Great Dates

Tried of the same old dinner and a movie. Below are some different and fun date ideas.

Biking
Los Angeles is great for biking. If you're into distance pedaling, you can do no better than the flat 22-mile paved Ocean Front Walk that runs along the sand from Pacific Palisades in the north to Torrance in the south. The path attracts all levels of riders and gets pretty busy on weekends. For information on this and other city bike routes, phone the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation (tel. 213/485-9957).

Lunch or Dinner at the Getty Center
More details at www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/eat_shop.html

Hang Gliding
You've Always Wanted To....So, No More Excuses! You'll begin your flying lesson by meeting at beautiful Dockweiler State Beach Training Flight Park. After a brief ground school you will put on your harness and pre-flight the glider. Beginning midway up the hill you will begin your flight training. As your skills and confidence improve you will progress up to the top of the hill.
http://windsports.com/index2.html

Hiking
Temescal Canyon, in Pacific Palisades, is far easier than the Santa Ynez trail and, far more popular, especially among locals. This is one of the quickest routes into the wilderness. Hikes here are anywhere from 1 to 5 miles. From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway (Calif. 1) north; turn right onto Temescal Canyon Road, and follow it to the end. Sign in with the gatekeeper, who can also answer your questions.

Horseback Riding 1
Make a trip through historic Griffith Park. From Sunset Ranch, you can explore over 52 miles of scenic trails by horseback. The trails wind throughout beautiful Griffith Park, and offer spectacular views of Downtown L.A., Hollywood, Santa Monica, Burbank, Glendale and on a clear day, you can see as far as Catalina Island! Special nighttime rides feature a one-and-a-half hour hike over the hill to Burbank for a Mexican dinner. Call for additionaldetails. Sunset Ranch Hollywood, 3400 Beachwood Drive in Hollywood. Call for more details. Sunset Ranch Hollywood, 3400 Beachwood Drive in Hollywood. 323-464-9612.

Horseback Riding 2
The Griffith Park Livery Stable, 480 Riverside Dr. (in the Los Angeles Equestrian Center), Burbank (tel. 818/840-8401), rents horses by the hour for western or English riding through Griffith Park's hills. There's a 200-pound weight limit, and children under 12 are not permitted to ride. Horse rental costs $15 per hour; maximum rental is 2 hours. You can also arrange for private 1-hour lessons ($35). The stables are open daily from 8am to 5pm, and cash is required for payment.

Motorcycle Rental
EagleRider offer you the opportunity to rent the "American Dream" and experience the ultimate motorcycle touring adventure from worldwide locations. Whether for a weekend escape or for a cross country motorcycle tour, EagleRider provides the means to release the pent up outlaw that yearns for the open road.
http://www.eaglerider.com

Hot Air Ballooning
Very few things are as beautiful as a brightly colored balloon sailing silently through the sky. The colorful splash across blue skies inspires wistful awe You will ascend into the heavens and serenely float through the air while enjoying breathtaking views. Most passengers marvel at the peaceful beauty that will surround you. As though the glorious views and peaceful experience of a balloon ride were not enough, the Champagne Flights offer a romantic champagne toast to complete the memory. It is the perfect ending to an unforgettable experience. Whether you are celebrating a marriage proposal, an anniversary, or any other day that you want to be remembered forever, a Champagne Flight Balloon Ride will capture the mood!
http://www.losangeleshotairballoons.com

Indoor Rock Climbing
The Movement Series: Fight Gravity Two, Three, and Four at Rocreation in West LA for the small fee of $30 you get a 3 hour rock climbing class and 1 week members. What a way to work up a sweat with your date.
http://www.rockreation.com

Skating
The 22-mile-long Ocean Front Walk that runs from Pacific Palisades to Torrance is one of the premiere skating spots in the country. In-line skating is especially popular, but conventionals are often seen here, too. Skating is allowed just about everywhere bicycling is, but be advised that cyclists have the right of way. Spokes `n Stuff, 4175 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey (tel. 310/306-3332), is just one of many places to rent wheels near the Venice portion of Ocean Front Walk. In the South Bay, in-line skate rentals are available 1 block from the Strand at Hermosa Cyclery, 20 13th St. (tel. 310/374-7816). Skates cost around $6 per hour; knee pads and wrist guards come with every rental

Skydiving
The exhilaration of skydiving is a sensation that will remain with you long after your actual skydive. Whether your goal is to experience a once in a lifetime adventure, or to face your fear and learn to skydive, Soaring Sports can help you achieve your goal!
http://www.soaringsports.com/skydive.htm

Windsurfing
Invented and patented by Hoyle Schweitzer of Torrance in 1968, windsurfing, or sail-boarding, is a fun sport that's much more difficult than it looks. The Long Beach Windsurfing Center, 3850 E. Ocean Ave., Long Beach (tel. 562/433-1014), offers lesson and rentals in Alamitos Bay. Twenty-five dollars will get you the use of a board for 4 hours; an $89 learner's package includes instruction from 8 am to noon, use of board and wet suit, and a certificate for a free half-day rental once you've gotten the hang of it. Kayak and in-line skate rentals and instruction are also available.

Aquarium of the Pacific
One of the largest aquariums in the United States, the Aquarium of the Pacific offers visitors an up-close look at ocean life through interactive, educational displays, knowledgeable guides and a peek at over 12,000 marine animals. One of the largest aquariums in the United States, the Aquarium of the Pacific offers visitors an up-close look at ocean life through interactive, educational displays. Obviously, the new shark exhibit is a must-see, must-touch stop during a tour. Another highlight is the jellies exhibit, which features more than a dozen species of the creatures. The exhibit is set in dim light to accentuate the gentle, graceful movements of the sea jellies.
www.aquariumofpacific.org

UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden
The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden in Bel-Air, inspired by gardens in Kyoto. Major structures in the garden - the main gate, teahouse, bridges, and shrine - were built in Japan and reassembled here by Japanese artisans. Key symbolic rocks were shipped from Japan and antique stone carvings and water basins were imported. Reservations are required due to our parking limitations. Reservations are given every hour on the hour for a 50-minute duration. All tours are self-guided. A focal point of the garden is the pool with colorful koi swimming among water-lilies. Some of these koi are as old as the garden itself. You may make a reservation via the following methods: phone (310) 825-4574 or email gardens@support.ucla.edu.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
The sprawling 207-acre estate features 4 million items including an original Gutenberg Bible, the manuscript of "Canterbury Tales", and the famed "Pinkie" and "Blue Boy" paintings. The 15 breathtaking botanical gardens include a desert garden, rose garden and Japanese garden. Great for a getting to know you 1st date. For more information phone (626) 405-2100 or visit www.huntington.org