Today, more than 80% of global shipping involves containers. They're packed with everything from personal storage items in dry containers to heavy machinery on flat rack containers. For business owners shipping products, getting a container from point A to point B requires precise planning and high-level tracking. But that's easier said than done when global supply chains become over-congested, leading to loading time issues and delays.
That's bad news for business owners who are already under a massive amount of stress. The truth is that container storage delays can cripple a business, but there's a viable solution: drayage brokers in Los Angeles, CA like RelyEx. Drayage companies provide unique solutions to minimize demurrage and help ensure the successful delivery of your freight.
With more than 30 combined years of experience and a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx has quickly become the first choice for streamlined, efficient drayage services. To understand the true value of RelyEx's offerings in the global logistics industry, it helps to understand first what drayage is and why it's used.
If you're a seasoned business owner who uses port drayage to transport your products, you know exactly how important the service can be. But if you were to poll a group of random people, you may get five different definitions of the term "drayage." That begs the question, how is one of the most crucial steps in the supply chain and most vital components of global trade such a confusing concept? When you break it down, it's not too difficult to grasp.
Drayage, by definition, means the transportation of freight from an ocean port to another destination. Today, drayage is also used to describe the process of transporting products and goods over short distances or over "the first mile."
While drayage often means short-distance movements during the supply chain process, it's primarily used in the container shipping space. Drayage loads usually have arrival and departure points in the same city and don't include long-haul, national transportation.
Because a drayage load can mean a few different things, confusion among carriers is common. Many carriers link drayage with going into a port, but that isn't always true. While all drayage loads typically originate from a port of entry, there are often several legs of a drayage journey before a container turns up at its final stop. Legs of a drayage load may include:
You may be thinking, what's so important about drayage? It's such a small step in the container storage transport process. In reality, it's an integral piece needed in the logistics industry and a crucial part of U.S. supply chain management.
To truly understand the importance of drayage, let's use flowers as an example. Most cut flower shipments enter the market from areas in South America until they end up at Dutch auction houses. Once there, wholesalers purchase flowers in bulk and send those products to retail outlets worldwide. Because flowers are perishable, they typically need to be refrigerated and are often shipped in reefer containers. These refrigerated vessels must maintain a certain temp to prevent loss.
Drayage companies like RelyEx allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services. Drayage companies allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind, because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services.
If port drayage is compromised, it can cause delays and even fines. You know the packages you get delivered to your front door from apps like Amazon? Without drayage and drayage brokers, one or two-day shipping times wouldn't even be possible.
As a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone, it seems like drayage shipping issues shouldn't exist. But the fact is inefficiencies and congestion are still major problems at ports. Whether it's a lack of carriers, absent chassis, or overburdened terminals, delays lead to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and worse.
But anytime challenges exist, so too do innovative solutions.
QUOTE REQUESTRelyEx was created because our founders saw a need in the logistics space for more reliability and efficiency. The reality of the shipping and logistics industry is that it has become very transactional. It's an odd evolution, because most businesses seek a third-party logistics partner that is accessible, transparent, and committed to providing solutions.
As the logistics space continues to grow, it creates newfound expenses and complexities. Clients like ours know that and need a supply chain partner who is genuinely interested in their business. By understanding the needs of our customers and carriers, we can provide the most reliable, effective drayage services possible.
Unlike some drayage companies in Los Angeles, CA, we begin managing your containers before they ever hit the ports by mapping out the most efficient pathways of delivery. That way, our team can discover the best drayage pathways to expedite delivery time and reduce fees that cut into profits.
Our valued drayage customers choose RelyEx because:
At RelyEx, we like to consider ourselves problem solvers. The nature of the container drayage industry presents new challenges every day, but we're firm believers that there's a solution to every hurdle we encounter. And while some drayage businesses implement a reactive approach, RelyEx customers choose us for our proactive mindset. We take pride in solving your company's drayage challenges to help you avoid frustrating fees, missed expectations, and delayed shipments. We strive to make every transaction successful and streamlined by partnering with shippers who prioritize transparent, prompt, and accurate communication.
