Second Date Ideas in Bay Area

A ferry from Tiburon makes the roughly 12-minute crossing to Angel Island State Park, the biggest natural island in San Francisco Bay. Once you land, cover it on foot or on a rented bike, and stop at the U.S. Immigration Station, which operated from 1910 to 1940. The island is counted among the most romantic viewpoints in Marin.

Dandelion Chocolate's Mission factory is a sweet spot for a second date, especially if you both have a soft spot for chocolate. Stop by the indoor café to sample cookies and pastries made with the factory's single-origin chocolate, and pick out a few treats to share. It's a fun, low-key way to spend an afternoon together over something delicious.

Turn your second date into a little adventure with a ferry ride from San Francisco to Sausalito. Enjoy sweeping views of the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline as you cross the water together. Once you arrive, explore Sausalito's waterfront, grab a coffee or settle in for a meal before catching the ferry back.

Mount Tamalpais State Park is in Mill Valley, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin. Redwood forest covers parts of its canyons and hillsides, and trails lead over to neighboring Muir Woods. Hiking, picnicking and wildlife watching are all on offer, so pack a lunch and make an afternoon of it.

The 0.75-mile Verna Dunshee Trail at East Peak is accessible and has big views. At the Gravity Car Barn, volunteers tell the story of the old Scenic Railway.

In the Presidio, Presidio Bowl offers 12 lanes plus a bar and grill. The bar pours over 45 beers, ciders and seltzers and 19 wines, so you can pick something to sip between frames. Reservations are suggested, since only a booking guarantees a lane.

Smuggler's Cove brings a little tropical adventure to date night in Hayes Valley, with vintage tiki decor, nautical treasures and an impressive collection of more than 1,400 bottles of rum. The immersive, pirate-inspired setting gives you plenty to explore and talk about while sipping creative rum cocktails together. It's a fun choice for a second date that's a little more playful than your usual drinks at the bar. Open daily from 5 PM to 1:15 AM.

UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley is a quieter choice for a daytime date, with room for a picnic or an afternoon walk. Winding paths pass plants in seasonal bloom, a calm change from city bustle. The garden spreads over 34 acres, and each of nine major geographic regions gets its own area. First-timers should set aside roughly two hours.

For a second date that's a little out of the ordinary, Audium offers an immersive sound experience unlike a typical night at the theater. Set inside a darkened, 49-seat space in San Francisco, the performance uses 176 speakers to move sound all around you, from overhead to beneath your feet. It's a unique experience to share, with plenty to talk about over drinks afterward.

Audium is open most weekends, and doors open 30 minutes before showtime. New listings go up about two weeks in advance, month by month.

Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park shows rare plants beneath a glass dome. Inside are five galleries: Aquatic Plants, Highland Tropics (a misty cloud forest), Lowland Tropics (a humid jungle with a 1915 palm), Potted Plants, and the West Gallery with ferns and seating. A light show called Photosynthesis runs nightly for about 30 minutes, starting 30 minutes after sunset. The conservatory is open Thursday through Tuesday from 10am to 4:30pm, with last entry at 4pm.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a fun way to spend a laid-back second date, wandering through stalls of fresh produce, local specialties and delicious bites outside San Francisco's Ferry Building. Pick out a few treats to share or make a morning of it with brunch or lunch from the market vendors. Saturdays offer plenty to explore, while Thursdays bring street food favorites like tacos and sandwiches.

The market runs Saturday from 8am to 2pm.