Got a date coming up? While you may be nervous about it, at least you won’t have to worry about finding something to do. San Diego has so much going on that you’ll never have to resort to the tired old cliché of dinner and a movie. To help you out, here’s our list of the best date night ideas in San Diego.
Go Horseback Riding
Do you and your date like nature and animals? A horseback ride is practically the perfect San Diego date idea. You can get out in the fresh air and enjoy nature, enjoy the company of some majestic animals, and see San Diego from a whole new perspective. Plus, it’s a different sort of experience that both you and your date will find truly memorable. There are several ranches around the city where you can rent horses, so you can probably find one near you.
Explore Balboa Park
For a date that has a little bit of everything, go explore Balboa Park. It’s a park, of course, with plenty of places to have a private little picnic lunch or dinner. It’s also home to no fewer than seventeen museums, including art museums, natural history museums, and a car museum. If you like animals, you can always go see the San Diego Zoo, which is also located in the park. There are also several gardens and a botanical center, where you can see all kinds of strange and exotic plants. If theater’s more your thing, catch a show at the Old Globe Theatre, a recreation of Shakespeare’s famous theater. There are also restaurants, cultural exhibits from all over the world, and more. There’s probably something there that both you and your date can enjoy.
Spend a Day at La Jolla Cove
For an adventurous outdoor date, why not spend the day at La Jolla Cove? You can explore the sea caves and the tide pools, when the tide is low. There’s a good chance you’ll see some seals and sea lions, maybe even a lot of them. You can take a kayak tour around the cove if you like or, if you’re looking for a more adventurous date, there are places where you can go cliff gliding or snorkeling. And then, when you’re done, there are tons of good restaurants and bars nearby where you can enjoy a relaxing evening together.
Wine Tasting
San Diego is home to some really nice vineyards. You can go to tastings at many of them, which is not only a fun date, but a classy one, too. We highly recommend going as part of a wine tasting tour. That way, you don’t have to worry about driving and can keep your attention on the wine, and on each other.
Rooftop Sunset Cocktails
San Diego is home to a surprising number of rooftop bars. What could be more fun and romantic than you and your date sipping cocktails from a rooftop with a commanding view of the city, or maybe the bay, and watching the sun go down? Some of those bars also have excellent live music acts, too.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Speaking of seeing the city and surrounding environs from a great vantage point, try taking a hot air balloon ride. You’ll see San Diego from a unique perspective and get a bit of a thrill while doing it. And it’s a nice, intimate, private experience, too. Well, except for the person flying the balloon being there, of course. A sunset or even sunrise ride is especially spectacular.
Laugh together at a Comedy Club
Sharing a laugh can be a great way of getting closer with your date. Luckily, San Diego has several good comedy clubs. Do a little research about upcoming acts, make a reservation if you need to, and settle in for an evening of comedy, and maybe some drinks along with it.
Dine on the Waves and under the Moon
You want a romantic evening with your date? Sign up for one of San Diego’s many dinner cruises. Enjoy a leisurely, luxury meal under the moon with the iconic San Diego skyline as a backdrop. Many of these cruises also feature dancing after dinner, which is of course a great way to end a date.
Take in an Outdoor Concert
If you like the idea of a romantic date outside, but music is more your thing then dinner and dancing, then take in an outdoor concert. There are a lot of regularly scheduled outdoor concerts and some spontaneous ones as well, featuring all kinds of music. Listening to a great band together can be a great way to bond.
Stroll around the Gaslamp District
If you’re on a date, why not make it a date in the past? Head on out to the Gaslamp District, a historical neighborhood that has preserved much of its Victorian-era architecture and atmosphere. There are some great restaurants, bars, and attractions that you can enjoy together. During the day you can stroll along the San Diego Bay at Seaport Village with ending the night in Gaslamp for dinner and drinks.