Grom Gelato

Photo courtesy of Grom

If you've ever talked to anyone who's been to Italy one thing they're sure to say is, "The gelato there is way better than anything I've ever had here." Now, I don't know about you, but this always makes me feel like I'm missing out on something big and for someone who loves ice cream in all it's many forms, that's unacceptable. Sadly, traveling to Italy just to try their gelato is also out of the question, so imagine my great surprise and excitement when I stumbled upon Grom, a gelato place started in Italy itself. With farm fresh ingredients that they grow on a farm that they own, you can taste the goodness in every bite! With relatively few locations outside of Italy (as of right now...) there is no way that you can pass up this opportunity! This gelato is amazing and it has two great locations in Los Angeles, one in Hollywood and one in Malibu. These two locations make it the perfect stop while you're on the way to something else (of course, it always works as a destination in and of itself too...), you can stop in, grab a scoop or two and still hit up some of the iconic Los Angeles sites. 

Corral Canyon Hike

Beautiful Corral Canyon Hike starts right out of the parking lot of Malibu Seafood and takes you up to sweeping vistas of Malibu seashores as you make your way back on this short 2.4 mile loop. This hike starts out in a little bit of a gully and leads you up a hill (make sure to choose the left as you come to the fork, otherwise you miss the views of the ocean as you come back!). As you crest the hill and start on your way back you are treated to beautiful, unimpeded views of blue ocean and clear skies. This hike is truly not to be missed, it is a gem!

The best part is, after the hike you can have lunch at one of the best seafood places that Malibu has to offer, Malibu Seafood! You can turn it into an whole day affair by relaxing at the beach afterwords and soaking in some rays. This hike is great for those who love hiking as well those who don't. It's short enough that you don't feel too exhausted by the end, but you feel worked out and you have an incredible view to enjoy on the way down. If this blogger could recommend just one hike in the area, this would be it. It truly represents the area and all it has to offer. Good luck and have fun!

Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon is another one of those hikes with an incredible vista that also happens to be in the middle of the city. Seriously though, you pull up to a bunch of apartment complexes and there, tuck back in the back is this hike that leads you up an into a small canyon with great vantage points over Los Angeles. Located in Hollywood area you get the true flavor of Los Angeles here with a mix mash of people and pets, all who are ready and willing to give you a smile and a word of encouragement. This hike is a loop and the hiker can either choose to go up the stairs and down the hill, or vice versa (which happens to be what this hiker did and does not recommend). While the stairs don't rest on the edge of any precipice, they are rather steep and can be tricky when coming down). The hike definitely gets your blood pumping, but it's a comfortable level of exertion and it's also relatively short. (And to reward yourself at the end go ahead and stop by Milk Jar Cookies for an amazing treat!)

Feel like you don't know what you would talk about on a hike? Well, this blogger thinks that the sweeping cityscapes and friendly people will give you more than enough to chat about, but if all else fails you could always discuss what kind of dog you would want if you were to ever get a dog. This popular hike is dog friendly and more hikers than not have their furry companions with them. With new subjects to talk about constantly passing by, you're sure to never run out of something to say.

La Brea Tar Pits

Photo cred: La Brea Tar Pits

Who knew that in the depths of the city there would be one of the world's greatest repositories of ice age fossils that are constantly being uncovered?! At the La Brea Tar Pits you get to learn about what makes the area unique and how it has manage to capture tens of thousands of years of history in its depths. At the museum you can choose to pay a little extra and watch their new 3D film "Titans of the Ice Age." You can opt to do a guided tour, or you can show yourself around the museum and the grounds. As you learn more about the area, you will come to revel in the long history that is associated with the area. The museum grounds are beautiful and are inviting to walk around in and even spread out a picnic. The museum also happens to be next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, if you wanted to make a day of museum hopping.
If you're looking for something to do while at La Brea try picking out your pre-historic spirit animal :) (I mean, how cool would be it to be able to say afterwards that your spirit animal is a Smilodon fatalis, or the dire wolf). Have fun!

Mateo's Ice Cream and Fruit Bars

Photo cred: Yelp

With the heat wave that has hit the city there's never too many options for spots to cool off. This most recent find has incredible Mexican style fruit bars as well as ice cream, smoothies, and chocolate covered bananas. While the fruit pops come in many classic flavors (including some of the ice cream flavors), they also have flavors like horchata and cactus fruit, making it easy to mix things up add all the different ice cream flavors in and you have reason to go back over and over again. The staff is incredibly helpful and are more than willing to give you samples of all the different flavors. For a fun activity, strike a deal to split two pops and get one flavor you both know that you'll love and get another flavor that is a bit adventurous, this way there's no pressure if you're not a huge fan of the new flavor, you'll still get some of the classic one. 

