5 UNDER $25: SPRINGTIME DATES

Don’t wait until summer to heat things up. Here are five unique dates to try this springtime.

Geocaching
Experience the thrill of a hunt with geocaching, a worldwide game of hiding and finding hidden containers, called geocaches. A geocacher can place a geocache anywhere in the world (think: somewhere in Balboa Park or the boardwalk in Pacific Beach), filled with anything they’d like and pinpoint its location using GPS technology. Start your hunt by going to the Web site, activating your phone’s GPS.

Paintball
For the adventurous duo that doesn’t mind bruising. Square off against your sweetie on the field or if you’re feeling merciful, pair up to go against another team. Try Mr. Paintball USA in Escondido, where you can take your pick at 18 paintball fields spread out on 50 acres of land.

Dance Class
Nothing’s worse than two pairs of two left feet. Learn to mesh well on the dance floor with a dancing class or laugh over who is the clumsiest. If ballroom isn’t your style, try swing. Or check out the free salsa classes on Monday nights at Prospect Bar & Lounge in La Jolla.

Baseball Bound
The best place to catch Padres in action this season at Petco Park? Forget about buying seats and instead lay out a blanket at Park at the Park, the elevated grassy knolls behind the center field fence. You can stretch, lay out, even cartwheel if you wish. It opens 150 minutes before each game, costs just $5 per fan and even includes a sandy “beach.”

Happy Hour Hop
Instead of the standard sit-down dinner at one restaurant, do you own appetizer dine around. Even the classiest of restaurants have half-off appetizers during their happy hour. Pick a neighborhood, such as Solana Beach, Hillcrest, or downtown Coronado, and go from restaurant to restaurant trying out one or two appetizers each. Top the night off and splurge on dessert.