Grab Your Reusable Tote, Rollerskates and Airpods, and Enjoy a “You” Day in the OC
Spring is in the air. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming. As the days lengthen, the world seems to burst with energy—an invitation to step outside and immerse yourself in the beauty of rejuvenation. This is the perfect time to celebrate yourself! Lucky for those of us who live near the California coast, there are plenty of ways to dedicate a springtime day to you. We’ve crafted the ideal itinerary for a solo date that goes from dusk until dawn—and we didn’t forget the flowers. So get ready to woo yourself with this list of things to do in Orange County this weekend.
Bear Coast
There is nothing like savoring every sip of a carefully crafted cup of joe with just you and your thoughts. Bear Coast makes our list as the coastal-cool coffee shop that promises a solo sanctuary. They roast high quality beans and make syrups and flavorings in-house to ensure coffee creations that are simple, fresh and delicious. They even make their 3-ingredient almond milk from scratch every single day. Kickstart your day of self-love with some high quality caffeine at this quaint coffee shop.
Location: Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Beach
Roller Skate on the Huntington Beach Boardwalk
Once you’re all hopped up on horchata lattes, it’s time to hit the Huntington Beach boardwalk on blades. This stretch of sand is a 3.7-mile-long road of waterfront real estate with some of the best ocean views and people watching in OC. Pop on a podcast or playlist, and let your feet slide and guide. Make a pitstop at the pier for a mid-skate snack while enjoying the California sunshine. This is the perfect solo date idea that offers a full dose of vitamin D.
Location: Huntington Beach
Shopping at The Salt Horse
Shop at The Salt Horse, a Laguna Beach market that is the ideal one-man mission to secure seasonal sustenance. Open every day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., this specialty grocery store carries hand-curated goods and provisions that make your everyday shopping trip feel like an artisanal adventure. Loving yourself means feeding yourself quality food, and after a morning of rollerblading, you are sure to have an appetite. Be sure to treat yourself to a sweet from Nowhere Bakery and quench your thirst with a cold Apricot Lane Farms lemonade.
Location: Laguna Beach
ARTime Barro
There is nothing as cathartic as throwing clay. This is the part of the day where you get your hands a little dirty and lean into your creative side. ARTime Barro in Laguna Beach offers one-time, drop-in classes for $45 where students learn the basics of ceramics both on and off the wheel. Participants get to build two pieces during the hour-long workshop and can return for a second class to glaze their creations. This is the adult version of playing with playdough, where you’ll reduce stress while making a mess. Who needs Patrick Swayze when you can be your own Demi Moore?
Location: Laguna Beach
Beach Town Books
So you’ve appealed to your foodie side, your active side and your creative side—now it’s time to appeal to your intellectual side. Beach Town Books in San Clemente has the charm of an old-timey bookshop, and it’s smack dab in the middle of this charming surf town. This cozy spot has an expansive collection, a little of everything from silly to serious to romantic. There’s also plenty of plush places to sit and stay a while. After you’ve found the perfect novel, grab a slice at local favorite Sonny’s or some healthy frozen yogurt from Active Culture—you deserve it!
Location: San Clemente
Shopping at Lido Marina Village
You can’t take yourself on a date and not engage in a little retail therapy. Better yet, how about shopping in an outdoor village with views of Newport Harbor? This is how to pamper yourself. Lido Marina Village has some of the best vendors in town, offering everything from backyard to bougie, surfer geek to celebrity chic. It’s your one-stop-shop for clothes, accessories, gifts, florals, custom goods, discounted designer duds, personalized presents, home decor and more! There’s hidden nooks and crannies and plenty of spots to snap a photo. If your love language is jewelry, be sure to mosey into Marrow Fine to score something shiny.
Location: Newport Beach
Solo Dinner at Skål Pizza
From the gal who brought you Malibu Farm comes their latest crispy-edged cousin concept, Skål. Located next door, this chic spot is slinging pies and taking names, and it has perhaps the best pizza in Orange County. Their ‘zas are funky and photogenic. One of the most popular, simply called the Avocado, has jalapeño ricotta topped with sliced avocado and drizzled with agave syrup. This one is served cold; it’s basically a salad. Don’t sleep on their housemade pastas either! Pair it all with a Swiss Marg or two, and you’ll be getting to know yourself all over again.
Location: Newport Beach
Flowers from Hadley & Ren
In the words of Miley Cyrus, I can buy myself flowers. And there are no better bouquets than the colorful and creative ones from Hadley & Ren. They only use dried, preserved or silk flowers, which means your bouquet will never wilt. Is there a better gift than forever flowers? We think not.
Location: Costa Mesa
Sunset at Salt Creek Beach Park
Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point is iconic for its surf break and sunset views. The notorious Salt Creek slope makes this spot an ideal perch to soak up the California coastline, ideally with a beverage and a sweet treat. Grab your favorite bottle of wine from Monarch Market or Gelsons, and a froyo to-go from Golden Spoon, then take residence on the hill to watch the sky show off. This serene spot is the perfect coastal curtain for your solo day in Orange County.
Location: Dana Point
