friend visiting from out of town who wanted to go horseback riding in the LA area. I had never ridden a horse before, but I was willing to give it a try. Well, I am glad I did, because it was an awesome experience and I had a blast! Here’s some info...
The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
Depending on what type of entertainment you and your date enjoy, the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival might just be your cup of tea. Personally, I have never been super-into Shakespeare. I hated reading that stuff in grade school just like...
The Top Three Most Romantic Restaurants in Los Angeles
Proflowers has come up with a list of the 245 most romantic restaurants in America. Los Angeles has three in the top fifteen with a Santa Barbara restaurant capturing number one! Proflowers came up with the list by researching reputable restaurant sites like...
The Best Santa Monica Date Ideas
Santa Monica is an obvious and popular destination for hanging out with friends or someone special. As a native, I've spent a lot of time there. Here are my top night and daytime itineraries for a fun time in my home town and the in the Palisades. Note: all of...
A Unique Date Idea for the Adventurous: Venice First Friday Food Trucks
On every first Friday of the month, over thirty food trucks congregate along in Venice along Abbott Kinney Blvd, starting at the parking lot for the Brig at 1515 Abbott Kinney and running along Abbott Kinney from there. The event is called Abbott Kinney First Fridays....
Romantic Date Ideas in Long Beach
When you think of great places to go on a date near L.A., Long Beach usually doesn’t immediately come to mind. Yet, I recently spent a day there and was blown away by how beautiful and romantic parts of Long Beach are. I’m not a Long Beach local, but there are some...
An Easy Date Hike with Great Views at Will Rogers State Park
Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades offers an easy hike with some nice views of Century City to the Santa Monica Bay, and even Catalina Island on a clear day. History Will Rogers was one of the highest-paid and most famous actors in the early...
Casa Del Mar – A Classy Date Lounge by the Ocean
A worthy stop in any Santa Monica date itinerary is the Casa Del Mar hotel, with its grand Lobby Lounge and amazing view of the pier and beach. It has a prime location close to beach activities and the Third Street Promenade, yet far enough from the noise and hustle...
Top Tips to Have a Great Hollywood Bowl Experience
The Hollywood Bowl is an awesome and unique Southern California institution. There’s nothing like listening to music in the hills beneath the stars. I’ve done it many, many times. Here are some tips to make your time there perfect. Which Seats to Get...
How to Have an Amazing Date at Disneyland
Disneyland is not a place that usually comes to mind when you are thinking of where to take a date. But, I've have some wonderful times at Disneyland as an adult going with someone special. If you’re willing to shell out the dough for admission, or if you have an...
Yamashiro – One of the Most Romantic Restaurants in L.A.
Yamashiro is one of my all-time favorite date restaurants in Los Angeles. The ambiance is right out of a Samurai movie, and it has one of the most amazing views of L.A. of any restaurant I know. The garden in front of the restaurant has got to be one of the most...