Top Ten Spots to Take Your Sweetheart

San Diego is truly a beautiful city. We are surrounded on every side with gorgeous scenery, stunning architecture, breathtaking parks and natural wonders. There is a plethora of great places to take a loved one, and the adventure is the very best part.

We’ve compiled a list of places to take your loved one, from romantic and intimate lookouts, to fun tourist attractions. Each of these places would make for a great date, and the effort put into planning a fun filled day will impress your sweetie and reinvigorate your relationship. Whether you’re looking for something free or you have a few extra dollars to spend, we’ve got an idea for you. So make a space in your calendar to show your love that time spent with them is time well spent.

Discover San Diego’s top ten spots to take your sweetheart.

Presidio Park in Mission Hills / Old Town 

Presidio Park is a lovely place to take a date for a romantic picnic. The park is sprawling across several plots of land, with rolling hills and enclosed garden areas, and a view of Downtown San Diego. This is the perfect park to lay out a blanket, open up a basket of treats and relax. Bring a book of poetry and read your favorite one for bonus points. For more information, check out sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation.

Mount Soledad in La Jolla 

Mount Soledad is one of San Diego’s greatest treasures. With a 360-degree view of the whole city, including the vast and beautiful Pacific Ocean, this breathtaking sight is best to behold with your loved one. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate; pick a secluded bench and share sips and stories as you gaze over the twinkling city lights. For more information, visit soledadmemorial.com.

The Birch Aquarium in La Jolla 

The Birch Aquarium is an excellent place to see amazing sea life, learn about aquatic habitats and have a good time with your sweetie. Marvel together at the neon jellyfish and sea stars, while sneaking kisses and holding hands on the outdoor patio. The Aquarium is a lot cheaper than Sea World, and makes for a super fun weekend activity. For more information, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu.

Seaport Village in Marina District 

Seaport Village is an awesome place to pretend you’re a tourist. With all the shops, cafes and entertainment, it is a fun place to spend a Saturday. See vendors along the harbor selling jewelry and knick-knacks, have a bite to eat or a cup of coffee from the Upstart Crow, stroll along the path and admire one another. Don’t forget to bring your camera and snap some fun shots of each other all day long. For more information, visit seaportvillage.com.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a gem of San Diego, and you should take advantage of it. This large, beautiful park is especially fun on a warm, sunny day, and is full of activities. With countless museums (and a free day on various Tuesdays of the month), nature trails, and places to grab refreshments, it’s a great way to get outdoors and do something fun together.

Extraordinary Desserts in Banker’s Hill 

Extraordinary Desserts is a wonderful place to take a loved one and share something sweet. With display cases brimming with cakes, pastries, brownies, cookies, tarts and other delicious treats, and an enticing drink menu, you’re sure to find something wonderful. Feed each other bites and cozy up in on the same side of the table. Read more about Extraordinary Desserts.

Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach 

Kate Sessions Park is lovely any time of day, but it can be especially romantic in the evening hours. The park is situated on a hill overlooking Mission Bay, the Pacific Ocean and leads to a great view of the Downtown San Diego skyline as well. Take a seat on a bench around 8:30 p.m., and wait for the Sea World firework show to begin. Atop the hill at Kate Sessions, lovebirds have the perfect view of the fireworks, while maintaining a bit of privacy.

Torrey Pines State Reserve

This is an awesome place for adventurous, outdoorsy couples that enjoy nature. Torrey Pines State Reserve has excellent hiking trails with magnificent views of the ocean, a first hand look at the unique trees, and a chance to see other plants and wildlife in the area. Looking to get your blood pumping and the dust off of your hiking shoes? Take a romantic day hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve. For more information, check out torreypine.org.

Julian

If you’re in the mood for a drive, head northeast to Julian, a quaint little town near the Cuyamaca Mountains. This can be a super fun destination if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban San Diego, and experience a simpler lifestyle. Julian is famous for its apple pies and the shops that create them, so pick on to share a slice with some cinnamon ice cream. For more information, visit julianca.com.

Sunny Jim Cave in La Jolla 

The Sunny Jim Cave is a little known tourist treasure in La Jolla at the Cove. For just a few bucks, you and your loved one can enter the Cave Store and descend the 145 steps into the bottom of a cave where you can see the grandeu of crashing waves and the power of the ocean close-up. It can be a little spooky, so be sure to hold hands for comfort. For more information, visit cavestore.com.

Are we still missing one? Leave a comment below to share your favorite places to take a loved one in San Diego with us. 

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