Fab Things Couples Can Do in San Diego

America’s finest city, this is what some people lovingly refer to San Diego as. With a vibrant cultural scene, lots of museums, restaurants, history, and of course many interesting places to seek out and explore, San Diego County is an excellent place for couples seeking things to do when they go for romantic outings. So let’s go explore the historic district, grab a bite to eat, and see exactly what makes San Diego America’s finest city for couples.

1. Enjoy a Romantic Date Night at a Drive-in Theater

You may have heard about Santee Theater closing down at the end of 2023, however, there is still hope for those who want to enjoy a night at a drive-in theater. South Bay Drive-In Theater is an excellent place to check out if you are interested in a nice romantic night of watching a movie under the stars. This coastside drive-in features a variety of films from movies that are perfect for cuddling together as you enjoy a romantic comedy, to horror films that allow the two of you to bring you and your partner closer together in suspense.

Related reading: The Best Romantic Christmas Movies (From 1940 Till Now)

2. Live Your True Crime Dreams and go on a True Crime Tour

True crime is such a fascinating topic, in fact, many of today’s best mystery and fantasy novels were inspired by many of the unsolved crimes that happened in this country. You and your partner can enjoy a bit of San Diego History with an hour-long guided tour, exploring the Historic Gaslamp Quarter and learning about the many crimes that took place in that neighborhood. Many of these crimes still remain unsolved to this day, and you may even get a paranormal experience in addition to a true crime tour as one of the hotels you will visit is rumored to be haunted.

3. Enjoy a Relaxing Afternoon With Each Other and Book a Couples Massage

Sometimes, even if you are in a place as incredible as San Diego Bay, the best thing to do as a couple is to just enjoy of relaxation and laziness. The number of things to do in San Diego for couples can leave you and your partner feeling worn out and weary of the world around you, which is why it is such a good idea to schedule a break at the Firefly Wellness Day Spa. All you have to do is book one of their 60 or 90-minute appointment times and let your stress melt away as you lay across the table and let the professional do their work.

4. Take a Stroll and Enjoy the Sights at Chicano Park

This park is considered by some to be a national monument, with over 32000 square feet of space to explore. Chicano Park is home to lots of community events, murals, and excellent exhibits at the Chicano Park Museum. You and your partner can enjoy a relaxing stroll on the sunny walkways, take advantage of the many photo ops, and of course, enjoy the shade from the beautiful San Diego-Coronado bridge.

5. Take a Ferry to Coronado Beach

Coronado is a resort city that is home to many beautiful beaches, historic places to explore, and excellent seafood. In fact, if you and your partner want to spend a day, week, or even month surrounded by the glistening water, and walking along the shore of the ocean beach after enjoying some delicious local cuisine, Coronado Beach is the perfect place to explore.

If you’d like to do something truly memorable, consider a stay at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado. This is one of San Diego’s premier hotels.

6. Shop and Relax as You Walk Through One of the Many Local Farmer’s Markets

San Diego is the perfect mix of tropical and temperate, which means it is a great place to grow lots of delicious foods. Because of this, San Diego is home to many different farmers markets that feature a lot of locally grown and made produce and products. Edible San Diego has a guide to local farmers markets to help you choose the ideal spot for your date. No matter where you go, you and your partner can enjoy exploring the local farmers’ markets, enjoy delicious foods, and have a relaxing day of shopping and exploring near San Diego Bay.

7. Take a Hike and Explore Mission Trails Regional Park

Mission Trails is a regional park located near San Diego, that has so much to do. With over 65 miles worth of trails on over 8000 acres of land, there’s no end to the amount of afternoon strolls a person can take as they explore one of the largest parks in the entire country. Mission Trails also offers trails for all levels of ability, which means that anyone will be able to complete a successful hike. Of course, if hiking isn’t for you there are also campgrounds, fishing at Kumeyaay Lake, and a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

Related reading: The Great Outdoors – 27 Date Ideas in the Open Air

8. Check Out Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

If the Natural beauty of Mission Trails wasn’t enough for you and your partner, perhaps exploring Sunset Cliffs Natural Park will be a good way for you to scratch the itch that outdoor date ideas are bringing to you. This park is home to beautiful rock formations all on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, which is perfect for those who want to go on a San Diego adventure. If you want to experience the ocean without the crowds that line the Pacific beach this is definitely the place to go.

