Beyond Dinner and a Movie :: Active Date Night Ideas

Quick, it’s date night. What are you going to do? A nice dinner at a restaurant where you won’t see any children (or at least not your own)? A movie? Often, date ideas don’t go far past those two tried-and-true options. I mean, they’re classic for a reason. But as much as I love a dinner I get to eat while it’s hot and a movie that doesn’t involve Dory or Poppy, I prefer to indulge in more active date options.

The hubs and I have gotten slightly creative when it comes to our all-too-rare dates (day or night). In case you’re often stumped for a child-free activity but don’t want to indulge in more screen or sit time, here are some local options that may strike your fancy.

• Rock Climbing. Thanks to a Groupon discovery, my husband and I spend a good many date nights climbing the walls. Neither of us is really any good, but we both enjoy the activity immensely. We cheer for one another, take turns trying to climb the highest, and often end up laughing at our own ineptitude. In the end, our arms are shaky, but our hearts are smiling. Plus, we feel like we’ve earned our dinner (we typically go for wings). The best perk? Getting dressed for your date involves a messy bun and leggings.
• Bowling. I consider this to be an overlooked classic choice for dates. My mister and I used to go bowling as a date in high school. Once again, we aren’t very good, but that never gets in the way of our fun. Check out any of the local options for bowling (there are often great deals to be found, especially during the week) and pass a few hours reenacting your favorite scenes from Alley Cats (love me some old school Disney Channel). Bonus points for unabashedly requesting bumpers.
• Whirly Ball. Have you HEARD of this? It’s lacrosse meets bumper cars, and it’s fantastic. This is fun to do in a group or as couple with other people, and the entertainment level is high. While you do sit in a car as you try to make baskets, this date definitely qualifies as active. You’ll laugh, you’ll yell, and you might get a bit of whiplash, but it will definitely be a memorable day.
• Scavenger Hunt. Thanks to technology, you can now bring a favorite pastime to life without anyone having to set it up for you! It may not be Legends of the Hidden Temple, but you can race yourself, your partner, or some friends to completion. And THEN go to dinner.  
• Golf (Mini and Top). Whether you choose to go big or small, a golf outing adds a level of competition and activity to any date. We are lucky to have so many options in the Fort Worth area. I personally prefer the mini version because I like to play the arcade games afterward and win a week’s supply of erasers and Pixie Stix.
• Dance Lessons. We discovered dance lessons as a date escape when our kids were very small (three under three). A free, private lesson as an intro intrigued us enough to give it a chance, and we discovered how enjoyable it was. There are options for both private lessons and group classes. Many studios also offer monthly socials. My favorite part of dance lessons is they are a great way to reconnect and work together to achieve a goal. I promise my mister enjoyed them too.
• Laser Tag. You can’t go wrong with laser tag. You can choose to play on the same team or compete against each other, but don’t let the 12 year olds deter you from joining in the fun. It’s really a great time! Thanks to places like Main Event, you can often combine this activity with others from the list and have a date that is legen — wait for it — dary!

While these are not the only options for a date that gets you up and moving, I hope they spark some ideas and creativity when you’re planning your next night out. It’s easy to be too tired to think of anything to do outside of errands (which it is a completely legitimate way to spend date time), but maybe you’ll have an opportunity to get up, move, and #dateyourspouse!

What are you favorite active dates?