Grand Californian Hotel

Photo cred: Disney

If Disney is at all your thing, Disneyland's Grand Californian hotel is the place to stay. Of all the dates that have been listed thus far, this may be the most splurge-y, but it is worth it! With the perks of incredible location, magic hours (in other words, early entrance into the parks), and great accommodations all around it offers enjoyment for those that travel there with families, as well as those looking for a more romantic vibe. The Grand Californian is a hotel that caters to all different groups. It has wonderful pools with water slides, should you desire more active pool time, as well as pools that are dedicated to lounging and relaxing. Along with luxurious pools, the Grand California offers great food with restaurants such as Napa Rose (see the previous blog post for more information), room service, and the Storyteller's Cafe, not to mention the fact that just a walk outside the hotel takes you to Downtown Disney, which is full of great restaurants and other fun shops. Truly, Disney's Grand Californian is a great mix of fun, luxury, and practicality and is the perfect spot to have a getaway!

Sweet Beverly Crepes

Seriously though, how could it get any better between a great crepe and a backdrop like this?!

Do you ever just want to get out on the town, but don't want to pay an arm and a leg to do it? Located in picturesque Hollywood area, Sweet Beverly Crepes offers the scenes of the beautiful area surrounding it, but a price that ensures that you will continue to enjoy the evening. Offering a menu of both sweet and savory crepes, you're sure to find something that suits both your needs at this crepe stop (or you can make a it a two course meal for you both should you chose to). Also offering soft served gelato (which is to die for!), and a select few other baked goods, there is something for everyone and any level of hunger at Sweet Beverly Crepes.

**Should you be looking for recommendations, the BBQ chicken crepe and the nutella crepe are both excellent choices!

If you are looking for a conversation starter for your date look in the stores as you pass by and pick out one designer thing that you would either a). love to splurge for if you had the money or b). never buy in a million years.

Weekend Getaway: Lake Arrowhead

One amazing thing about Los Angeles, and California in general, is that in a relatively short amount of time you can completely leave one type of climate and be in a complete different one. While Los 

Angeles and the cities surrounding it are thriving, industrious cities, just a little less than two hours away is Lake Arrowhead, a peaceful, serene breath of fresh air up in the mountains. Lake Arrowhead itself has a picturesque and quaint little town around it with some shops, boats, and tours that can all entertain a tourist for a day. However, the landscape and the many wonders that it offers is something that one could enjoy for a lifetime. With trails winding through beautiful forest and scenic overlooks that make it feel as though you really have reached the rim of the world, the outdoor adventures offered here are not to be missed! Whether you choose to stay at some of the local campsites (this blogger can personally vouch for Dogwood campsite #34), or to stay at one of the pristine inns in the area, you are sure to feel as though you have escaped the big city life and made it to a far off getaway. 

While on your getaway, take turns picking the activities. While the towns in the area are somewhat small, they do offer a lot, not only in the way of outdoor adventures, but also luxuries like spa treatments; so, truly make it a getaway for both of you by taking the time to do activities that one another is interested in. Who knows, by spending time together doing the things you like together you may come back with more than just a renewed vigor for the hectic city pace, you could come back with strengthened and happier relationship as well!

Zuma Beach

Malibu, California, need I say more? Zuma Beach is one of the best beaches in Malibu area for just relaxing. With a wide stretch of beautiful golden sand, you're sure to be able to find a spot to your self to sit back and enjoy; and with Malibu's signature waves, you can be guaranteed the soothing noise of crashing waves to help you in your quest to unwind. Should you be so daring, those waves also make for great surfing, body-surfing, and all all around fun as well! Zuma beach has designated all-day pay parking that allows you to come and go during the day (should you be interested in visiting other sites), or you can park on the PCH, if you're able to find a spot, for free (although it's a little more of a walk). Enjoy soaking up some rays together and enjoy one of the gens that Malibu has to offer!

Milk Jar Cookies

We've all been there, the search for the perfect cookie recipe and, as luck would have it, Milk Jar Cookies was founded on just that, the perfect cookie. No matter what time you show up at Milk Jar Cookies (granted that it's within their business hours) you can be assured of a freshly baked cookie; that's because the cookie shop bakes their cookies in small batches, continually, throughout the day. This, combined with great ingredients, wonderful recipes (that call for large size cookies), and a cup of cold milk make for a great informal date.

*If you're looking for an idea for your date, you could try having your date pick out the cookie that they think best describes you (while you pick out one for them). Then, as you are enjoying your cookies, explain why you picked the cookie you did for your date!