9. Indulge Yourself in the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park

Balboa Park is home to one of the best zoos in the country, with over 100 acres of land to explore and 650 different creatures to visit and learn about. This zoo offers experiences for all animal lovers, and if you want to see more than the average person, you and your partner can splurge a bit and request a vip experience that is customized to help you make the most of your visit to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Sea lions and other abundant marine life and laugh attractions are among the fun things to see while you are there.

10. Visit the San Diego Museum of Art

If the San Diego Zoo isn’t enough to satisfy your urge to explore and learn at Balboa Park, this large park is also home to the San Diego Museum of Art. You and your partner can explore the halls of this museum of art and take in the beauty of the pieces that are available from all over the world. Of course, you don’t have to be there to enjoy the museum itself. From your home computer or laptop, you can log in to the website and enjoy a variety of digital tours and classes for the days when you are too physically tired from exploring the San Diego Zoo or the Balboa Park Gardens but you and your partner still have a certain creative itch that needs to be scratched.

If you’d like to take in more art and culture, visit Barrio Logan. This cultural district has galleries, museums, murals, and other public art celebrating Mexican culture.

Related reading: Relationship Bases: How Baseball and Sex Are Connected

11. Explore the Balboa Park Gardens

If there is one thing that Balboa Park has, it’s beautiful flora, lush gardens, and colorful displays. If you somehow have the energy for more exploring in this San Diego Park, we suggest checking out the Balboa Park Gardens before you have to leave. You can view amazing succulents and beautiful Palm Canyon, and of course, take a romantic picture at the Balboa building and lily pond which is one of the most picturesque gardens in the park.

12. Enjoy a Day as You Explore the Coronado Flower Show

If you and your partner love beautiful, colorful flowers then the two of you are going to love this event that is held in Coronado every year. Take in the breathtaking botanical displays, look at locally crafted crafts and teas made from locally grown flowers, and simply enjoy a romantic day surrounded by flora.

13. Take a Cooking Class at La Jolla

La Jolla isn’t just known for its namesake of La Jolla Cove, but it is also known for some excellent cuisine that many people want to be able to take home with them. With the fun of a date night, you and your partner can bring home the knowledge to enjoy a delectable meal for an at-home date night after spending time at a cooking class at La Jolla.

14. Satisfy Your Love For Astronomy at the Palomar Observatory

“It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it not stirring to understand how the world actually works — that white light is made of colors, that color is the way we perceive the wavelengths of light, that transparent air reflects light, that in so doing it discriminates among the waves, and that the sky is blue for the same reason that the sunset is red? It does no harm to the romance of the sunset to know a little bit about it.”

Carl Sagan, famed astronomer and author

According to the San Diego Astronomy Association, the Palomar Observatory located on the Palomar Mountain range is one of the best places to check out beautiful constellations and planets with the help of their 200-inch telescope that is famous across the country. This observatory is always open on a clear night, except in cases of excessive snow on the mountains. If you and your partner love astronomy this is a great place for you to check out.

15. Explore La Jolla Cove on a Kayak

La Jolla Cove is a can’t miss attraction in San Diego. The best way to see and appreciate it is a kayaking tour. Rent a tandem kayak and take a guided tour to enjoy a beautiful day in the sun and observe the marine life. When you and your date are finished, you can relax on one of San Diego’s pristine beaches and watch the sunset.

16. Explore the Tide Pools

Many couples opt for a whaling expedition to see the larger inhabitants of the Pacific. But if you want to get “up close and personal” with smaller marine life, one of the best daytime date ideas is to put on your water shoes and hop into a tide pool or two. Here you’ll see smaller sea life. One tip here: lots of these inhabitants hide under rocks to protect themselves from predators. Pick up some of those rocks and see who’s hiding. Not to worry – none of them bite. Once that’s over, walk the pristine beach and collect some pretty shells – hoorah – free souvenirs of your trip. The perfect aquatic adventure.

