Exposition Rose Garden is the most romantic park in town, and it's free. Don't GIVE her roses, take her TO them instead.

Make a reservation, take some time, ride a horse, and be awed by the scenery near the hills by Santa Monica.
818.591/2032
Topanga Canyon

UCLA's botanical gardens. Free for students.

310.825.1260
Westwood

Shutters Hotel on the Beach is a spectacular hotel, but for those of us who already live in LA it is, more importantly, a great place to drink & dine. It's expensive-- but you'll possibly be rubbing elbows with celebrities, and [more...]

EL CHOLO in Santa Monica is a seriously wonderful Mexican restaurant. It is NOT, however, an intimate atmosphere, and it does feel a bit touristy, but the margaritas are famous and amazing. There is an outdoor seating area, a bar, an [more...]

On Sundays when the weather is nice, go to the Venice boardwalk and follow the sound of the drums. The crowd is usually it's fullest around sunset, so see if you can get out there a little earlier in order to really enjoy the [more...]

Go wander around this outdoor mall - the best time in my mind is in the winter months. During the summer it gets crazy crowded on weekends. But go on a Wednesday or Thursday evening. Go play with the fun tech toys in the Apple store, [more...]