The Best Inventive Date Ideas In Chicago
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 31, 2013 7:00PM
Whether you're on a blind date or looking to have a few hours away from the kids and day-to-day stress of your relationship, when it comes to dates, sometimes dinner and a show simply doesn't cut it.
We like to step outside the box once in a while and do something with our significant others that won't give us indigestion or result in a hangover. Here are some recommendations to spice up your love life without pepper flakes and a 16 percent gratuity.
KAYAKING/CANOEING
Few activities epitomize teamwork more than working together to steer a canoe or kayak along Lake Michigan, the Chicago River or Skokie Lagoons. Kayaking is a wonderful couples activity that you can really get into while getting a workout in the process. Kayak Chicago has four locations and offers lessons for people new to kayaking. Chicago River Canoe and Kayak offers rentals and guided tours of the Chicago River (along the North branch by Addison Street and in Chinatown) and the Skokie Lagoons. —Chuck Sudo
MINI GOLF
Mosey east on Diversey till you're in Lincoln Park itself, then veer North. Adjacent to the driving range you'll find an 18-hole miniature golf course. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, it's only $8 per player and the ratty greens and twiggy debris on each hole are actually part of the charm. It's a fantastic date spot; you'll be surprised to discover what kinds of conversations only occur when you're attempting to putt a fluorescent ball over a concrete hump or across a bumpy wooden bridge. —Rob Christopher
TAKE A COOKING CLASS
Sometimes it's nice to be taken to a fancy restaurant and plied with the finest food and drink. But if you're looking for an adventurous date for a foodie, skip the reservations and the caviar and head to The Chopping Block for a cooking class. Between their two locations, they offer hundreds of different classes that range from basic knife skills (what could be more romantic than knife-brandishing?) to day-long culinary boot camps. You'll learn something, you'll eat food and you'll have fun. What could be better? If you're not actually all that into cooking, check out one of their demonstration meals. A chef cooks a full, multi-course dinner in front of you, teaching all the while, and then you get to eat it. No need to mess up your outfit, but it's still more creative than a fancy dinner date. And, at about $60/person for four or five courses, it's not much more expensive. —Anthony Todd
GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE
Whether you're a garden geek, a nature lover or just someone who likes peace and quiet, you can't go wrong with a date to a botanic garden. Our three favorites for dates: The Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum and the oft-overlooked Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond, right outside Lincoln Park Zoo. At all three, you can take long walks, contemplate the glory of the universe and, if you play your cards right, sneak some quick smooches without anyone noticing. At the Botanic Garden, they are hosting cooking demos every Saturday, so if you want to fit in a quick bite and some culinary fun, that's the place for you. —Anthony Todd
MAKE WINE OR BEER
Instead of going out for drinks, make your own beer or wine. Bev-Art Brewer and Winemaker Supply (10033 S. Western Ave., 773-233-7359) offers classes in brewing, winemaking and making your own mead, with classes for all levels of experience. The couple that brews together, stays together. —Chuck Sudo
TAKE AN ARCHITECTURAL BOAT TOUR
The Chicago Architectural Foundation's boat tours are a great way to discover the history of the best skyline in the world while snuggling with your babes on a boat ride along the river. It isn't a gondola in Venice, but few boat tours offer the scenery and historical perspective of American architecture and the planning that turned Chicago from a trading outpost into one of America's greatest cities. Bring a camera with you and take plenty of photos—you'll want to talk about this long after the boat returns to the dock. —Chuck Sudo
CHICAGO INSTITUTIONS
Take your date to one of Chicago's institutions like The Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Adler Planetarium or the Lincoln Park Zoo. Get to know your date's favorite dinosaur or argue the merits of beluga whales versus dolphins. What if he or she doesn't like Picasso or miniature train displays? Or get your date in the dark with a show at the planetarium. The zoo is a perfect option when you want to woo, but you don't have a lot dough. Want to take these dates up a notch? Pack a picnic. — Samantha Abernethy
OBSCURE MUSEUMS
Maybe you've been to the city's well known museums. Check out a smaller, more obscure learning opportunity like the National Italian-American Sports Museum, the Polish Museum or the International Museum of Surgical Science. How about Stampland or maybe the Museum of Mourning Photography & Memorial Practice? — Samantha Abernethy
Here are lists of Chicago's lesser known museums.