Chris Randone and Krystal Neilson’s Go-To San Diego Date Spots
Ages: 31; 30
Occupations: Entrepreneur; Online Health and Fitness Coach
Neighborhood: Downtown
Dating Since: June 2018 (when they got engaged on ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise)
Their Go-To Date
Chris and Krystal take strolls through Balboa Park with their dogs
Tell us about your first date.
K: I would say it was in Paradise.
C: We did a yoga date, to show her I was seriously interested and that I’m trying to get to know you more. But outside of Paradise? We went to dinner in Little Italy, right, baby?
K: At Mimmo’s.
C: We had a bottle of wine, ate a lot of appetizers.
K: It was really romantic because it was a very small table for two, a private setting. It felt like a Bachelor-style date. We were like, “Where are the cameras?”
What’s the last date you went on in San Diego?
K: Cowboy Star. We went to kick off his birthday month. It’s one of my favorite steakhouses. They let us wear the cowboy hats. Our favorite thing to do is let the server order for us, because we want date night to be an experience to disconnect from work and have that intimacy back in our relationship. After all, we did meet on a romantic TV show.
What’s the most thoughtful or surprising thing your other half has done?
K: He had just moved here and coordinated this birthday celebration for me with all of my friends, and there was a total goof up. He thought we rented a private yacht with all of my friends… it was a dinner cruise. But him putting that together meant a lot.
C: Out of the blue, she bought me this really expensive toothbrush. I’m in love with that thing now.
What’s the toothbrush?
C: Sonicare DiamondClean.
When did you know your relationship was the real deal?
K: We had our first kiss a week into Paradise, and I woke up that morning thinking, “Will I get engaged at the end of this?” I had that out-of-body moment, like, “Why am I thinking that way?” Something in me really shifted, but I didn’t know until the day of the engagement.
C: For me, I got a date card late into Paradise. I took Krystal on it. We had a beautiful night at this hotel in Mexico, and there was a concert. We were dancing on the water as Ben Rector was playing, and she just looked so happy. I looked in her eyes and knew I was going to propose.
So, you knew on the first formal date in Paradise?
C: Technically it wasn’t on the first date. We had multiple mini dates, and within those mini dates we really got to know one another.
K: We spent so much time together, like three weeks of 20 hours a day together.
C: It’s like dating six to 12 months in the real world.
How do you keep the spark alive?
K: Date night’s a big priority, because that allows me to shove off work and create that space where we get to dress up or go out, have a fun experience. That and we always kiss each other good night before bed.
C: Yep, that’s true. Sometimes we’re tired, but a little kiss sets the tone for our dreams.
