Earlier this week, Rachel discussed the importance of scheduling date nights between you and your significant other and gave some insight into planning your next date night, so nothing stands in the way.
Whoo-hoo! You’re putting date nights on the schedule, but now you’re faced with, where do you go? And what do you do?
If you’re anything like my husband and me, the conversation might go like this:
Me: So where do you want to go tonight?
Husband: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Me: I don’t know either. I’ve been thinking so much this week. I’d like it if you made a decision.
Husband: I don’t care, we can go wherever you want.
Me: I’m kind of tired of always making decisions. Can you please decide?
Husband: Hmmmβ¦ wellβ¦ I don’t care. You tell me.
Sigh. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure we have visited all the restaurants and done everything within our house’s proximity. So, what’s left?
Plenty! Whether it’s where you currently live or if you’re planning on visiting a different destination soon, there are so many ways to immerse yourself in the local culture to spend time with the one you love. So, with a bit of planning and some creative thinking, the perfect date night is within reach. And with our help, we’ve put together a list of ideas to consider when planning your next date, no matter where you live.
Pro tip: Start a list on your phone. Include the items we suggest below and any others you may come across. Or, on Instagram, save posts as you scroll. Organize them by town or type, and then access them under the “saved” option in your settings. Then access the list, pick a place, schedule, and go!
Scroll down for our five date night suggestions…
Look to public transportation to guide you on where to go.
Many cities have unique forms of public transportation that can take you to and from points around town. For instance, here in Tampa, we have the Cross Bay Ferry.
For a nominal fee, the ferry boat takes you from downtown Tampa to downtown St. Pete (or vice versa) for the day or even a few hours. One of my favorite recent date nights, which also happened to be my husband’s birthday, was this past December when we decided to take the ferry over to St. Pete for dinner.
We grabbed an Uber from our house to the Tampa drop-off point at the Convention Center, so no one was responsible for driving. Roundtrip tickets were pre-purchased online, which meant all we had to do was show up and board.
The weather for the 45-minute ride was fantastic, complete with a full moon. There’s a bar on the lower deck where you can purchase beer, wine (half bottles only), and mixed drinks, along with non-alcoholic options as well.
The drop-off point is in the heart of downtown St. Pete, which was lit up with Christmas lights, music, and people walking. So vibrant and energetic, it’s the perfect place for a date. And, with numerous restaurants to pick from in the area, there is no shortage of cuisine options or dining atmospheres. We chose The Avenue, which has terrific hamburgers and one of the largest birthday desserts I’ve ever seen!
One word of caution. Check the times for the roundtrip service, as the 6:15 pm pickup from Tampa and the 9:45 pm St. Pete departure was a little tight, especially if you would like to eat and explore the area. A day trip would allow for more time if you can get away that long.
Tampa isn’t the only place with unique transportation options. Many cities have similar features. For example, in Wilmington, NC, you can take the ferry from Ft. Fisher to Southport, which is a relaxing way to see beautiful views of the Cape Fear River. Charlotte, NC, or Atlanta, GA, has a light rail system that weaves throughout the city limits. Depending on the train schedule, you could pick one or two neighborhoods and stop for museum tours, bar hopping, or live music. So whether it’s by boat, bike, or feet, alternative transportation options are abundant.
Take advantage of free resources.
Date nights don’t always have to revolve around things that require money. More than likely, where you live is home to free resources that would provide the perfect backdrop for a date.
Close to where we live, one free resource is the Manatee Viewing Center. When the waters of Tampa Bay reach 68 degrees or colder, the mammals seek out warmer water, such as springs and power plants. The Teco Power Plant, Big Bend Station in Apollo Beach, offers a discharge canal that’s a federally designated manatee sanctuary. It provides critical protection from the cold for these gentle giants.
As you walk through their viewing area, there are plenty of educational opportunities to learn more about how manatees live, their history, habitats, and more.
But this isn’t the only feature at the viewing center. It’s also home to a rays touch tank where you’ll find the actual mascots of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season! Get a look at these beautiful creatures as they peacefully make their rounds in the tank, just inches away. You’ll also find a butterfly garden, nature trail, and observation tower.
