It's a joke that every local has heard too often: the Bay Area referred to as the Bae Area. This region encompasses cities from San Jose to San Francisco. There's an endless amount of things to do by yourself or with your bae. Here are five date ideas in the Bay Area for any type of relationship, including one with only yourself.
1. Have a picnic in a park in San Francisco
I couldn't decide between two parks so I'll discuss both of them. The first is Dolores Park. This open field in the buzzing city is 420-friendly yet also family appropriate. You could chill out with some cannabis truffles from the Truffle Man or some ice cream over at the neighboring Bi-Rite. The second is Golden Gate Park. This is home to many attractions that you can visit after your picnic, including the Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. When I was there I saw a cute couple cycling along in their two person bicycle with an accompanying rooftop.
2. Visit a cat cafe.
This mainly applies to cat lovers, but it is essentially to see how you (and your partner) are compatible with the possibility of future pets. There’s two locations for this in the Bay Area. One is KitTea in San Francisco and the other is Cat Town Cafe in Oakland. The cafes double as adoption centers and allow customers to play with the fuzzy creatures. They both require reservations so it is best to plan this out in advance.
3. Take a look inside adult entertainment stores.
This isn’t a typical first date idea unless you and your date are feeling particularly adventurous and curious. You could laugh at the various phallic themed items, learn more about your partner, or perhaps purchase something.
4. Trek around the University of California Berkeley Botanical Garden.
Take a trip around the world in a single day on a budget. Admission is free for UC Berkeley students and $8 for non-UC Berkeley students. The flora are separated by regions of origin and other commonalities. When I went there with a biology class, our tour guide botanist mentioned that the garden was a popular destination for first dates.
5. Attend a concert.
There are so many venues here in the Bay Area, ranging from UC Berkeley’s Greek Theatre to San Jose’s SAP Center. There’s also a wide range in the prices. The Golden Gate Band offers free public concerts while other artists require admission tickets that vary in prices.