17. Visit Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument

Speaking of tide pools, some of the best are found at Point Loma, a peninsula that separates the Pacific from San Diego Bay. It’s historically significant because it is where the first Europeans landed on the west coast of California. Today, it houses two military bases, a university, and both residential and commercial areas. The Cabrillo National Monument honors Juan Cabrillo who traveled from Mexico in 1542 and claimed the territory for Spain. Don’t miss this piece of California history and, while you’re at it, enjoy the ocean beach on either side of the peninsula and book an overnight room.

18. Enjoy a Fanciful Meal at The Marine Room

Every visit to a new place must include a romantic and sometimes pricey dinner. San Diego’s answer to this is the Marine Room – an amazing eatery where every guest has a view of the ocean. And at hide tide? The waves crash against the windows. The fare is seafood as well as amazing steaks and French delicacies. Business casual dress. Check them out here.

19. Go to the Gaslamp Quarter and Find Your Rest at the San Diego Pendry

The Gaslamp Quarter is a 16-block-long area, listed by the National Register as a historic district. The buildings were all constructed during the Victorian Era and are now shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues. Throughout the year the Gaslamp Association hosts lots of festivals. Go in the evening for dinner, hit a nightclub or two, and rest your weary bodies at the amazing Pendry Boutique Hotel.

20. Spend a Night as a Kid Again and Explore Belmont Park

You’re never too old to enjoy a day at the amusement park. Enjoy the rides, shows, and food at San Diego Belmont Park. That’s sure to be an unforgettable experience and loads of fun. You can also check out these other theme parks:

• Mission Bay Park
• Legoland
• Pirates Cove
• The Haunted Amusement Park
• Seaworld
• Boardwalk Amusement Center

Clearly, San Diego offers plenty of options, but you could always make a day trip to Disneyland too.

21. Enjoy a Night at the Theater and Check Out a Show at La Jolla Playhouse

The La Jolla Theater is a world-famous venue where you can watch exciting productions 365 days per year. It’s located on the University of San Diego campus just north of downtown in Mission Valley.

22. Catch a Baseball Game at Petco Park

San Diego is a baseball town, and hometown heroes The Padres play at Petco Park. For the past 20 years, baseball fans have shown up to watch their favorite team play ball, eat amazing food, and enjoy a variety of drink options. If you go, be sure to check out Gallagher Square to see what else is going on around the ballpark. Petco Stadium is located in downtown San Diego in East Village.

23. Enjoy Mexican Food

As a border city, San Diego offers some fabulous Mexican cuisine. If your tastes lean more “fine dining”, check out Javier’s or Coasterra. These are just a few of the upscale restaurants in San Diego that offer international cuisine. If you prefer Mexican street food, you have a nearly endless list of choices. You will find taco stands in food trucks, strip malls, and inside mercados. Fresh seafood is abundant here, so try some fish tacos!

24. Tour the USS Midway

San Diego is also home to the USS Midway Museum. This is a retired aircraft carrier that is now open to the public and offers an educational and fun experience. While you are there you can:

• Check out the view from the flight deck
• Take in the show at the Battle of Midway theater
• Try your hand at a flight simulator
• Visit the museum
• See the planes on the hangar deck

When you’re finished, consider heading over to Seaport Village for the evening. While you are there you can engage in all sorts of romantic things. Spend an intimate evening walking around Seaport Village, enjoying a meal with a view of the bay, riding the carousel, listening to live music, riding the old town trolley, or just relaxing as the sun dips into the bay.

25. Check Out Little Italy

Food, wine, and shopping, in a low-key atmosphere best describe Little Italy. Go during the day to enjoy the farmer’s market. A trolley will get you there and back.

26. Walk Around Old Town San Diego & Tour Whaley House

Step back in time and spend a few hours walking among adobe buildings and ornate gardens on brick streets. Check out the historical sites such as Whaley House. Eat traditional Mexican food.

27. Try a Unique Sleeping Experience at Crystal Pier

You can sleep at ocean-front hotels. How about sleeping right on the ocean in a cottage? When this San Diego Pier was first built in the 1920s, it was an amusement park with a ballroom. Today, only the hotel remains – cottages. And the adjacent beach and boardwalk are full of shops and restaurants.

Is There More to Do In San Diego?

Absolutely. There are wine-tasting venues in Guadalupe Valley, walking along the rugged cliffs to view an amazing San Diego sunset, and a host of tours of every neighborhood and sight. Move over San Francisco, for San Diego can offer as much if not more.