Another idea for free outdoor activities is nature trails and parks. AllTrails.com is an excellent resource to use when looking for one and even has a search filter so you can find a route that matches your skill level. While some are free, some might require a small fee if contained within a public park. So be sure to check out the exact destination before you go (if you need cash).
Over Christmas, when we were visiting family in Charlotte, we took our dogs to hike around Latta Plantation in Huntersville. I went to high school in this area, and I’m ashamed to say this was the first time I had visited. The park is fantastic! The plantation offers 1,290 acres of things to do, including a nature center, hiking trails, fishing, horseback riding (horses not provided), Carolina Raptor center, and picnic areas with scenic lake and forest views. Ask around, or do some research online, to see if similar hidden gems are located where you live.
Pack a picnic.
If the weather is nice, and you’re planning a date during the day, why not consider a picnic? AllTrails.com can provide suggestions for not only trails but parks as well. Grab a blanket, some snacks, and drinks, and head out to get in some quality time outside. Depending on where you live and what time of the year it is, larger venues like the Whitewater Center in Charlotte or Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa offer outdoor concerts where you can bring a picnic and relax. Other places to consider are beaches, lakes or rivers, drive-in-movie theaters (dinner and a movie?), or a mountain top view if you’re lucky. If a picnic sounds like a great idea, but you just don’t want to be bothered with the details, many companies offer picnic services nowadays, including us! Check out localrevivalpicnics.com to get some ideas or find out more.
Stay in.
Who says you need to go out? If you can drop the kids off at grandma’s, or don’t have to worry about distractions, sometimes the best date nights can be at home. Enjoy a fire outside, soak in your pool or hot tub (if you have one), or grill a nice dinner. Consider playing games to refresh your memory about one another or to discover something new. I’ve heard that Therapy Jeff on TikTok has a series that lists questions to ask your partner. Or, if you don’t want to scroll through TikTok (I’ve been warned it’s addicting!), take a look at DateNightQuestions.com, or check out BestSelf.co for their date decks.
Follow Local Influencer Accounts.
Instagram is full of local influencers who are trying out the newest (and even not so new) hot spots around where you live. Sometimes they showcase a new restaurant, other times, it’s a limited event, or it may just be somewhere not on your radar. Being local small business supporters, we love following influencers worldwide for insight and suggestions for exciting places. Especially if we frequently visit a location like Charlotte, Wilmington, or Atlanta. Or if we have an upcoming vacation planned. My husband and I love to seek out small unique places. We feel more in tune with how the city lives and have had the opportunity to meet some fantastic locals.
The best part about following local influencers is that they try everything out and then pass along the highlights: what to expect, possible costs, dates (if applicable), things to try – all eliminating decisions you or your significant other have to make beforehand.
One of our favorite influencers here in Tampa is our friend Courtney (@influencetampa). She’s lived in South Tampa since 2009, works at Tampa Magazine, and is one of Tampa’s great advocates! Her passion for delicious food, healthy living, and local boutique shopping is apparent all over her Instagram feed, so we asked her for some local date night restaurant recommendations that we could pass along, and she happily agreed.
Here are her five suggestions:
- Columbia Restaurant: It’s a great way to spend time with your family or on a date night. Sample authentic Cuban cuisine in their historical Ybor location, enjoy delicious sangria and sign up to watch the flamenco show at least once. It’s a must!
- Psomi: It’s the cutest spot for breakfast! You’ll feel like you’re on vacation in Greece while you dine.
- The Gin Joint: It’s a romantic spot filled with glittering chandeliers, live jazz, and swanky cocktails. Dress up and go all out!
- Donatello’s: Pink tablecloths, candles, and fancy Italian food give you all the romantic feels!
- Berns Dessert Room: A dessert room so fancy, you could skip dinner prior! Dessert wines and drinks included.
So, check out local influencers around where you live. If you have any that you think we might enjoy following, let us know!
We hope you enjoyed these ideas for your next date night. There are so many more that we probably could have included. So, let us know. Would you like a follow-up post with more ideas in the future? Is there a “must do” or “must visit” on your date night rotation? If so, let us know below! Or, shoot us an email to say hi or pass along any recommendations.
We hope your date nights are relaxing, fun, and most of all, romantic!
Your savvy “biz” friend,
Summer
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