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All Day Date: Picnic in Paradise

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle


There is definitely something marvelous about sharing a relaxing meal outdoors with the one you love. It has been a while since we indulged in an All Day Date and it was quite a treat to get out and celebrate life with a picnic. We are thankful for the glorious nature and blessings we found in Laguna Beach and Dana Point, California.


Where we found a bit of paradise on our date:


Maison Cafe + Market


https://maisondanapoint.com/


This is a very popular cafe that has a charming selection of prepared food and wine available at their market. We picked up the Maison Cheese Box, Chef’s Selection Meat and Cheese with Accoutrements. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of this incredible collection of treats. The box included a very tasty selection of meat, cheese, dried and fresh fruit, nuts, spreads and bread. It was the perfect amount of food for us on our picnic and it made the whole experience very relaxing and fun.

Treasure Island Park


https://treasureislandpark.com/

If you ever have a dream of a perfect picnic with the perfect spot to put down a picnic blanket, this park is what your dream would look like. What a glorious place! We enjoyed listening to the peaceful sounds from the ocean, and gazing at the refreshing green grass and glorious blue skies. Treasure Island Park is a little south of the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. We parked across the street at Lang Park and enjoyed the lovely landscaped walkways that lead to our sweet destination.

Paradis Dana Point

https://paradis-icecream.com/stores/paradis-dana-point/

Every All Day Date calls for a treat and we were very happy to stop here. The coconut chip vegan ice cream was heavenly. We also enjoyed the smores, the chocolate – dipped strawberry, and the salted caramel ice cream. Savoring our treat while gazing at the enchanting view at Lantern Bay Park was delightful.

https://www.danapoint.org/department/general-services/parks/parks-trails/lantern-bay-park

Dana Point Harbor Marine Institute


https://danapointharbor.com/activities/things-to-do/ocean-institute/

Just past the Ocean Institute is a designated Marine Protected Area with a beautiful little beach. When the tide is low, this is a wonderful location to explore tide pools and to hike below the headlands. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and take your time to explore carefully. It is about a 1.2 mile hike to the Sea Caves and there are plenty of rocks to climb along the way.

Dana Point Bluff Top Trail


https://www.danapoint.org/department/general-services/parks/parks-trails/bluff-top-trail

We appreciated the magnificent views from this historical trail above the Dana Point Harbor. The scenic walkway on the trail provided the perfect setting to enjoy the sunset. It features a life sized sculpture of a 19th century sailor tossing a cowhide from the cliffs to trade for goods from the ships below. We parked near Amber Lantern Street and Santa Clara Avenue.

The Wine Down Recap at Home

We discovered the Callaway Vineyard and Winery last year on an All Date Date in the Temecula Valley. Their Winemaker’s Reserve Syrah is a delicious red that we simply cherished as we reflected on our date. Counting the blessings of the date while enjoying the Syrah was simply joie de vivre.

https://alldaydate.com/2020/02/18/all-day-date-temecula-ca/

Melanie’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date


The picnic was just splendid. It was so nice to see all the adorable families enjoying their time together outdoors. After this date, we can’t wait to stop at Maison Cafe + Market again for a delicious spread to enjoy at a nearby park or beach. I also loved our somewhat adventurous hike to the Sea Caves. We enjoyed bringing our sons there when they were young to explore the tide pools, and it brought back many good memories to be there again.

Kevin’s Favorite Part of the All Day Date


The picnic was very relaxing and the food was amazing. It was definitely a good for the soul time outdoors with my lovely wife. Plus, the coastline near the park is totally stunning.

Thank you for reading about our Picnic in Paradise. We hope you are inspired to go out and enjoy an All Day Date of your own very soon!

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ALL DAY DATE: San Clemente, CA

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. James M. Barrie

Appreciating a little sunshine on a Saturday is always a good idea. We are grateful we headed to San Clemente to relax and enjoy the surf vibe and sunshine of this charming town. The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center was an incredible place to start our date. At the SHACC, their vision is to share the stoke of surfing with the world and the museum includes an extensive collection of surf history and memorabilia. We especially appreciated our docent for engaging us with several entertaining surf stories.

In San Clemente, the craft brewing industry is thriving and there are several tasting rooms near the museum. We were delighted to sample a flight of beer at Left Coast Brewing Company while listening to live music. After that, we were ready for some sunshine by the sea.

The sights and sounds all around the San Clemente Pier are very unique and completely enchanting. It is a lively location to watch surfers and to gaze at the beautiful coastline. A walk on the beach is always good for the soul and we enjoyed walking south from the Pier to San Clemente State Park and back. We were thankful to behold the gorgeous sunset together and to feel the peacefulness of being by the water.

There are several amazing restaurants in downtown San Clemente. We enjoyed every bite of our delicious meal at Brick. After that, we were thrilled to spend some time with our dear friends, Holly and Tony, at The Cellar. It’s a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine and wonderful conversation. The sun had already set, but we were still feeling rays of sunshine in our hearts.

Where we found sunshine in San Clemente:

Surfing Heritage and Culture Center

Admission is free and donations are gratefully accepted. It is simply the best surf museum we’ve ever been to and we plan to return regularly to see their rotating exhibits. Their latest exhibit just opened and it focuses on the history of surf movies.