Napa Rose

Do you ever have need to celebrate a special occasion, but you don't quite know how to go about it? Napa Rose is an incredible restaurant inside the Grand Californian hotel with farm fresh ingredients, the menu changes as the seasons do, always giving you a reason to come back for more. The combination of a beautiful setting, delectable food, and excellent service is sure to make your dinner there one to remember. 

When food is good, no one wants to miss out on a spectacular dish, maybe try coordinating your meals on your date so that you can each get a taste of the things you want. If you're splitting, pick out the different courses together, if you aren't talk about your top picks and try and get something you're both excited about. Exchanging a few bites is a great way to get conversation going as you compare and contrast what you think about the meal. 

*Make sure if you are celebrating a special event to call in your reservation to tell them, Napa Rose is great about making whatever event is special to you special to them, and it's just another way to make a great day even better. 

B Sweet Dessert Bar

As far as desserts go, ask anyone and bread pudding might not be the first to come up on the list. However, one stop to B Sweet Dessert Bar and that will all change! With a selection of flavors offered everyday, two sizes offered, and a scoop of ice cream on top even the most hardened bread pudding hater will be singing a different tune (there may be personal experience to back this one up). But even if you're not convinced that bread pudding is the way for you to go, B Sweet has a TON of other options including (but not limited to) two different types of brownies (the fudgiest and the slutiest), banana chocolate chip bread, and my personal favorite, the ice cream sandwich hot pressed inside of a glazed donut. Ah-mazing! Last of all, B Sweet has a super comfortable vibe, which makes it ideal for taking some time to chat as you enjoy you dessert delicacies. 

Make sure your date contains this most important aspect, catch up time! Life gets so busy that it's important to make sure that you're taking time for the two of you while you're in the midst of the chaos. 

Enjoy!

M I L K

It seems like new dessert creations are popping up all over the place and Milk has definitely put their own stamp on the classic macaroon. Having created incredible ice cream flavors, Milk has started sticking their creamy creations in between two macaroon cookies, making a macaroon ice cream sandwich; with classic flavors like mint chip, vanilla bean, and chocolate along with flavors like fruity pebbles, Meyer lemon, and blackberry crumble pie, there's something for everyone. However, Milk doesn't stop there! Milk also offers incredible shakes and sundaes, along with a selection of baked goods (their most notable being the blue velvet cake); stopping in once will only encourage you to stop in more. A favorite of many celebrities, it's worth venturing to try at least once (and who knows, you, like many others before you may be hooked!). With the mixture of both classic and exotic, you and your date can sample your way through a few different items to discover which ones are your favorites!

*Milk is a great option for those who have just completed the Mulholland Drive date, as Mulholland Drive is only about ten minutes away.

Muholland Drive

Photo cred: Google

Mulholland Drive is a great one hour get away that takes you to some great overlooks over the city of Los Angeles. While the road can be traveled from east to west or west to east, traveling west to east gives you the chance to look out over the Hollywood bowl, as well as downtown Los Angeles. The Hollywood Bowl lookout is one of the most popular of the drive and is only accessible when driving from this direction. Along with that, driving west to east plunks you down in the middle of Hollywood, leaving you the chance to find some great places to eat if you'd like to add that to your date.
While spending an hour in the car together might not sound like the most romantic date ever, it does allow you to spend some quality time. Keep the music low and use this time to catch up and chat. This is even a date that you could consider doing with littles if you think that they may fall asleep in the car seat (we all know how precious time to chat can become once a little enters the picture). Overall, this is just a relaxing and chill date. You get a chance to see the city from a perspective that you probably haven't seen it from before (Mulholland Drive snake right along a ridge, giving you a more aerial perspective than from many other parts of the city). Should you choose to add another activity to it like dinner or a treat, it's just icing on the cake, but this is a date that doesn't take much planning and can be done on pretty much a moments notice. So while you may not want to plan it for a big anniversary date or anything, it can definitely be stored for a later date when you and your spouse just want a little quality time together.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Photo cred: leisurepro.com

With dazzling displays and a wide variety of wild life, who wouldn't enjoy their time at the Aquarium of the Pacific? For many films like Finding Nemo are the only glimpse that they've had into the underwater world. The Aquarium of the Pacific delves into that world, giving anyone who enters a comprehensive (and obviously condensed) look at the many different habitats that can be found throughout the vast Pacific Ocean. Even for those who are huge animal or aquatic fans, this place is definitely a great place to visit. The displays are such that they are engaging and easy to get to; with shows going on throughout the day, there is sure to be something that will capture your interest. The aquarium also offers great exhibits where, should you chose to, you are able to touch some marine life; these exhibits include moon jellies, sharks, rays, and starfish and anemones. While it is a place that attracts a lot of families, it's also a great educational date. See who can find the oddest fact, be the bravest while touching all the animals, or get all of the stamps for the stamp book included on the map. The aquarium also has several eating options ranging from smoothies and ice cream to full meals. Food brought from home is also allowed, just look for the open terraces to eat on (coincidentally they are great places to eat no matter if you brought or bought your food, most people stick to the indoor eating areas, leaving these areas mostly uncrowded). Also make sure that you validate your parking on your way in or out, without doing so you  will pay a pretty penny for the nearby structures! With all the beauty and knowledge that the Aquarium of the Pacific has to offer, it is certainly not a date to be missed!