RelyEx approaches your business from the customer's perspective - a unique approach that helps us provide high-quality, effective drayage services. We've been in the customers' shoes, know their pain points, and because of that, provide first-hand solutions to stressful supply chain issues. With over 30 years of collective knowledge, our team excels in:
Our varied, high-level drayage shipping experience helps us achieve our overarching goal: expertly managing your freight movement needs. That way, you can direct your time and focus on growing the core aspects of your business while we handle the heavy lifting. Throw in proactive planning to avoid bottleneck situations and strong communication for transparent customer relations, and you can see why so many companies trust RelyEx.
When it comes to shipping logistics, it only takes one mistake by a mediocre worker to disrupt your business. That's why, at RelyEx, we pride ourselves on forming and nurturing relationships with carriers who match our standards of care. Our founding partner started his career transporting freight for companies as an on-demand carrier. He uses that knowledge to maximize the resources of our carriers so that our customer's expectations aren't just met - they're exceeded.
Based in the port city of Los Angeles, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Customers choose RelyEx because:
Some drayage brokers don't care how customers feel about their service as long as they sign a contract and get paid. As a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx takes the opposite approach. We're motivated by the opportunity to overachieve for our customers and to provide them with the best logistics experience possible. With professional experience as carriers and shippers ourselves, we know the roadblocks and challenges you're facing. We excel at mapping out the best plans of action to solve those problems. But that's just the start.
Our tracking experts monitor and manage every aspect of your drayage shipment from booking to delivery, 24/7. Once booked, we look for the availability of your containers hourly once they're at port. When they arrive, our team acts quickly to access your storage containers when they're available.
Plus, RelyEx ensures your company's requirements are met by the carrier during loading and delivery and provide necessary documentation as fast as possible. With real-time tracking updates and access to our customer service professionals, your team has complete visibility throughout the shipping process.
Over the years, RelyEx has built a strong network of drayage carriers, transloading locations, and container storage spaces to provide you with the best possible options to match your drayage service needs. We know that searching for quality service presents an added layer of complexity and stress to our customers. That's why we work hard to take that off your plate by connecting you with our reliable shipping partners.
With a background moving freight as an on-demand carrier, our founding partner understands how to maximize the resources and equipment of our carriers to match your needs.
Like other industries, the global logistics space is complex. Mistakes will be made, and problems will happen. With those truths in mind, RelyEx has built its reputation as problem solvers. Unlike other drayage companies, we don't shy away from this industry's complexities because we take pride in solving problems. Even better, we aim to do what's needed to avoid those problems altogether.
As your logistics partner, we will provide your company with accurate, transparent, and prompt communication. If there are unexpected issues, we'll notify you immediately and will provide several options to remedy the problem. We even offer custom reporting for large clients who need at-the-moment updates and quick access to shipment documentation.
Why let the unpredictability of your industry dictate your success? With a background working in manufacturing, our founders are familiar with the demands of managing production schedules and sales orders. That experience makes it abundantly clear to us that every business and industry is different. If you struggle with seasonal surges or other factors, our team supports your business with a mapped-out plan and schedule, so you stay ahead of the game.
QUOTE REQUESTBased in the port city of Los Angeles, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Demurrage is a charge issued by a port, carrier, or railroad company for storing containers that do not load and unload their cargo promptly. Once the daily limit of free time is exceeded, shippers are charged daily demurrage fees until their cargo is shipped. Though different ports have different policies, charges can range from $75 to $150 per container, per day, for a set number of days. Additional demurrage fees are incurred if a shipper exceeds the port's parameters.
Even when shippers maintain a tight schedule for unloading freight, external factors can play an uncontrollable part. Typically, shipping mistakes caused by human error trigger the most demurrage charges. Some of the most common causes of demurrage include:
Typically, shippers need four specific documents to clear shipments through customs: A Bill of Lading (or BOL), a commercial invoice, a packing list, and an arrival notice. Seasoned drayage brokers like RelyEx are used to preparing these documents, but new shippers tend to miss this step due to inexperience.
