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Does it feel like you’ve exhausted every idea for fun dates? Have you become resigned to having dinner and mindlessly searching for a movie to stream? Are you stuck going to Rudy’s every date night like Bob and Linda on Bob’s Burgers? Before you go looking for flying lessons, maybe try out some of these local ideas for a date night that will really wow you. Or, more importantly, wow your date!
Top photo credit: Courtney Hotis Photo
1. Take a cooking class
Where: Babylon Mercantile (Babylon), The Cook’s Studio (Amityville, Huntington, Patchogue)
Take your culinary skills to a new level. With an expansive rotating schedule of cooking classes, this can be an option for several dates, all completely different! Learning to cook a new dish is not only challenging, but rewarding, and what’s better than honing a valuable skill together?
The best part is, learning new dishes will pay dividends later, during cozy at-home date nights.
2. Play indoor golf
Where: Topgolf (Holtsville), Birdies (Patchogue), Simplay (Hauppague), X-Golf (Commack, Westbury), Endless Round Golf (Mattituck)
Bringing your date to the shooting range is out. Bringing your date to indoor golf is in!
Mini golf was a fun date night, too, back in your high school days. And indoor golf has the same feel to it, expect you’re taking full swings and you don’t have to worry about the elements.
(Or chasing your ball into the woods.) It’s also got a bowling feel, where you can have fun, get a little excercise, but also order up a pitcher of beer and some grub.
(There will also be way less kids running around.)
3. Make wine
Where: wineUdesign (Hicksville)
Learn the process of wine making with classes at wineUdesign, where you can craft your own wine blend. It’s a four-step process that involve several visits to the facility, but having your own case that you designed and aged, seems very well worth it and personal. Then you can enjoy the wine you made together for future date nights.
4. Commission a private sommelier
Who: Down The Rabbit Hole
Enjoy the wineries without the driving, or the lines. This intimate experience can be done in your home. Pick your favorite wine region, wine style or variety and let a sommelier curate the perfect wine tasting class tailored to what you actually like! This is a great idea for even a double- or triple-date.
5. Take a foodie mystery tour
Who: Food Done It? (Patchogue, Babylon, Huntington, Bay Shore, Farmingdale)
The premise: Solve the mystery and eat good food. A 3- to 5-hour self-guided walking and dining tour through some of Long Island’s most popular downtowns. You learn all about the “crime” at the first restaurant, then follow along throughout the planned restaurant crawl solving puzzles and answering trivia to unlock answers. Each tour and town has its own theme (or themes).
6. Enjoy a spa day
Where: Spa at Rockaway Hotel (Rockaway Park)
Thew new Rockaway Hotel’s spa day pass is available year-round. If it’s warm, choose the summer pool house. If it’s cold, head to the winter pool house. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this. You and your special someone can each lounge in complimentary robes and enjoy access to cedar barrel saunas, the heated pool, as well as daily wellness classes. Morning, afternoon and full-day passes available.
7. Play pinball and grab a slice
Where: Pinball Long Island (Patchogue)
New York’s largest collection of pinball machines has found its home in Patchogue. This budget friendly date starts at $20 for adults for all-you-can play. (And you can come back with a bracelet.) This makes for a fun, throwback afternoon to act like a big kid. You can even grab a slice at the old-school Gino’s Pizza on Main Street, just a few steps away from the pinball spot. Then head back and play some more.
8. Head to a speakeasy
Where: Rose Room (Garden City Hotel), Charlottes Speakeasy (Farmingdale)
Even if you want to grab dinner and drinks, pick a location that feels intimate, exciting and dare I say, sexy? The Rose Room in Garden City starts with a private golf cart shuttle down an 80-foot loading dock ramp. Look for the hologram of a wolf with a rose in its mouth. Charlotte’s Speakeasy is located beneath an old-timey ice cream shop. Look for the gentleman in front of the bookcase. As these are smaller locations, they do tend to close for private events, so always check before you go!
9. Just have a blast
Where: Scott’s Pointe (Calverton)
New York’s hottest new adventure park has everything: miniature golf, laser tag, golfing and racing simulators, axe throwing, rock-climbing walls, indoor surfing, and more. Scott’s Pointe in Calverton is also priced so it’s not just a special occasion place. Also try the restaurant, the Lake View Grill.
