COVID-19 has made the dating scene even more challenging for people. Most normal first date options are not available like going to the movie theaters or a sit-down restaurant. Although a lot of places are closed, going on a first date is still possible. Here are some quarantine first date options if you live in the LA area and are trying to find something to do.
LA has so many hiking trails to choose from. If you love walking around the outdoors, a hike is a great first date idea. Runyon Canyon is a good spot for beginner hikers and also to get picturesque views of all of LA. Plus you might have some celebrity sightings. Another one of my favorite trails is in Malibu at the Malibu Creek State Park. You can see the outdoor set where they filmed M.A.S.H. if you go on Crags Road Trail. Although it is closer to Calabasas, Malibu Creek State Park is still really beautiful. Lastly, you can hike up to the Hollywood sign for the iconic view. The Hollywood sign is one of the most classic things that people think about when someone mentions LA. These are just some of the many hiking trails in LA. If you’re looking for some more trail ideas, go to: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/best-hikes-in-la-get-outdoors-and-view-the-city-from-the-hills.
Even before quarantine, having a picnic is such a cute idea! You can bring your own food or take-out from somewhere and just sit and talk! One of my favorite spots is the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park in Palos Verdes. You’ll have amazing ocean views and maybe go for a hike nearby! Balboa Park in the valley is also really nice, especially in the springtime with the cherry blossom bloom. Another suggestion would be Echo Park Lake between Hollywood and Downtown. They usually have boat rentals which are fun, however, because of COVID-19, it’s not available anymore. The park is still open so bring a couple blankets and some food and enjoy! If you are interested in finding more parks to picnic at, here is a more extensive list: https://la.curbed.com/maps/best-los-angeles-picnic-spots.
One of the best parts about living in LA, is being so close to several beaches! Going to the beach is a good quarantine first date as it is outdoors and easy to spread out from others. You can have a romantic walk on the beach! A nice beach in Malibu is Paradise Cove, it is pretty isolated and is the perfect taste of paradise! Malibu has some of the best scenery in LA. Another great beach is Redondo County Beach. If you choose not to walk on the sand, there is a sidewalk right near the beach to walk on. Redondo is a little less chaotic than Hermosa Beach so definitely check it out. Drive a few minutes and you’ll hit another beautiful beach, Manhattan County Beach. Manhattan Beach is full of trendy restaurants and shops, and a stunning beach! You could even bring some food and picnic on the beach! If you’re trying to find some more beach spots in LA, visit https://www.californiabeaches.com/best-beaches-los-angeles/.
It is really disappointing that movie theaters are closed, but luckily there are still some drive-in theaters still open in LA! A drive-in theater may even be better than a regular theater as you have more privacy in the comfort of your car. One of the only drive-ins’s within LA county itself is the Paramount Drive-In Theater. It is pretty strict on social distancing as they require cars to be at least 9 feet away from other vehicles. Another drive-in theater located in the City of Industry is the Vineland Drive-In Theater. This drive-in opened in 1952 and still is showing movies on two-screens. The Roadium in the South Bay also offers drive-in movies during the summer on the weekends. If you’d like to look at more drive-in theater locations visit: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/movies/best-drive-in-theater-options-in-southern-california.
LA is filled of overlooks where you can see the whole city! Drive up and watch the sunset with your date. One of the most popular overlooks is on Mulholland Drive. Bring some lawn chairs and just enjoy the view of the city! Another spot is the Top Of The World in Pacific Palisades. It is an amazing ocean view! In Culver City, you can also go to the Baldwin Hills overlook which has a 360-view of LA, after climbing a few steps. If you’d like to check out some more overlooks, visit: https://foursquare.com/top-places/los-angeles/best-places-scenic-lookout.
Public gardens in LA are beginning to reopen. A garden is a beautiful place to go on a first date to just walk around and chat. The Exposition Park Rose Garden is known as one of LA’s “best kept secrets.” A nice, peaceful garden is the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botantical Garden, right near UCLA’s campus. Lastly, if you want to go on a bit of a drive go to Arlington Garden in Pasadena. It is a free, public garden and the only one located in Pasadena.
It may seem like a lot of work for a first date, but it’s fun! All you have to do is rent a kayak. Some places you could kayak are on the LA River, the Redondo Harbor, Palos Verdes, Malibu, or Long Beach. Places are still doing kayaking rentals so it is still a viable option.
There are a ton of bike trails throughout LA. Some are actually near the beach, which is a really fun, exciting first date idea! If you or your date doesn’t have a bike, you can rent it for a pretty low price!
Box N’ Burn in Santa Monica is offering outdoor boxing classes. They are being very careful about sanitizing and keeping people safe. Although sweaty, doing a workout class together could be fun!
In-N-Out is an iconic staple food of anyone who lives in California. So order some to-go food and find a nice place to sit and eat! No one can resist In-N-Out french fries.
I hope these quarantine first date ideas give you some inspiration for your next date! If you don’t feel comfortable going out, you can always do a virtual date as well.
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