Summer lovin’ should be about havin’ a blast, not spending all your cash. We’re in the middle of a fun time of year, but we also feel the struggle, things are getting expensive.
So, we gave ourselves a $50 budget and found some great local date ideas so you can fall in love with San Diego — and that special someone.
So much to eat — you’ll probably need a few date nights here. | Photo via @eatsamburgers
🍝 Get a taste of Little Italy
Tired of fighting over where to grab dinner? $50 will easily get two meals at Little Italy Food Hall — even if one person wants pizza and the other wants a lobster roll. There’s a selection of restaurants to choose from, and many nights feature free live music + dancing under the stars.
🎞️ Watch the stars
Relive a favorite movie under the stars (or the sun) with views of San Diego Bay at the Embarcadero’s Rooftop Cinema Club. Tickets generally start at $18.50 — or $21.50 with popcorn — so two people can enjoy a movie + snack for $43.
🥏 Fly into tee time
One of San Diego’s best golfing experiences doesn’t require clubs. Rather, you can head to Morley Field to try your hand at disc golf. An all-day play band costs $6 on weekends, and disc rentals will add $2.50 each. This will leave you with some money to grab a bite nearby, like at The Taco Stand in North Park.
Have a scoop — or six. | Photo courtesy of @spicygreenbook + @marlin_like_the_fish
🍺 Have a flight
Get a taste of multiple craft flavors at a local tasting room — like Ballast Point, where 4-oz tasters can be purchased for $3. That’ll leave room in the budget for appetizers to break up the flow of beer.
The first rule of flight club: It doesn’t need to be beer. Hammond’s Ice Cream in North Park + Point Loma offers ice cream flights that are generally under $10 (but depends on the number of cones). Or, head to Communal Coffee in North Park + South Park for $8.50 latte flights.
🎤 Laugh in love
If laughter is your love language, check out a comedy club for a night of jokes. Prices vary, but tickets at The Comedy Store in La Jolla are often $25 — like this weekend’s show with Jon Rudnitsky — and American Comedy Co. in the Gaslamp Quarter has tickets as low as $10 + a two drink minimum.
🥾 Take a hike
Lace up for an active day on the trails: A free activity, the only thing you’ll need to buy are local snacks + drinks to keep you energized. We recommend Mt. Woodson Trail near Poway, because even if you’re not a dedicated hiker, you can do it for the gram, and snap a gravity-defying pic on Potato Chip Rock.
Dropping onto the Giant Dipper. | Picture courtesy of Belmont Park
🎢 Dip into Belmont Park
If you want an authentically San Diego experience, take a ride on the Giant Dipper and catch views on Mission Beach before things go downhill. Two rides will cost $16 (unless you save with a ticket bundle). With your remaining budget, we hear there’s a lot more to do like grabbing a drink at Draft, getting a Hot Dog on a Stick + walking along the beach.
🕹️ Play the game of love
If you’ve got an old school love, Coin Op lets you play classic arcade games while having a few drinks at its downtown + North Park locations. Most games are 25 or 50 cents, so $10 will give you plenty of play. Then, you can try a unique cocktail, like the Power Punch drink pouch for $11 or $12.
Pro tip: Want to save more? Both locations have free play Sundays. The first Sunday of the month downtown + the last Sunday in North Park.