If a shipper only pays for part of their shipment, a vessel operator may refuse to release their freight until their bill is fully paid. Payment delays lead to cargo detention at the port of entry, which triggers demurrage charges.
QUOTE REQUESTPaperwork is needed when you're shipping goods with a drayage company. When documents like the Certificate of Origin or Bill of Lading arrive at their destination late, you can expect demurrage fees. RelyEx avoids this situation entirely by being proactive when submitting paperwork.
Additional causes for demurrage fees can include:
At RelyEx, we know first-hand how stressful supply chain problems can be for business owners. Though drayage shipping might seem minor on the surface, it affects every stage of your shipping process. And when inevitable hurdles manifest, RelyEx propels you over the proverbial roadblocks with a proactive mindset and a passion for challenging projects. We believe that all problems have a solution, and our unique vantage point allows us to provide first-hand solutions to customers in a wide array of industries.
When it comes to your business, don't settle for anything less than RelyEx. Contact our office today to learn more about how we make your shipping experience streamlined and stress-free.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A judge denied a request by tenants of the Barrington Plaza apartment complex in West Los Angeles to stop evictions set for next month, and the building's owners say they are pleased with the decision.The rent-controlled buildings are owned by Douglas Emmett Inc., which maintains the evictions are necessary to install fire sprinklers in a complex with a history of dangerous fires.The Barrington Plaza Tenants Associated ...
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A judge denied a request by tenants of the Barrington Plaza apartment complex in West Los Angeles to stop evictions set for next month, and the building's owners say they are pleased with the decision.
The rent-controlled buildings are owned by Douglas Emmett Inc., which maintains the evictions are necessary to install fire sprinklers in a complex with a history of dangerous fires.
The Barrington Plaza Tenants Associated filed a lawsuit last month aimed at stopping the eviction of tenants in the 712-unit high-rise. They claim the evictions are illegal.
In a finalized ruling issued Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant found that the balance of harm favored the landlords.
"The tenants' harm in having to defend individual (eviction) actions and face eviction are significant," Chalfant wrote. "However, these harms are undermined by their adequate legal remedies ... and the fact that they will have to move out of their units anyway."
The landlord's harm stems in part from the financial impact of any delay in asserting its right to evict and perform its planned renovation, Chalfant wrote.
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The Barrington Plaza Tenants Association filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at stopping the mass eviction of tenants at the 712-unit, rent-controlled apartment complex in West Los Angeles.
Although the tenants make fair points, Douglas Emmett has consistently stated that it cannot proceed with the renovations until every tenant has moved out, Chalfant further wrote.
"Allowing the tenants to stay longer with the landlord unable to file (eviction) actions will delay the move-out process and the intended improvements," according to the judge.
In their suit filed June 12, the tenants said the company is unlawfully using the 1985 Ellis Act to evict all residents, and that the legislation actually was created to allow mom-and-pop landlords to leave the rental business and take the units off the rental market.
Larry Gross, with the Coalition for Economic Survival, says the owners are illegally using the Ellis Act for renovations and as a way to avoid going out of the rental business.
"They're essentially putting a target on the back of every rent-controlled tenant in the city and throughout the state," he said.
Tenant Claudio Montanari believes the owners of the property are using the Ellis Act to temporarily go out of business and come back later with dramatically raised rents.
"I've been looking for rents in the city and there's nothing I can afford in that area. I'm being priced out," Montanari said, adding that he won't leave by the Sept. 5 eviction date.
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More than 500 people who are being forced out of a West Los Angeles apartment complex are raising money through a GoFundMe page in hopes of hiring a legal team to fight the mass eviction in court.
Tenant advocates are now calling on the city to step in and stop what they call a massive exodus of residents who will have a hard time finding affordable housing elsewhere in the city.
"Barrington Plaza is the third largest complex of rental apartments under the RSO in the city of Los Angeles. If they are evicted, it'll be the largest mass eviction... seen in the city since Chavez Ravine to build Dodger Stadium," Gross said.
