I love venturing off and exploring new things and experiences! My husband and I love making an adventure out of anything. We make it a goal of ours to explore Los Angeles on one of our many fun date ideas. Feel free to check out any of the following daytime date ideas in LA with that special someone in a day or in a course of a few.
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Daytime Date Ideas in LA
La Tropézienne Bakery
There’s nothing like getting the day started with a cup of joe and a warm, delectable, scrumdiddlyumptious croissant. Ugh, the mere thought of this place has my mouth watering. La Tropézienne Bakery does a marvelous job of bringing a little bit of France to the city. After my first bite I got flashbacks to the days I was exploring Europe, that’s how good their pastries are!
I may not be a pastry connoisseur, but I love me some baked goods. So trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Make sure to try their Almond Pistachio Raspberry Croissant! I know, at first it sounds like an odd combination, but it’s one of their best sellers for a reason. Make sure to check out their menu for a heads up of what else they have.
Funko Hollywood Store
Not only does the Funko Hollywood store offer great photo opportunities with some of your favorite TV and film characters; if you’re an avid collector this is your Disney world. Alex and I decided to check this place out, because we wanted to get a personalized funko pop of each of us. Since the store opens up at noon we decided to make our way here after visiting La Tropézienne Bakery.
Now, here’s my two cents, we didn’t realize this place was going to be as popular as it was. When we arrived there was a long line and it wrapped around the block. It took us three hours to get inside only to find out you need an appointment to get a personalized funko pop, which are provided on a first come first serve basis.
My advice, if you want to get a personalized funko pop check them out on a their least busy day of the week, Thursday, and get there early! It was still a lot of fun to check this place out and get a picture with Dwight Schrute.
Last Bookstore
Just like local coffee shops I love checking out local book shops! The Last Bookstore is filled with both new and used books in a two-story building decorated with local art. It has some nice, quirky features like a book arch, and a dungeon room where the horror novels can be found. It’s a must especially if you’re into books
Fugetsu-Do
Calling all mochi lovers! Make sure to check out Fugetsu-Do in Little Tokyo for your finest Japanese mochi and treats in LA. It is the oldest confectionery store, family owned and operated since 1903. We opted for the introductory pack and was not disappointed.
Downtown Disney
One thing I needed to check out once I moved to LA, and still do, was Disneyland. Unfortunately, giving our circumstances I didn’t see that happening until I learned I could have a bit of a preview by exploring Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street! Of course, this doesn’t compare to the actual park, but you know what? It’ll do for now!
The only things you can do are shop and eat, but who doesn’t love doing either of those things? I had never been so I felt like a kid at a candy store in awe of it all (insert heart eye emoji here).
A few things to note, Disney does charge $10 for all day parking in the Simba lot. The sooner you arrive the better! Depending on the day you will have to wait anywhere from an hour and a half to three; They are only allowing a certain number of people in the district. I’ve learned if you make a restaurant reservation via the Disneyland App you can skip the line and go straight in! This is definitely one of my favorite fun dates to do in Los Angeles.
Huntington Library
So this place is awesome! Alex surprised me with this place for one of our date adventures back in the summer. Note, if you visit during the summer be prepared accordingly. It gets really hot!
Huntington Library makes up for a great excuse to dress up and have a photoshoot. This place offers many beautiful sceneries, which make it the perfect spot to get some pictures. You start feeling like you’re in different worlds because of how diverse the gardens are. Check out the their site for more information on admission and enjoy these fun date ideas in Los Angeles.
Hollywood Sign
So there’s actually a few things you can do near the Hollywood sign. Obviously, you can hike the Hollywood trail and get some epic views of the sign and LA, which I recommend.
You can also have a picnic and take the views from Lake Hollywood Park. Bring a blanket, a food basket and enjoy the beautiful LA weather with a gorgeous view.
You can do one or the other or both. Regardless, both make up for great daytime date ideas in LA. Just note, parking is limited to the side of the street so arrive early to get a good spot.
Original Farmers Market
I’m a huge fan of any Farmers Market, not only because I get to support my local community but I also get to support family owned shops; And this farmers market is no exception to that. It offers many outdoor dining options with the opportunity to get some grocery shopping done. I love trying a little bit of everything while walking around and peeping into the small shops. If you’re a fan of empanadas make sure to check out Nonna’s Empanada stand!
Note, the market does charge for parking, but you can get your ticket validated at any stand you make a purchase at. Side note, and I didn’t learn this until we left, the parking ticket validation is only for 90 minutes. If you’re there for over that you will be charged. Check out their site for more information.
Complete the Ultimate Los Angeles Bucket List!
The Grove
You can totally walk over to the Grove from the Original Farmers Market, takes about two minutes. There’s a few stores you can check out and do some light shopping, go to a restaurant and have some out door dinning or relax at the park. There’s also a movie theatre but of course this is currently closed. Still, great place to walk around and get some pictures.
Tom’s 1 Hour Photo
This place is a hidden gem! Ahhh, I love it so much. I first heard about Tom’s 1 Hour Photo through Kacey Musgrave’s instagram (Of course I’m a fan!) back when I lived in NYC. Once we moved to LA I made sure to check this place out to recreate some nostalgic holiday cards. Needles to say, our cards were a hit!
Unfortunately, the only way to make an appointment is over the phone. Once you get there Tom will ask what backdrop you want and get down to shooting. Something to know, make sure to bring your own flash drive if you have one. If not, Tom sells them for $10, you’ll need this for the pictures.
If you’re a 90s baby or a fan of the 90s make sure to check out Tom’s 1 Hour Photo to recreate some cheesy, iconic shots. Check out their link tree for more information.
Evening Scroll at Santa Monica Beach
End the day with a scroll at Santa Monica beach! After running around all day relax at the beach while you enjoy the beautiful sunset.
I hope these daytime date ideas have inspired you to explore LA in a new way. And if you’re looking for more date adventures in LA or even a day trip around the city make sure to check out my LA Adventures for more ideas on your next adventure. How’s that for some fun date ideas in Los Angeles? 😉
Map of Attractions
