Treat your boyfriend to a major sporting event while in Los Angeles. College football dominates the fall schedule in So Cal, with the city’s two major college football teams, USC and UCLA, playing in such iconic venues as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Rose Bowl, respectively. While you can usually purchase UCLA tickets the day of the game, USC tickets, particularly when the team is hot, should be acquired in advance. Enjoy the festive atmosphere and arrive early with your boyfriend to tailgate.
If he’s a fan of professional sports, the NBA Clippers and Lakers take center stage at Staples Center starting in the winter. Get seats close to the court and you’ll be near a who’s who of Hollywood stars. You may also choose to spend a warm summer night at Dodger Stadium where you can watch the Boys in Blue slug it out. Chow down on a Dodger dog any night of the week or come on a Friday and you’ll be treated to a free fireworks show after the game.
If your boyfriend is the outdoorsy type, you’re in luck, as Southern California’s tepid year-round temperatures mean almost every day is a good beach day. Your boyfriend can learn how to “Hang 10” like a local after you sign him up for surfing lessons. Companies such as Learn to Surf LA have lessons in locations like Venice and Manhattan beaches, while also providing all the necessary equipment, including everything from wetsuits to boards. Rent bikes or inline skates and explore The Strand, a 22-mile paved pathway that runs along the coast from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades to Torrance Beach. For the ultimate workout high, purchase a day pass for your boyfriend so he can pump iron at the iconic Muscle Beach Gym in Venice, the outdoor beachfront gym that draws some of the world’s most serious bodybuilders.
If your boyfriend is less adventurous, take him to the world-famous Santa Monica Pier for an afternoon of fishing or make your way to Leo Carrillo State Park where you’ll discover tide pools and sea caves.
Take your boyfriend out for a night on the town, making the most of L.A.’s bustling bar scene. For an evening of high-end living, make a stop at Seven Grand Whiskey Bar, the swanky downtown bar with more than 300 whiskeys on hand. Lucky Strike, just steps from Staples Center, is an upscale adult arcade with 18 bowling lanes, billiard tables and a full bar. Be aware, the venue enforces a strict dress code after 8 p.m. You can end the evening unwinding with a stogie at Beverly Hills’ Buena Vista Cigar Club and Lounge in a lodge-like setting complete with stone walls and plush red velvet curtains.
If your boyfriend prefers a more laid-back environment and loves beer, take him to Glassell Park’s Verdugo Bar, with more than 20 craft beers on tap, a steady flow of gourmet food trucks parked out front and DJs on hand for entertainment. Head to Wurstkuche, a downtown gastropub, where your boyfriend can sample from some 24 imported beers on tap and an array of exotic sausage sandwiches.
Soak up Los Angeles’ world-famous entertainment scene, particularly the host of attractions in Hollywood. If your guy likes laughing, spend the evening perusing comedy clubs. Open nightly, the famed Comedy Store and Laugh Factory are within walking distance of each other and located on the bustling and iconic Sunset Strip.
Ditch the laughs for an evening of music under the stars at the renowned Hollywood Bowl. Depending on your man’s musical tastes, you can get tickets for everything from the Los Angeles Philharmonic to rock concerts. Arrive early with the rest of the concert goers to picnic throughout the lush grounds. You can even bring your boyfriend’s favorite bottle of wine or beer to enjoy at your seat. If your guy is a meat lover, take him to the Rooftop Grill before the concert, the Bowl’s own sit-down steakhouse with views of the Hollywood Hills.