A representative for the landlords issued a statement regarding Chalfant's ruling.
"We are grateful to the court for this quick decision," the statement read, adding that the building owners have all along been in compliance with state law.
The statement added that Barrington Plaza has funded more than $7.5 million in tenant relocation payments to facilitate the move-out process.
The complex has seen two fires within seven years. One in 2013 and another in January 2020 that resulted in the death of a college foreign exchange student. After that blaze, eight floors were red-tagged, according to the representative's statement.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Chargers defensive lineman CJ Okoye is with the team as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which identifies athletes from other countries who have NFL talent but no experience with football. And Okoye showed both his talent and his inexperience in his first preseason game.Okoye sacked Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, but he didn’t realize when he took Bennett down that it counted as a sack, because Bennett had rolled out of the pocket and Okoye thought that made him a runner and no longer a passer.&ld...
Chargers defensive lineman CJ Okoye is with the team as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which identifies athletes from other countries who have NFL talent but no experience with football. And Okoye showed both his talent and his inexperience in his first preseason game.
Okoye sacked Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, but he didn’t realize when he took Bennett down that it counted as a sack, because Bennett had rolled out of the pocket and Okoye thought that made him a runner and no longer a passer.
“Believe me when I tell you I didn’t even know that was a sack,” Okoye told Rich Eisen. “I didn’t know. Like I thought he was out of the pocket, so I thought it was a tackle or something. When I did it I was like yeah, I already got him down I was like, ‘Okay, it’s a tackle for loss or something.’ Then a teammate of mine just walked up to me and said, ‘Yo you just got a sack!’ I was like ‘what?’ He said it again, ‘you just got a sack.’ Then I just went crazy, I did my dance.”
Okoye did a dance on the field after sacking Bennett and then repeated the dance in the Chargers’ locker room as teammates cheered when coach Brandon Staley handed Okoye a game ball. Okoye said it’s a dance he’s been doing since childhood.
“When I was little I have this friend, she used to dance I just pick up that dance from her,” Okoye said “I don’t know how to do it but it always makes my family laugh when I do the dance. And I see everybody on my team as family. So I just thought okay, so if this is my family, if you’re my family, you might love this too. . . . I was doing the same dance since I was a kid and they used to laugh. So I just feel like I should do the same dance.”
Okoye has a lot of learning to do, and probably would need some time on the practice squad before he could make the Chargers’ 53-man roster. But he has enough talent that he may some day do his sack dance in regular-season games.
Getty Images Over the next few weeks the 2023 MLB postseason races will be decided, as will the various awards races. Among them: the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and ...
Getty Images
Over the next few weeks the 2023 MLB postseason races will be decided, as will the various awards races. Among them: the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll are the frontrunners at the moment, though a lot can change over these next seven weeks.
There is one single Rookie of the Year award for each league. Los Angeles Dodgers righty Walker Buehler would like that to change. Buehler wants separate Rookie of the Year awards for pitchers and hitters. Here's what Buehler said on the Just Baseball Show earlier this week:
"I personally think there should be a rookie Cy Young as well. Not to be like, 'Oh, I should get all this stuff,' but I was third in the Rookie of the Year to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto. Pretty generational, but also neither of them pitch, so who am I competing against? ... Let's have a Fernando Valenzuela Award, best rookie pitcher ever."
Valenzuela, who had his No. 34 retired by the Dodgers last Friday, would certainly be deserving of having a rookie Cy Young named after him. As a 20-year-old rookie in 1981, Valenzuela threw 192 1/3 innings with a 2.48 ERA for Los Angeles, and he led baseball with eight shutouts. That earned him the Rookie of the Year award and the Cy Young award.
