Dinner + drinks, Netflix + chill = boring, basic, overplayed. How do you break the typical date night mold? Here’s where take your Bumble date, spouse, best friend, mom, brother, uncle, out-of-town friend, or anyone else in your life, without boring them to death.
Throw on those Chacos:
* 🏐 Sand volleyball at the Irish Pub
Perks: You can bring your own food to grill, you can join in on other people’s games or bring your friends along for a fun group set(ting).
🚣 Kayaking/canoeing at Paris Mountain State Park
Perks: Beautiful scenery, limited distractions, amazing photo opps, and the chance of recreating that epic makeout scene in the Notebook. Make sure you call ahead and plan this date on a weekend if you plan on renting a canoe/kayak*
🚘 Road trip to the U.S. Whitewater Center in Charlotte for a day of zip lining, whitewater rafting, and climbing. | $59 day pass
Perks: You can zip line down 1,625 ft. through the trees and then take a leap of faith from a 100 ft. platform 😬.
⛱️ Discovery Island Waterpark | Simpsonville, SC | $12 day pass
Perks: Release your inner child, take the plunge down a couple of water slides, and then take it easy on the lazy river. Exhilarating and chill, all in the same date.
Relax in style:
🎳 Bowling at AMF Star Lanes or Stone Pin Company
Perks: You get to laugh about the goofy shoes and then at each other when you each throw a gutter bowl. Guys, don’t forget to let her win; it goes a long way.
*🎭 Shakespeare in the Park | Titus Andronicus starts July 13th
Perks: You can bring your own drink (in a clear plastic cup), get cultured and inspired through local actors.
☕ Wine/Coffee at Joe’s Place
Perks: Their new location gives you plenty of space to hang out, chill out, and learn more about each other. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up liking the same book. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn anyone?
🚜 Greenbrier Farm Porch Series | $10
Perks: Girls love farms, and guys love an excuse to rock a pair of jeans on a date. Animals, music, food, and rocking chairs on a porch that probably overlooks an amazing sunset. You’ve got this date in the bag. The front porch series runs every Wednesday from March until October (5 – 8 p.m.).
🚴🏽 Truck-inn Tuesdays at the Swamp Rabbit Inn
Perks: Head over there right after work, rent a couple of bikes, work up an appetite on the trail for an hour or two, then head back for a beer, food truck and tunes on the back deck. Truck-Inn Tuesdays happens every second Tuesday of the month (May – October) from 6 – 9 p.m.
🍷 Winery tour at Cityscape or Victoria Valley Vineyards
Perks: This date probably speaks for itself, but in case you need to be sold… both of these vineyards are less than an hour from Greenville, have beautiful views, and you get to drink wine directly from the grapes grown on the vines you’re looking over. It also helps that the winemakers can give you a breakdown of everything you’re drinking.
Get your hands dirty:
🍽️ At the Chef’s Table Culinary Tour | $45
Perks: Not only do you get to eat some of the best food in Greenville, you get to meet the Chef’s of each restaurant as you eat. We’re talking dishes from Nose Dive, Soby’s on the Side, Lazy Goat, Soby’s New South, and Passerelle Bistro. P.s. they’ll be offering a breakfast tour and coffee course in the near future.
*👨🍳 Cooking classes at the Cook Station, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, or Plate 108 | $45 – 65
Perks: They have everything you need! No worrying about whether or not you have all the utensils, ingredients, or even if he/she thinks your house is clean. Oh, and you don’t have to do dishes 😉.
🍺 Brew your own beer at Upstate Beer Co. | 5 gallon brew from $150 – $200
Perks: Like the cooking class, you get professional help crafting something together. Even better, you can have a beer while you do it… and you have a guaranteed follow up date to enjoy your beer with friends once it’s done fermenting.
🛴 Greenville Segway tour | $80
Perks: You get to cruise around Greenville on a Segway! How often do you get that opportunity? Also, the Taste and Glide tour makes stops for food along the way.
Learn a thing or two:
🖼️ Greenville County Museum of Art | Open Wed. – Sunday
Perks: Greenville’s art museum is considered the premier American art museum in the South, and is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by iconic American artist Andrew Wyeth. Oh yeah, you can tour for free. It’s also an easy walk to all of the downtown restaurants after your tour.
🚎 Greenville Historic Neighborhoods and Architecture tour | $20
Perks: You’ve probably seen Greenville, but have you really seen Greenville? You could also do a little homework and impress your date with a couple of widely unknown facts about the city as you tour together.
*🎨 First Friday Gallery Crawl | Free
Perks: You’ll have the opportunity to take an open house tour of galleries from the West End all the way to the Village of West Greenville. Show off your taste in art, and find out if you could ever agree on what goes on the dining room wall.
Whew! I never thought we’d get through those last two days, but hey, it’s finally Friday.
I don’t know about you, but after my S/O reads this, tonight will officially be a date night. Don’t forget to tag us in your weekend shenanigans (or date) photos with #gvltoday.
Catch ya on Monday.
- Logan
