Date Ideas in Palo Alto

Wander the self-guided Tree Walk at Gamble Garden on Waverley Street, stopping by the camellias and Watershed Garden along the way. The public garden presents itself as a spot for a first kiss and is open during daylight hours every day, though some areas close for events.

Spend an afternoon among Rodin sculptures at the Cantor Arts Center and Rodin Sculpture Garden on the Stanford campus. Between the museum and garden, the collection is the third largest group of Rodin's work in the world, alongside regular exhibitions of modern and ancient art. Docent-led tours are available, and the Anderson Collection next door gives you somewhere to keep going.

See modern and contemporary American art together at the Anderson Collection on the Stanford campus, including works by Rothko, Pollock, Martin and Nevelson. The current exhibition is Patty Chang: surfacing. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 11am to 5pm, and the Cantor Arts Center is next door.

Catch a classic Hollywood film on the big screen at Stanford Theatre, the downtown movie palace that opened in 1925. The theater still has its Mighty Wurlitzer organ and balcony, and October's programming is a tribute to Eva Marie Saint.

Taste a flight of four pours at Vino Locale in downtown Palo Alto, then stay for live music in the back garden. The patio hosts music Thursday through Saturday from 6:30pm to 9pm with a firepit nearby, and the venue itself recommends the setting for first and second dates. Happy hour runs daily from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

Book a couples massage at Watercourse Way in downtown Palo Alto, where the couples room holds two side-by-side massages in a meditative space. The wellness center also has individual tub rooms for sauna and steam, and the spa describes the experience as romantic. Book well ahead.

Take a walk or hike around the Stanford Dish, the radio telescope in the Stanford foothills. October hours are 6:30am to 6pm, though access can be restricted on Red Flag Warning days, so check the website before heading over.

Walk the marshes at Palo Alto Baylands, nearly 2,000 acres along the bay used by walkers, joggers and birdwatchers. The Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center gives you a clear place to start.

Cook a from-scratch, multi-course meal together at Taste Buds Kitchen Palo Alto, a hands-on studio with Adult Classes & Date Nights for guests 18 and older. The class invites you to come with a date or a friend, so the cooking itself becomes the plan.

Skate under the open sky at Winter Lodge, the outdoor rink that has been running since 1956. The 2026-27 public skating season opens October 16 at 8pm and runs through April 11, 2027, with evening sessions Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 10pm and afternoon sessions every day from 3pm to 5pm. Gloves are required, and tickets are sold online in advance only, up to 30 days ahead.