Not counting the peerless Shohei Ohtani, only one pitcher has been named Rookie of the Year since 2017, though five pitchers have been the Rookie of the Year runner-up during that time. Here are the last few Rookies of the Year as well as the pitcher who finished highest in the voting that year:
AL ROY | Top AL rookie pitcher | NL ROY | Top NL rookie pitcher | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | George Kirby, Mariners (5th) | Spencer Strider, Braves (2nd) | ||
2021 | Luis Garcia, Astros (2nd) | Trevor Rogers, Marlins (2nd) | ||
2020 | Kyle Lewis, Mariners | Cristian Javier, Astros (3rd) | Williams (1st) | |
2019 | Yordan Alvarez, Astros | John Means, Orioles (2nd) | Mike Soroka, Braves (2nd) | |
2018 | Shohei Ohtani, Angels | Ryan Yarbrough, Rays (6th) | Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves | Walker Buehler, Dodgers (3rd) |
It would have been interesting to see how Ohtani the hitter (151 OPS+ and 2.7 WAR) and Ohtani the pitcher (127 ERA+ and 1.3 WAR) fared in 2018. Would he have won both the hitter and pitcher Rookie of the Year? Just one? Or does splitting up his production take him out of the running for both awards?
Keep in mind winning Rookie of the Year is about more than simply taking home a trophy these days. Players who finished first and second in the Rookie of the Year voting are awarded a full year of service time regardless of how many days they spent on the active roster. This is one way MLB and the MLBPA are trying to combat service-time manipulation.
Split Rookie of the Year into two awards -- one hitter and one pitcher per league -- and suddenly that's more players being awarded service time, which the union would surely love. Kirby, for example, fell 21 days short of a full year of service time last year while leading AL pitchers in Rookie of the Year voting. He would have been awarded a full year and now been closer to free agency.
Regardless of the service-time implications, I like Buehler's idea and would be in favor of separate hitter and pitcher Rookie of the Year awards. Being a rookie is hard regardless of whether you're hitting or pitching. It would be cool to recognize those who do it best in the batter's box and on the mound. Good idea, Walker. I'm in.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. For more information read the In-Season Tournament 101...
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. For more information read the In-Season Tournament 101 summary.
What is the NBA In-Season Tournament?The NBA In-Season Tournament is a new annual competition for all 30 teams that will debut in the 2023-24 season.
Why is the NBA adding the In-Season Tournament?The In-Season Tournament will provide players and teams with another competition to win, engage fans in a new way and drive additional interest in the early portion of the regular-season schedule.
When is the In-Season Tournament?The inaugural In-Season Tournament will tip off on Friday, Nov. 3 and culminate with the Championship on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Where will the In-Season Tournament be played?All tournament games will be played in NBA team markets except the Semifinals and Championship, both of which will be held at a neutral site (T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas).
Which teams will participate in the In-Season Tournament?All 30 teams will participate in the first stage of the tournament, Group Play. Eight teams will advance to the second and final stage, the single-elimination Knockout Rounds.
What does the champion of the In-Season Tournament receive?The champion will receive a new trophy, the NBA Cup. In addition, a prize pool will be allocated to players on teams that qualify for the Knockout Rounds, with allocations increasing depending on how far a team progresses in the tournament.
Will top performers from the In-Season Tournament be honored?After the Championship is played, the NBA will name the Most Valuable Player of the In-Season Tournament and the All-Tournament Team. Selection will be based on the players' performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
What is Group Play?All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on won-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season. The Lakers have been selected into Western Group A. Western Group A consists of the Lakers, Grizzlies, Suns, Jazz, and Trail Blazers. Each team will play four designated Group Play games – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road.
Group Play games will be played on "Tournament Nights," which will take place every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 3-28 (with the exception of Election Day on Nov. 7). The only NBA games played on Tournament Nights will be Group Play games.
What is the schedule for Group Play?
Here is the Lakers schedule in the opening round of the In-Season Tournament
How were the groups determined?Before the Group Play draw, each team was placed into a "pot" based on its record from the prior regular season (2022-23). In each conference, one team from each pot was randomly selected into each of the three groups in that conference. Pot 1 had the teams with the three best prior-season records in a conference, Pot 2 had the teams with the fourth- through sixth-best prior-season records in a conference, and so on through Pot 5.
Which teams advance to the Knockout Rounds?Eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds: the team with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and one "wild card" team from each conference. The wild card will be the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group.