Kenneth Hahn State Park

You know those long summer afternoons when life seems to be passing slowly and you want to do something but nothing at the same time (hey, they don't call them the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer for no reason!")? Kenneth Hahn State Park is the perfect place to escape to have one of those lazy summer days. Complete with grills, a manmade lake (with many a duck resident), and lots of open space, it provides you with the perfect opportunity to do as much or as little as you desire while you're there. You could take an evening stroll, pausing to feed the ducks, or you could enjoy a heart-pumping hike on your way up the hill in the park that leads to a vista of the city. This park is great for an intimate group or a large party, it could support a date for two or a date for twenty, it's open space and amenities make it very compatible. So whether you're looking for an intimate evening with just the two of you, or you're looking for a place to have a night with friends, Kenneth Hahn State Park is a place well suited for you.

Crimson

Crimson is an amazing little place right in Santa Monica that has incredible Mediterranean style food. With choices for the vegetarian to those who prefer a meatier option, this place is sure to please. With authentic Mediterranean sides, you can complement your meal while your imagination runs wild taking you to far off places. The servers here are friendly and more than willing to help an indecisive soul (if they suggest the white meat kabob just know that this blogger whole heartedly agrees!). They also offer lots of incredible looking desserts to add the perfect end to your meal. Since this menu has so many tasty things to try maybe work out a split system with your date. Crimson offers so many sides that it seems like a  shame not to try them all. By working together, you each can try a little of a couple of sides (which can also provide a topic of conversation for the date as you compare and contrast, should you be looking for something to talk about :) ).

Malibu Seafood

Living so close to the ocean, one assumes that there's fresh seafood a plenty; while this is most definitely true, ferreting out the best places takes work (albeit pleasant work)! Malibu Seafood definitely deserves it's spot in the sunshine as one of the best places to get fish and chips in the area. Located right on the PCH Malibu Seafood is a seafood market where you can by fresh fish to cook at home, but also has incredible seafood that you can eat in the open air patio right next to the restaurant. Enjoy hand-battered Alaskan Cod (which is delightfully crunchy and served with a tasty tartar sauce!) while looking out over the beautiful crashing waves of Malibu, the beach is literally right across the road, making for pleasant viewing. A great activity to do with this date is the Corral Canyon hike, which starts out of the parking lot of Malibu Seafood; pick it as a pre or post dinner activity, but there's no doubt that the sweeping vistas of the 2.4 mile loop will give you a lot to talk about! 

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

When living in Los Angeles, it's easy to feel like you have to travel out of the city to get in touch with nature, besides the planned green spaces of parks and the like, there couldn't possibly be anywhere that offered any sort of outdoor recreation, right? Wrong! Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is right in the middle of Culver City and it offers anyone a steep ascent to a great overlook of the city of Los Angeles. The hike can be done following the trail of switchbacks up to the top or, you can pick the ambitious set of the stairs leading straight to the top. Whichever path you chose, the view is definitely worth it. You can spend a few minutes relaxing at the top and head back down or continue on some of the shorter trails the lead off over the hills. This is a popular hike for locals and is filled with encouraging people to help you on your way to the top. There is parking available at the bottom of the hill, both metered and unmetered, but you may have to wait for a bit for a spot to open up. Enjoy you trip out of the city (without even leaving)!

Ugo

Located in downtown Culver City, this Italian eatery offers excellent food surrounded by an engaging and fun ambiance. Cafe Ugo's speciality is in Naples style pizza, which is an excellent size for two to split (or each get their own with left overs). After the main course you can top off your meal with some tasty gelato. Cafe Ugo has an incredible happy hour deal of pizzas starting at $5 from 5-7 on weekday nights (this is over a 50% discount for some the pizzas offered!). Parking is relatively cheap in the surrounding area (with validation you can get 2-3 hours free), and there are a couple of parking structures close by. 

Photo cred: CulverCity Times

Rekindle, Revitalize, and ReconnectSince this place has amazing gelato, have you and your hunny take turns sampling different flavors. Once you're ready have your spouse order the flavor that they thought you enjoyed the most from those that you sampled. See if you can both get your top choice.
*Ugo has offered a free gelato with Yelp! check in, so your date activity could potentially be free!*