The time has come where dinner and a movie will no longer suffice as a good date, especially a first date. I love to do things where I can actually talk to my date and bonus points if I can beat him in something, because I’m super competitive. Fun and unique outings make date nights more memorable, and Washington, D.C. has no shortage of options. Whether you’re planning a casual first hangout or spicing up a long-term relationship, there are plenty of ways to step outside the ordinary. From playful activities to adventurous experiences, these “not so ordinary” ideas are perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their date night in DC. Below I’ve listed some creative options, ranging from things on my personal “to try” list to outings I’ve already experienced because when it comes to fun things to do in DC, the best dates are the ones you’ll never forget.
Date Ideas in DC
Winter Igloos
I’ve been wanting to go to the winter igloos and the Watergate Hotel forever and I finally got to go for my birthday. The ambiance was perfect and cozy. It’s perfect for date night or just a night out with friends. There is a rental fee and the food/drinks are a bit pricey, but for the experience, it is worth it. The igloo has heaters inside to keep you warm and a bluetooth speaker to enjoy your favorite music.
S’Mores on the Rooftop
As fall approaches, I wanted to do something fall themed. So of course when I found out about Wild Days, I immediately added this to my list. They have s’more service where you can make s’more yourself. This is great for a date night or a night out with the girls. They only have one fire pit, so reservations are a must! You can also get s’mores at Urban Roast. Although they don’t have a rooftop, they have these cute fire pit tables.
Archery Class
I’m a huge fan of Hunger Games and thought is would be fun to try an archery class. I found a deal on Groupon for Invicta Sports Club. The location is indoors, so it could be a winter date night option too. It ended up being 5 of us taking the class. The instructor showed us how to properly hold the bow and shoot the arrow. We started off closer to the target. Once we got the hang of things, we moved further back. My date and I made our own game where each zone was worth a certain amount of points. Your fingertips can become irritated, but they should have finger guards for you to use.
Cooking Class
I went to a New Orleans style cooking class at SUR la Table in Rockville, MD. They have several locations throughout the U.S. It was an intimate size class (12 people). You worked in teams of four. The instructor was very thorough, hands-on, and knowledgeable. She explained ever step of the process. We made Shrimp n Grits, Gumbo, and Banana Foster.
Axe Throwing
When I think about axe throwing, I think about winter, lumber jacks, and fireplaces. A sport doesn’t come to mind, but it is one. Bad Axe Throwing recently opened in D.C., and wanted to try it out. It was much harder than I thought, but still fun. There was also a game we played to make things a little bit more competitive. A big plus is this location allows you to bring in food and alcohol.
Ping Pong
I was invited out on a date and I let the guy choose the date. He told me about a place called SPIN, which is a ping pong club. I’m super competitive so of course I was interested in going. Spin is located in Metro Center area of D.C. Everything is located downstairs. There’s a bar for ordering drinks and food. Other games are available to play while you wait for a ping pong table. The music is a good mixed variety. I had a great time and would go again.
Throw Social
This place had been on my list to visit for a while. Throw Social has 3 different activities, Football Bowling, Axe Throwing and Curling. I opted for football bowling. I had a really good time. I definitely enjoyed my drink in my cute pineapple cup.
Top Golf
I’ve never tried golf before and was excited to go. There’s a new Top Golf location that just opened up closer to my house. It’s not like mini golf, but is a line drive golfing experience. There are different games you can play with each other for points. We also order drinks and food as well. Since this is outdoor, it would be great date for warmer weather. I think the price is way too expensive for a Friday night ($46/hour).
Zip Lining
I love just about anything to get my adrenaline pumping. I went to Go Ape in Rockville, MD. They also have a few other locations throughout the U.S. You go through different courses with zip lining at the end. I had a really good time here and highly recommends this place.
Wine Tasting
I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to wine. I want to expand my palette, but who wants to waste money on a bottle of wine and end up not liking it? No one. That’s why I love wine tasting. You can enjoy samples of wine without the feeling of wasting money if you end up not liking it. My date and I did a wine tasting flight at The Pursuit Wine Bar in Washington, D.C. There were a good variety of options to choose from and we also ordered a cheese board to go along with our wine.
In Door Sky Diving
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, then this might be a good date night for you. I went to iFly at the Gaithersburg, MD location. You have the option to pick the number of “flights” you want to do as well as if you want to go higher than normal. iFly uses a wind tunnel to achieve the sky diving feel.
High-Speed Go-Kart Racing
Autobahn Indoor Speedway is not your ordinary go-kart racing venue. You can go faster than you typically would at a fair or amusement park. You can go up to 50 mph in these go-karts.
Home Date Night
If you just want to have a date night in then this idea would be great for you. My co-worker bought me a mini crock-pot a few years ago so I could melt chocolate for chocolate covered strawberries. I decided one night I wanted to have a Melting Pot inspired date night. I used the crock-pot to create chocolate fondue. I cut up various fruit to dip in chocolate, some wine, and of course games. UNO, SkipBo, Scrabble, and Checkers are some of my favorite games to play.
Here are some date ideas below. If you are in the D.C. area, I’ll provide some links.
- Mini Golf: Swingers
- In Door Rock Climbing: Earth Trek, Sportrock
- Stand-up Paddle-Boarding & Kayaking: Key Bridge Boathouse
- Art Shows: Artechouse, Blind Whino
- Escape Room: Escape Room DC, The Great Escape Room
- AcroYoga: Pole Pressure, Maren AcroYoga, Warrior One Yoga
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