Nov 10, 2016 - Things to Do

Let’s get physical: 15 creative, active date ideas that go beyond just eating and drinking

Kylie Moore

Tara Lilly uptown-from-the-greenway Cover

I was asked last week what my “perfect first date” was, and my gut reaction was to tell this person, whom I was sitting across from in a cozy restaurant, that I’d prefer some kind of fun, physical activity to just eating or drinking on a first date.

Whoops.

But there really is so much to do here for a date (whether it’s your first or 101st) other than bar hopping, restaurant crawls and Netflix and chill – you just have to get creative.

Adventure Dining at the Whitewater Center

Yes, there’s both eating and drinking involved, but there’s also a good amount of physical activity mixed in. Your options include Microbrews Cruise, a flatwater kayaking excursion that rounds out a fireside dinner, Unwined, a stand-up paddleboard and wine excursion (which will return in 2017) and Zipline & Dine (which will return in 2017). All three will return next season, but if you can’t wait, check out River’s Edge Craft Dinner ($50 per person).

5000 Whitewater Center Parkway – Go.

Archery

Barefoot Archery’s 20-yard, eight lane USA Archery-approved range is run by experienced shooters and costs $10 an hour if you bring your own equipment and $25 if you don’t.

4410 Old Pineville Road – Go.

Bowling

A little late-night, friendly competition never hurt anybody, especially at Ten Park Lanes, whose retro feel completes the experience. Shoe rentals are always $5 while game prices vary depending on day and time. See the set price schedule here.

1700 Montford Drive – Go.

Escape rooms

It’s my theory that you’ll get to know someone really well when they’re put into a locked room and told they’ve only got an hour to get out. There’s no shortage of rooms in Charlotte and most are under $30 per player. See our take on the best in town here.

Geocaching

Get in on the world’s largest treasure hunt. With close to 5,000 geocaches hidden around Charlotte, you’ll never run out of things to find. Download the app (free or $9.99).

Hiking at the Whitewater Center

This is for those of you that don’t look like a drowned rat when you work up a sweat. With over 20 miles of dog-friendly trails, it’s the perfect spot to get active and maybe a little bit lost. Trails are free, but parking is $5.

5000 Whitewater Center Parkway – Go.

Hit a gallery crawl

NoDa, South End and Charlotte Art League all host free monthly or bi-monthly gallery crawls on Fridays and Saturdays. See how to tackle NoDa’s here.

Hit a few baseballs

Grab a bat and a helmet (which you’ll need, since the baseballs come flying at you faster than you’d think) at Grand Slam USA, HQ4 or Triple Crown Cages.

Jump around at Sky Zone

Remember the trampoline your mom never let your dad buy you out of fear that you’d break your neck? Sky Zone has you covered with wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball and a foam pit. Jump for anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for $11 – $22.

10200 Centrum Parkway – Go.

Kinetic Heights

The 22,000-square-foot indoor obstacle course opens this weekend (November 12), and for $15 to $25, you can climb all over a bouldering wall and Obstacle Training Zone before hitting the zip line. Bonus: The park literally puts its focus on team building.

5564 International Drive – Go.

Laser Tag

Get your fill of the game you haven’t played since high school at Charlotte Laser Tag ($9.50 – $15), Sky High Sports ($5 – $17) and Sports Connection ($8.95 – $9.95).

Learn to dance

If you’re feeling fancy, head over to a group class at Queen City Ballroom on Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 8 p.m. ($10). If you’re not, Coyote Joe’s has line dancing lessons every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (free for women, $3 for men).

Rock climbing

Take advantage of climbing, bouldering, a fitness room and yoga classes at either Inner Peaks location. Both locations offer an all-access single visit pass for $18.

(Does going on a rock climbing date guarantee that the person you’re with will look like that? Asking for a friend.)

9535 Monroe Road, 2220 South Tryon Street – Go.

Sand Volleyball

Head over to VBGB, to which SportsLink’s Sandbox is attached, and pay $5 per person to play in pickup games all day or $10 per person to rent the court for an hour.

920 Hamilton Street – Go.

STAX Bootcamp

Get your butts kicked by Emily “Breeze” Watson and Randy Moss in this 1-hour outdoor bodyweight class. Expect one of you to have to carry the other one home when they can’t move or feel their legs. Read Katie’s take on the free class, which happens every Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., here.

3722 South Tryon Street – Go.

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