Whether you’ve been with your person for years or just started seeing someone you think might maybe possibly could be the someone, a fresh idea for date night is always welcome. So we’ve given you 26— one for each letter of the alphabet—to scratch your athletic, creative, and culinary itches. Here’s to love!
A
Take a hot air balloon ride.
Nothing puts your (and maybe your relationship’s) place in the world into greater perspective than floating above it all at sunset. Thomas Jefferson Hot Air Ballooning, Boar’s Head Resort, and Monticello Country Ballooning all offer ways to fly the Albemarle skies with your hunny. MCB even offers an all-inclusive package with photographs and a celebratory toast. Up, up, and away!
B
Brew a custom beer.
Save this idea to check off the list once you’re affianced—it’s a great one for the later stages of wedding planning. At Three Notch’d Brewing Company, work with the brewmasters to come up with a custom-labeled beer for your best day ever. (Word to the wise: Avoid creating a sour. There’s only one reason your lips should pucker on your wedding day, and it’s not your signature drink.)
C
Climb mountains for your love.
We’re not saying this idea made the list because it affords you the opportunity to admire your partner’s derriere as they ascend a climbing wall. But we’re not not saying that, either. Whatever your motivation, Rocky Top offers a day pass for $18 (plus $4 for gear rental) and, if you’re a beginner, a nine-week introductory course. That’s nine whole date nights, done and dusted.
D
Disc golf competition!
All’s fair in love and sports? Grab another loved-up couple and head to Walnut Creek Park, where 34 of the park’s 527 acres are dedicated to a winding course through fields, woods, and over water. The views get extra romantic at the fifth and 17th tees, where players can revel in the beauty of the lake over rolling hills.
E
Embrace the occult.
The start of a relationship comes with such hope, such promise: Will this be forever? Is this person The One? How many kids will we have? And while it’s never wise to wish away the precious moments in front of you in favor of what may come, it couldn’t hurt to get a little glimpse into your future. Find local clairvoyants, mediums, and tarot readers on Instagram (@thecountryclairvoyant and @sealed_in_the_stars) or with help from local retailer Minerals & Mystics.
F
Fancy a flight?
We’ve always maintained that the best part of a wedding (besides the “I do,” obviously) is the cake. For that matter, couldn’t it be the best part of date night, too? We’re picturing this one as a movie montage: You stab your fork into the Sicilian pistachio-Meyer lemon slice of a Cakebloom cake flight and feed it to your sweetie. They return the favor, swiping a fingerful of icing across the tip of your nose. You both laugh as Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” plays in the background.
G
Get jazzed (and gin-soaked).
An exciting dating life includes the high—like Oakhurst Inn’s weekly Gin & Jazz nights—and the low, like warming the same stool at your neighborhood bar. Both have merit, and both afford the opportunity to extend a hand to your partner and deliver a smooth “May I have this dance?” But only one has the musical stylings of DG3—a local jazz trio that plays the classics—and suites nearby in case all those G&Ts go straight from your tapping toes to your head.
H
Horse around.
A date at a winery is a no-brainer, but we recommend taking it one trot further—by going on horseback. Indian Summer Guide Service offers tours through vineyards like Veritas, Keswick, and Merrie Mill, wending you and your filly (and your horse! #LOL) through the vines to a proper tasting. Don’t forget to pony up for a few bottles to take home.
I
Ink up with matching tattoos.
We know this one will be controversial. No one wants to end up with a “Wino Forever” tattoo post-breakup. But if you’re absolutely certain your love will last forever (and who isn’t!?), there’s nothing more romantic than wearing your heart on (or under) your sleeve. Pro tip: Opt for initials rather than full names…y’know, just in case.
J
Jumpstart your heart.
We can all agree that cold-plunging isn’t exactly one of the more pleasurable hobbies, right? But it is great for bonding (misery loves company!). Take a wintery dip in the Rivanna and then step into Rivanna River Company’s dreamy sauna, situated in what feels like a magical fairy grove, to warm up.
K
Kiss in space.
One of the oldest public observatories in the country, McCormick Observatory has been offering public outreach programs since the late 19th century, putting the night sky on display through its 26-inch refractor. These days, you can take your moonbeam to stargaze on the first and third Friday of the month.
L
Linger with llamas.
Join Lower Sherwood Farm’s herd in a 90-minute, two-mile walk to Bryant’s Cidery through its Nelson County orchard. Stop for Blue Ridge Mountain views and Instagram-worthy picks with your new furry friend before grabbing a complimentary sample of cider. Visit lowersherwood.com for booking.
M
Make it a double—straw, that is.
We can’t resist a classic sharing-a-milkshake moment. It’s like recreating the iconic scene from Lady and the Tramp, but without the messy splatter of pasta sauce as you slurp the noodle through your lips. Plus, it’s total 1950s going-steady vibes, especially in the retro surroundings of Chaps Ice Cream or Timberlake’s downtown.