Left Coast Brewing Company

http://leftcoastbrewing.com/tap-room/san-clemente/

The tasting room is a relaxing place to enjoy excellent craft beer from an amazing local brewery.

The San Clemente Pier

https://www.sanclementeguide.com/san-clemente-pier.php

A popular place for photography is right under the pier because of the diffused lighting and the distinct geometry of the structure. 

Brick

http://brickrestaurantgroup.com/home.php

The wood grilled Spanish octopus is a divine starter and the squid ink capellini is a marvelous dish. If you have something to celebrate, the chocolate lava cake with housemade gelato is a spectacular dessert. On this particular visit we came just for the pizza, and we’re so glad we did!

The Cellar

The food, the wine, and the atmosphere are simply fabulous.

Melanie’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“I love being married to an avid surfer and having sons who love to surf as well. We had never been to the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center before, and it was such a pleasant surprise to see everything there and to read about the history of surfing. I definitely loved and appreciated our time at the San Clemente Pier and Beach. If that had been the only thing we did on our date, that would have been a huge treat alone. Spending time with my Love near the water is my favorite thing to do and the beach is my favorite place to walk and pray. Lastly, I also loved spending time at The Cellar with our friends. Good company, fine wine, and cool music…basically, a perfect Saturday evening.”

Kevin’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“I totally enjoyed the displays at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center. The picture of George Peanuts Larson dropping into a triple overhead wave at Killer Dana on a 102 pound hand carved surfboard gave me chills. Trestles IPA from Left Coast Brewing Company has been one of my faves for a while and it was fun to enjoy it at the tasting room. The Farm Pizza at Brick is the best vegetarian pizza I’ve ever had. Best of all, while on our date, hearing my wife laugh is one of my favorite sounds in the whole world.”

Go to our menu to view more date ideas in Southern California.

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ALL DAY DATE: Costa Mesa, CA

Art appreciation was the theme for our extraordinary date in Costa Mesa. We were elated to enjoy culinary art, visual art, and performing arts. First, we ventured to the beautiful Orange County Museum of Art and we were grateful to see a dance troupe, Backhausdance, performing throughout the venue. After that, we delighted in a stroll through Noguchi Gardens, known as an outdoor sculpture oasis near the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Next, we certainly appreciated the culinary art displayed at Din Tai Fung, an amazing Taiwanese restaurant located in South Coast Plaza.  We loved their most beloved dish called, Xiao Long Bao, which means, little dumpling in a basket. Finally, we were thrilled to see a spectacular Broadway musical, She Loves Me, at South Coast Repertory. This all day date blessed our hearts with a deeper appreciation for the arts and one another.

Where we enjoyed art:

Orange County Museum of Art

https://www.ocmaexpand.org/

Admission is free and parking is a breeze.  The current exhibit is very impressive and inspiring.

Noguchi Gardens

There was plenty of photographic art taking place in this lovely outdoor space.

Discover Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario

Din Tai Fung

https://dintaifungusa.com/

If you don’t have a reservation, be prepared to wait at least one hour to be seated. We walked to Seasons 52 and had a cocktail and then browsed shops in the mall while waiting. 

South Coast Repertory

https://www.scr.org/

Live theatre is always a treat and we were thoroughly impressed with the performance we saw. We can’t wait to return to this marvelous venue.

Melanie’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“I loved the surprise beautiful weather that day! It was also a sweet surprise to see Backhausdance performing at the Orange County Museum of Art. Best of all, I smiled throughout the entire enchanting performance of She Loves Me at South Coast Repertory with my Love beside me.”

Kevin’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“I enjoyed taking fun video footage and trying new filming techniques at Noguchi Gardens. It was also fun to try all the delicious food at Din Tai Fung with my lovely wife.”

Backhausdance at the Orange County Museum of Art

Go to our menu to view more date ideas in Southern California.

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ALL DAY DATE: Temecula, CA

A lovely destination whose name means, “where the Earth meets the sun” is only a little over an hour’s drive from Orange County. While gazing at the vineyards and hot air balloons, we felt like we were a world away. The wine tasting was wonderful and the food and the atmosphere in Old Town Temecula were delightful. This all day date went well into the night and we appreciated our stay at the Inn at Churon Winery. The views from the grounds were beautiful and left us feeling refreshed and relaxed.

TIPS

Where we enjoyed eating in Old Town Temecula:

1909

https://www.1909temecula.com/

Just put your name down and enjoy browsing the shops until your table is ready. The white pear balsamic salad with chicken and the bison burger are absolutely delicious.

Where we enjoyed wine tasting:

Deportola Wine Trail – a picture perfect row of wineries

https://www.deportolawinetrail.com/

Robert Renzoni Vineyards – an attractive location to sip fine Italian wines

Cougar Vineyards – a fun and lively stop with divine reds

Inn at Churon Winery – two free delicious tastings were included with our stay

Callaway Vineyards – a perfect place to enjoy delightful wine, the sunset and dinner

Where we enjoyed staying;

The Inn at Churon Winery – such a lovely place to stay with beautiful views and a delightful breakfast

https://innatchuronwinery.com/

Melanie’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“I loved relaxing at the romantic Inn at Churon and watching the peaceful sunset with my Love.”

Kevin’s Favorite Parts of the All Day Date:

“The wine tasting at Cougar Vineyards – the scent of pizza baking in the oven, the sound of live music, and sipping Sagrantino with my Love.”