San Marcos is a glorious place.

The temperature often doesn’t dip beneath 70 degrees and people appear generally upbeat.

So why not go on a date with your significant other? There are tons of places in and around here for a low cost. But we’ll just narrow them down to make this easier:

Beach:

According to Yelp’s “Ten Best Beaches” Moonlight State Beach has 271 reviews that adds up to a four and a half-star rating. There are 49 reviews that mention the fire pits, volleyball court, concession stand, and frisbee opportunities as some of the highlights.

Palomar student Jerry Navarro agreed, citing this beach, when asked for an ideal date location.

The beach can also be a wonderful place to go camping. Although Moonlight does not appear to support any campground areas, the San Eligo State Beach campgrounds appear to be a worthy with nearly four stars on Yelp with 118 reviews.

If one is in the mood for more of a boardwalk kind of date, and although it’s a bit of a drive outside of the San Marcos area, Palomar student Manny Torres suggested Seaport Village.

Hiking:

The best hike in San Marcos is easily in San Elijo, near the dog park area. There are woods, soaring canyons and the fresh air that comes from being near the top.

If you get hungry, you can always pick up some yogurt from Youtopia or pizza from Stoked, at the San Elijo town center.

Watch out for mountain lions, as they are sometimes spotted in the area. If going near the day, the chances of seeing one are low. However, just remember that this trail does happen to be near a preservation for wildlife.

Home:

If you’re in a chill mood and just want to kick back and get to know your significant other better, home can be the best place to kill some time together. Catching up with Palomar student Megan Sherman, she smiled as she recounted cooking with her former boyfriend. This can be a great activity for some laughs and to measure your partner’s knowledge of the kitchen.

One great meal to make together is spaghetti. There are endless types of noodles and sauces out there, it’s uncomplicated to make, you can cut up foods together, and the end result is (usually) delicious.

Having a date should be the highlight of a week, and a good backdrop improves the chances of a romantic vibe. This guide should be helpful to attain that stars-in-the-eyes, hands-making-contact-approaching-summer opportunity.