Originally uploaded by .Lisa Marie.
Unless you are a skating pro, ice skating could be a good bonding exercise!
Literally, what a good excuse to hold hands, huh? See the cute photo on the right here, that could be you too! This gets my vote for a fun first date idea. Where else can you go and be clumsy yet it be romantic at the same time? The $10 admission includes the skate rental. There are several parking lots on 2nd and 4th Street, where the first 2 hours are free then $1 for every 1/2 hour ($7 max), or a flat rate of $3 after 6 PM (click here for a helpful walking map which shows the parking structures). "Ice at Santa Monica", the outdoor rink located on Arizona Ave and 5th Street, is open until 10 PM daily except Fri-Sat until midnight through the end of January 2010. Unless you want to avoid the crowd, a fun day to go will be this...
Saturday, Dec 5th, for the Winterlit Celebration on Third Street Promenade (see upcoming Cheap Date Idea #39).
If Santa Monica is too much of a trek, Redondo Beach also has an outdoor rink (see Cheap Date Idea #22). Another option is the LA Kings outdoor rink in Downtown LA (click to see Cheap Date Idea #37).
UPDATE 01/28/10: This ice rink has been extended to Feb 15th, just in times for Valentine's Day (hint, hint). The only other rink open at this time of the year is at Orange County Great Park (see Cheap Date Idea #90).
UPDATE 11/01/10: The ice skating rink in Santa Monica reopens on November 5th, 2010 - February 14th, 2011. This can be a nice day date idea starting wintertime through Valentine's Day. The hours slightly changed this year:
Mon-Thurs: Noon - 10 PM
Fri: Noon - Midnight
Sat: 10 AM - Midnight
Sun: 10 AM - 10 PM
Approximate cost of creative date idea = $20 total.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Click here for map