A perfect place to go on a date in Southern California if you love art and great architecture is the Getty. The hubby and I have gone to both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa but our favorite one is the Villa. Like I’ve previously stated we love going on cheap dates especially when you get to experience such a beautiful place.

We’ve been here a few times and we can’t believe how beautiful it is every time we come back. To get tickets you need to make a reservation with them here. Entrance is FREE but parking is $15. Can I suggest you either carpool with a group of friends, take public transportation which gets you in for free, or get dropped off if you want to save on the parking fee. This place is good for older kids but keep in mind it’s a museum. If you want to make it a super romantical date you can always have a picnic at the nearby beach and then drive up to the Villa. They also serve wine and lunch if you would like to eat at the Villa or you can order a picnic lunch and eat it on the grounds. We enjoy sitting on a bench overlooking the outer peristyle and people watching while having a great conversation.

The Getty Villa

17985 Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Palisades, California 90272

(310) 440-7300

{Date Night Friday} Balboa Park

Balboa Park, California, Date Night Fridays, San Diego, Southern California

A few years ago I went to Balboa Park to work on a school assignment and I was hooked. Not long after that I went back with my hubby and he loved it. Fast forward to a couple of weekends ago when we decided to finally go back.

Our first stop was at the Visitor Center where we gots of helpful tips. We decided that instead of buying tickets we where going to walk around and enjoy all the free things to do.

Here’s a glimpse at what we saw and by no means does justice to the amount of things there are to see:

This place is pretty amazing to spend a whole day walking around in. They have several restaurants around there but beware for all the fast food lovers out there you have to drive a little to find fast food. They do have hot dog carts that sell bottled water, ice cream, and nachos. Parking is awful on a beautiful day but don’t be discouraged there is plenty around if you’re willing to walk far for it. Make sure you don’t park in 15 minute parking because they do give tickets. We have visited several of the museums there along with the San Diego Zoo but this time we opted to walk around and relax which made for a splendid day. They have palm readers, tarot card readers, local musicians, and very interesting people out there. Besides museums they have performing arts centers, a Spanish village, and a lot of gardens. This place is great to bring out of towners to and is also wonderful for kids.

Balboa Park

549 El Prado

San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 239-0512

Do you know of any other places like Balboa Park you are willing to share with me?

{Date Night Fridays} Go Kart World

California, Date Night Fridays, Dates, Dating, Fun, Southern California

The hubby and I have never really stuck to the conventional movie and a dinner type of dates. We like to have fun and we are kids at heart so going on a date to Go Kart World just made sense.

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This place has a lot of kids during the day but at night you see a lot more young adults and couples. It might not seem very romantic to go to a go kart place but trust me if you can laugh together and act silly it really puts you in a great mood. We have enjoyed this place with my little cousins and on our own. It seriously is a fun place to spend the evening at. It can be a tad pricey if you want to ride the tracks a lot but you can have fun doing a few spins yourself and people watch the rest of the time. I had a blast getting to know the hubby here and can’t wait to bring our kids here one day. I hope you guys give this place a try and have as much fun as we have. Here is the Yelp review.

Go Kart World

21830 Recreation Rd

Carson, CA 90745

(310) 834-3800

Note: This is not the only go kart place in Southern California if you live closer to Gardena you might want to check out K1 Speed.

Do you know of any other cool place to go act like a kid?

{Date Night Fridays} The Groundlings

California, Date Night Fridays, Dating, Life, Southern California

The hubby and I love to L.O.L. and we are always on the lookout to find more places to do this. One of our favorite places to go when we need a little brightening up or when we just want to laugh until our stomach hurts is the Groundlings. If you love SNL style comedy and its comedians then you’ll love this place. We have gone several times throughout our 11 years of dating and every time we have been there we come out laughing. The venue is very intimate and you’ll feel like your part of the show. At times you are asked to yell out things for their improve section. Don’t worry this place isn’t the kind that embarrasses you or has stand up comedians. They usually incorporate current events and on occasions some of their alumni show up and make special appearances. If you loved movies like Bridesmaids and actors like Will Ferrell you’ll love this place.

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Prices vary throughout the year but usually go for less than $20. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter and you might be able to score some free tickets. I’ve won free tickets on a few occasions and you guys know how much I love free stuff. If you don’t believe me that this place is pretty awesome check out their Yelp reviews.

Please keep in mind that I’m not being paid or compensated for recommending this venue. This is just my personal experience and if you have a blast like we have spread the word.

For my romantics out there: Nothing says love like being able to laugh with your loved one.

What’s your favorite place to go get a good chuckle?

{Date Night Fridays} I’m still dating my husband

California, Date Night Fridays, Dates, Life, Romance, Southern California

…and loving every minute of it. Just because you get married doesn’t mean you should stop going on dates. When the hubby and I were dating our date night was usually on Friday night and it was involved doing something different that we hadn’t done before. Fast forward to almost 11 years later and we are still committed to going on dates. On this segment called Date Night Fridays I’m going to give you suggestions on where to go on dates in Southern California. I’m aware I’ll probably hate myself later if you all start showing up to my favorite spots but I’m willing to take that risk. Southern California is full of museums, botanical gardens, comedy clubs, and other places that could be quite romantical. Please keep in mind that many places the hubby and I go to are very affordable which is a bonus for us. We actually try to outdo ourselves with planning the “cheapest” date.

One of our favorite FREE museums to visit is the California Science Center.

When I was little my parents used to take me there and I later found out that my hubby’s parents used to do the same thing. (I wonder if we were ever there at the same time.) The museum is pretty big and there are a lot of things to do. They have a small aquarium where you can touch some of the star fish at. Sometimes they have very cool exhibits but they are usually cost extra. We love going in there and playing with all the things and sometime catching a film in their huge IMAX theater. Parking is usually about $10 bucks but if you’re feeling a tad adventurous or if you’re trying to go green you might want to take the Metro. This place is totally kid friendly but it can also be enjoyed with just your significant other. We’ve taken our little goddaughter with us on several occasions and she has a blast.

If you want to romance your special loved one pack a picnic basket and enjoy it in the adjacent Rose Garden. (Keep in mind that it’s closed from January 1st to March 15th.)

Where is your favorite place to go on a date?