N
Nuzzle a goat.
Normally it wouldn’t be kosher to go around canoodling anything but your special someone, but we’re certain they’ll make an exception for this one: Kidding season at Caromont Farm starts in March, which means it’s time to cuddle up with baby goats. Sign up for a snuggle sesh at caromontcheese.com (and don’t leave without grabbing a brick of Florent Cendre for your cheese plate later that night).
O
Oysters!
A proper date night list would not be complete without the mention of some kind of aphrodisiac. You could try pomegranate, avocado, or dark chocolate, but we recommend you get shucking. At Public Fish & Oyster, the daily happy hour knocks $1 off each half shell and $2 off draft beers.
P
Snag a private room.
There’s something sexy about a corner booth in a darkened restaurant. And if that’s the case, then there’s something extra sexy about a private room in a darkened restaurant. Charlottesville has a few options, but our vote goes to Tavola’s piccola stanza (above), a second-floor spot for up to four that comes with its own prix fixe menu, or the wine room at The Alley Light, a standing-room-only space away from the main dining area, perfect for a romantic toast and shared spoonfuls of a Mr. Reche.
Q
Quench your creative block.
Couples who create together stay together (right?). Get your juices flowing with a date night at Pikasso Swig, where a skilled instructor will guide you through one of 40 possible craft projects (and serve you complimentary charcuterie), or at The Glass Palette, where walk-ins can spend two hours creating a unique piece to use or display.
R
Rent out a movie theater.
Dinner-and-a-movie is another classic choice, but we’re trying to encourage overachieving here. At Violet Crown, you can rent a theater for a private showing. Choose from a list of new releases or coming-soon options—or bring your own Blu-ray for an extra $50 fee. Dinner’s covered, too, with apps, pizzas, and hot dogs, plus the downtown theater’s full cocktail menu. (FYI: There’s a $270 food and beverage minimum, so this one might be better as a group activity.)
S
Skate your heart out.
Free date idea alert! For literally $0, you and your boo can run—er, skate—circles around each other at Carver Rec Center. Offered
on Wednesday and Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, your date includes skates, tunes, and a good time. Bonus points if you choreograph a couples’ routine.
T
Try before you buy.
Wine? For date night? Groundbreaking! Except that, at local spots like The Wine Guild, Market Street Wine, Crush Pad, Bottle House, Tastings of Charlottesville, and Wine Warehouse, you’ll get a sip of the good stuff (selections from Virginia’s top producers, as well as bottles from abroad) on the house at their weekly tasting events. Sniff, swirl, then let your buzz carry you through a perfect evening.
U
Upstage Demi and Patrick.
Ready to act out that famous scene from Ghost? Take your place at the wheel with your beloved behind you and get busy—sculpting! (Get your head outta the gutter.) Morehouse Studio offers private workshops for two. If the wheel feels too intimidating,
the ceramicists at the Avon Street spot will instruct you in hand-building. Wait—is that “Unchained Melody” we hear?
V
Volunteer together.
Relationships can’t always be two people gazing into each other’s eyes for hours on end. Sometimes it’s nice to turn that attention outward—to those who need a hand. Charlottesville offers many opportunities to volunteer. Stock shelves at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, sign up as farm workday volunteers with the International Rescue Committee, or walk the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont as bird box monitors. Visit cvillevolunteer.org to find an opportunity that suits your interests and talents (and something you can do while still holding hands).
W
Whisper sweet nothings.
Important question: Would you rather call your sweetie “my half orange” or “mi media naranja”? Yeah, we thought so. At Speak! Language Center, sign up for a semi-private course for two to explore the romance language of your choice. At $65 per hour for a five- to 25-hour course, you’ll be ready for some elevated pillow talk in no time (and prepared for that romantic getaway you’ve been dreaming about since you got together).
X
Taste-test all of the city’s X and compare.
Okay, so we took some creative liberties with this one (there are only so many opportunities to learn the xylophone or get an X-ray around here, and none of them feel like great date ideas). Who doesn’t love a taste test? Pick a food you’re interested in eating a lot of, and gather an example from different spots around town. Suggested: hot wings, French fries, cookies, croissants.
Y
Yammer on.
Anyone who’s been in a relationship long enough has floated the idea to their sweetheart: Should we start a podcast? Try your hand at it in the podcasting studio at Codebase. Non-members pay $65 for an hour’s worth of access to the co-working space’s state-of-the-art equipment and comfy chairs from which to dispense your wisdom on the art of interpersonal connection—or why you think your partner’s so bad at closing cabinets. We’d tune in for either.
Z
Add a little zest.
If the quickest way to your sweetie pie’s heart is through their stomach, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard’s cooking classes could help you stir up something luscious. Chef Victoria Cosner leads groups in seasonal workshops on everything from Italian cuisine to cast-iron cooking, which each begin with a glass of bubbly and end with a family-style dinner enjoying the masterpiece you’ve just created. Buon appetito!