What are the Knockout Rounds?The Knockout Rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (Dec. 4-5), Semifinals (Dec. 7) and Championship (Dec. 9).
Why are there two games labeled as "TBD" on each team's 2023-24 regular-season schedule?Every team will play two regular-season games (including the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals and Semifinals for qualifying teams) during the week of Dec. 4th. Each of the 22 teams that do not advance to the Quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament will be assigned two regular-season games (one home game and one away game) that will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Friday, Dec. 8. A formulaic approach will determine the matchups for these 22 games using the Group Play standings in each conference (fifth through 15th).
Two of the 22 games will be scheduled cross-conference because there will be an odd number of teams in each conference that do not advance to the Quarterfinals. These cross-conference games will be scheduled between bottom-finishing teams in Group Play subject to travel constraints, and no team will play more than one of its two games cross-conference. The other 20 games will be scheduled within conference featuring teams that are otherwise scheduled to play each other three times over the course of the season wherever possible.
The losing teams in the Quarterfinals in each conference will play each other in a regular-season game on Dec. 8.
How can I watch the In-Season Tournament?Fourteen Group Play games (two games on each Tournament Night) and all seven Knockout Round games will be televised nationally. The game and broadcast schedule for the In-Season Tournament Group Play stage will be announced in August.
Where can I purchase tickets for the In-Season Tournament?Tickets for the Semifinals and Championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas can be purchased at NBAEvents.com. Tickets for Group Play or Quarterfinals games, which will both be played in NBA team markets, can be purchased directly through the host team’s ticketing provider and will be announced at a later date.
How do In Season Tournament games affect season ticket packages?Tournament Games at Crypto.com Arena and a potential Knockout Game at Crypto.com Arena are all included in the full season ticket package.
First dates can feel like a tactical sport, especially if you’ve been out of the game for a while. From deciding what to wear — are heels too formal or should you opt for sandals just in case your Hinge date really isn’t 5-foot-10? — to agreeing on a place to meet, you want to make a good impression.For many people, dinner and/or drinks is a go-to for a first date, but it may be time to stand out from your crush’s other matches.Planning your weekend?Stay up to date on the ...
First dates can feel like a tactical sport, especially if you’ve been out of the game for a while. From deciding what to wear — are heels too formal or should you opt for sandals just in case your Hinge date really isn’t 5-foot-10? — to agreeing on a place to meet, you want to make a good impression.
For many people, dinner and/or drinks is a go-to for a first date, but it may be time to stand out from your crush’s other matches.
Planning your weekend?
Stay up to date on the best things to do, see and eat in L.A.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to get creative with our dating lives: Zoom or FaceTime calls became the new first — or screener — date, and instead of meeting for cocktails at a packed bar, we opted for sunset hikes, long walks on the beach and park hangouts. Then we went back to our old ways — yelling to hear each other talk about our hobbies and what we do for work in a noisy bar.
In the spirit of bringing back something good that came out of the pandemic, why not continue to expand your options? Here are 11 lively places in L.A. to take your crush that don’t involve dinner and/or drinks.
Each of these date spots ranges from free (not including parking) to $90 to account for various budgets. For example, it’s free to visit the Getty Center, but it costs $45 per person to participate in the Creative Café’s arts and crafts experience. (Note: This is the only place on this list that costs $90 for two, although there’s a cheaper option.)
If any of these places feels like too much for a first date or they’re not in your budget, hold onto this list for another time. These spots are a mixture of adrenaline pumping and easygoing activities, and they’re spread across L.A. County. Plus, each of these locations offers an easy way out in case the date isn’t going well and you need to skip out without saying goodbye — though we hope you won’t have to do that.
Be sure to check with your potential new boo before booking a reservation and solidifying plans. You wouldn’t want to take them to an ax throwing facility if they’re deathly afraid of sharp objects or to an arcade if they have zero interest in playing games. Also, volume levels at these places make talking and getting to know each other much smoother, which is the point of a first date, after all.