Also grew up in CA and have lived out here for 20 years now. Rockaway Beach is great in the summer. It's not Malibu lol, but still gives a sense of getting outside the city and is accessible by subway. I've heard there are some good hiking spots upstate accessible by Metro North trains. Central Park is also beautiful and huge with lots to explore.

Typical Saturday for me is running errands and then meeting friends for dinner/drinks (or beach in the summertime). If the weather is bad or it's been a super hectic week, Saturday is ordering in and binge watching.