Natalie travels the world, makes killer guacamole and can recite “Princess Diaries” in her sleep. Thomas loves coffee table books, carne asada tacos and is more enthralled with the newest Lego contraption than the average eight-year-old. After seven months of dating, with all of Los Angeles and Orange County at our fingertips, we’ve gotten to know each other in some pretty cool places — and we’ve found that we both have a hankering for art, adventure and writing articles. Here’s a list of our favorite outings.

Long Beach

La Crêperie Café
Shark Lagoon Nights at the Aquarium of the Pacific
Hours: 6-9 p.m.
Price: Free on Fridays
Parking: $8 – $15
Drive: 30 minutes

If you’re anything like us, your dream date involves listening to live jazz and petting live sharks — for free. The Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting Shark Lagoon Nights every Friday from now until June 13. Stop by La Crêperie Café beforehand for a jambalaya crepe.

Afterward, take a stroll by the bay and if you’re feeling especially adventurous make like stowaways and sneak aboard the Queen Mary. If you happen upon an open door while the custodians are cleaning, like we did, you just might find yourselves in the iron jungle of the engine room all to yourselves.

Palos Verdes

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Hours: entrance closes at 4 p.m.
Parking: $5
Drive: 45 minutes

Some dates can be costly, but picnics and hikes are simple and pleasurable. Head over to Trader Joes together, grab a couple apples, a baguette and some salami and cheese. Don’t forget to bring napkins and a blanket. Hike the short trails, sift through stones on the pebbly beach, check out the tide pools and caves and watch the sun set behind the purple mass of Catalina Island while eating your knapsack meal. For a picture-perfect evening, pack a few Fourth of July sparklers to light after the sun sets. Sparks will fly, in more ways than one.

Fullerton

Arboretum
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Friday – Monday 8 a.m – 4:30 p.m.
Price: free
Drive: 20 minutes
Rutabegorz
Layer Cake Bakery

If the Night Owl is your only hangout spot, you’re missing out. The Fullerton Arboretum, a botanical garden the size of Adventureland, is a great place to walk, talk and carve your initials into a tree. Spend the afternoon wandering amid desert cactus and lush bamboo and then head over to Rutabegorz for a chicken curry wrap and an apple spinach salad — and maybe a scoop of homemade ice cream at Layer Cake Bakery afterward. Next door to Ruta’s is a small children’s playground, and if you happen upon the circular spinny thing — it defies description — give it a whirl. You’ll have the time of your life. Trust us.

Hollywood

El Capitan Theater: tickets $10-12
Egyptian Theater: tickets $11-15
Arclight Hollywood: tickets $12-15
Parking: $10
Drive: 45 minutes

Take dinner-and-a-movie to the next level and go to a show in Hollywood. The El Capitan Theater has a charming ambiance, and odds are you can catch a throwback showing of one of your childhood faves, like “The Lion King” or “The Little Mermaid.” For cinema-savvy couples, check out the Egyptian Theater’s unique offerings — treat your date to a Hitchcock film in 3D or Nicholas Cage in person. And two blocks away from the chaos of Sunset Strip, the Arclight offers upscale atmosphere for an upscale price — the plus side is, you can see Wes Anderson’s next film before it gets a wide release.

Dinner? Well, we just went with Chipotle.

Anaheim

Rock City 
Hours: weekdays 12 p.m – 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Price: Bouldering day pass: $12, Climbing shoes: $3
Drive: 25 minutes

M & M Donuts (opens at 9 p.m.)

At Rock City climbing gym in Anaheim, you can strengthen your forearms and your relationship. That sounds cheesy, but there's something to overcoming physical challenges together. Seeing each other strive toward a goal and hearing that encouragement to leap to the next hold can build trust — and muscle. Afterward you can help yourself to some guilt-free blueberry delicacies at M & M Donuts. Prepare to wait in line. Make a playlist for the car or download the Mad Libs app. This date is best for a Thursday night — Rock City is open until 10 on weeknights, and the line at M & M donuts won’t be as long as it is on Fridays.

Wilshire Blvd./Beverly Hills

A + D Architecture and Design Museum
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 pm – 6 p.m.
Price: Free for students

Craft and Folk Art Museum
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 pm – 6 p.m.
Price: $5 for students

Parking: metered
Drive: 45 minutes

Nothing kindles romance like a museum showcase of California bowling alley architecture or a sculpture made of bike reflectors. If LACMA is too mainstream for you, the Architecture and Design Museum and the Craft and Folk Art Museum are right across the street. These little museums offer a more intimate experience — we were among very few visitors. When you’re done, grab some superb gelato at Caffe Primo. Then, as the stars come out, drive up into the Beverly Hills neighborhoods for a breathtaking view of the city. You might even end up in a movie star’s driveway. We learned from a neighbor that we were enjoying the view from outside Jennifer Aniston’s gate.