Cheap dates: long beach dates under $50 — DIG
A couple enjoying the Long Beach Harbor Cruise. Photo By Yalina Harris.
As students, finding connections is difficult. The University Student Union is gone and the economy is up. And the biggest tragedy of all, trying to find a situationship or the love of your life.
Don’t let the economy steal your creativity. If you have your eye on someone, and want to wow them, look no further. Here are three dates in or around Downtown Long Beach under $50 that will impress any and all partners.
Outside the Pike Outlet Cinemark. Photo by Yalina Harris.
The classic movies and dinner
The Cinemark at Pike Outlets, 99 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
If you're a cinephile, then this is the date for you. All Cinemark theaters offer a killer discount Tuesday deal. All tickets are just $7.50. My boyfriend and I utilize this deal all the time at the Long Beach Cinemark in the Pike Outlets. The best time to go is around 7 p.m or later, after the theater slows down.
To make the date special, grab a cheap and authentic bite. Just two blocks away from the theater, on Pine Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, is Roto Taco on the left side of the street, a regular food truck on this block. Do not go to the truck on the right side of the street or you will pay an arm and a leg. Our go to items are the California burrito and torta, and all of the salsa we can carry. In total for the two items it’s $27— a steal!
Couple cuddling up on the Harbor Breeze Tour. Photo by Yalina Harris.
Dinner and an adventure
The Harbor Breeze, 100 Aquarium Way, Dock #2, Long Beach, CA 90802
If you love wildlife and drinking with a view, this is the date for you — drinking optional. Harbor Breeze Cruises in downtown Long Beach is 15-minutes from the CSULB campus, and offers tours around the Long Beach Harbor.
The tour features interesting facts about Long Beach history with a breathtaking ocean view. All-in-all, the tour lasts 45-minutes and only costs $15. This is a great intro to an evening of hanging out. The boat docks at the marina off of Aquarium Way. Just past Aquarium Way, on East Shoreline Drive, is the Pike parking structure which is $9 for four hours.
If you plan your date on Sunday, parking downtown — excluding the Pike — is free. This is a perfect opportunity to explore a new street in Long Beach before the tour.
At this point the grand date total, assuming you’ve carpooled and paid for parking is $39. That doesn't leave much for a food budget if you’re planning to stay under $50. Me and my boyfriend usually drive to Belmont Shores and grab a burger and fries from The Win-dow. This cost about $12 per person, meaning the final date total for two people is $63.
Students enjoying pickleball at the Sports Basement. Photo by Yalina Harris.
Fun and Movement
The Sports Basement, 2100 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815
A fun and creative athletic date is Sports Basement, located just four minutes away from CSULB. From the outside, Sports Basement appears to be a regular sports store, however, on the third floor — aptly named the “sky deck” — there are five indoor pickle ball courts and eight pool tables. All completely free for Public use.
All you need is a student ID and a competitive spirit. The “sky deck” is open to the public for free Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. The only thing you’ll pay is $15 to rent pickle ball paddles for the day.
The exclusive student area, featuring the pool tables, also offers intimate seating areas and comfy couches. It creates a space to get to know your partner, making this a great first date spot or long term relationship rekindling.
In the same shopping plaza as the Sports Basement are a variety of restaurants if you want to splurge on food. If you don’t want to spend any money at all, for free food, before departing to the Sports Basement stop by the CSULB food pantry for some quick snacks.
