What exactly makes a date romantic? Is it the amount of money you spend or the places you go? Well, here’s a list of nine date ideas that range from completely free to put a little dent in your wallet, from picturesque scenic locations to parking lots that show that you don’t need tons of money or the perfect spot to have a romantic night together.
No Cost
Gaze Up At the Stars ($0)
From Greek mythology to Romeo and Juliet, the stars have always been a symbol of eternal love. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a penny to look up at the stars. Try to escape the light pollution and the noise of the city to get the best view and a peaceful night. From there, all you have to do is just lay back and take in the vast beauty of the starry sky together. Away from the commotion of life, a date night spent looking up at the stars together can be peaceful and give a way to get to know your date better. It’s as simple as that.
Watch the Sunrise or Sunset from the Bluffs ($0)
There’s no better time of the day to make memories than watching the sun rise or fall over the horizon. And there’s no better place in town to watch the sunset than the Bluffs. Located on the south side of the river, the Bluffs stand over 200 feet tall and overlook the city of Knoxville. Although it takes a little hike to reach, the Bluffs are by far the prettiest spot in town to share the beauty of a sunset together.
Go to Cruze Farm for a Drive-In Movie ($0+)
The drive-in movie is a go-to classic date. Drive-in movie dates let you go out somewhere special to enjoy a movie, while also leaving enough space for you to have a special moment alone together. The good news is you don’t have to travel back to the 1950s to enjoy the romantic experience. Cruze Farm doesn’t just sell ice cream but also hosts regular drive in “Moovie Nights” on Fridays and Saturdays, completely for free. And embracing the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Cruze Farm will be showing movies such as “The Notebook” and “Finding Nemo” this month.
Low Cost
Take a Trip to Cades Cove (~$5)
Does your date like the outdoors? Or maybe you want to go on a little adventure together? Cades Cove is a little valley nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with everything you need for an outdoor adventure. Together, you can take in the beauty of the mountains while hiking various trails, riding bikes through the woods or even saddling up on one of the horses. If you want a less exhausting trip, there’s also a drivable loop where you can still take in the scenery and the wildlife. In addition, you can explore the old cabins, play in the creeks, or even stay the night and camp in the woods. Whatever path you choose to take, Cades Cove is the perfect backdrop for a romantic adventure out in the wild with your date.
Have a Picnic (~$20+)
While a picnic is the farthest thing from a romantic dinner date at a fancy restaurant, its simplicity doesn’t make it any less romantic. A good date is about the quality time spent together, about getting to know each other, and about connecting with each other on a deeper level. The plainness of a picnic date makes the experience solely about enjoying the moment with each other and not about waiting for food or raving out to your favorite artist. It’s just you and them.
Cook a Romantic Dinner Together (~$25+)
Half the cost and twice the fun of a typical fancy dinner date, making a romantic dinner yourself gives you an opportunity to bond in a special way that waiting for your food just doesn’t offer. The challenge of measuring ingredients, making sure you have everything you need and the delicacy it takes to cook the food just right makes a date night far more interesting than choosing between the chicken alfredo and the grilled salmon. A date night where at every corner something can go wrong provides the opportunity to bond with your date in a way you typically never would.
High Cost
Build Flowers Together (~$15-$60)
The most unusual date idea on the list, building Lego flowers together, offers the same twists and turns of cooking a romantic dinner together, except this one leaves you with more than an empty plate. This date ends with a cute bouquet of Lego flowers at the end of the night, and the shared memory of painstakingly putting each piece together. It’s not the most extravagant or the cheapest, but it’s one that leaves behind a gift that’s even more special because of the story of an amazing night behind it.
Watch the Sunset on the River (~$56)
Another sunset date, but this time, it’s aboard a steamboat on the Tennessee River. The Tennessee Riverboat Company offers the chance to set sail and admire the beauty of Knoxville from another perspective. The Tennessee Riverboat Company and The Volunteer Princess both have the option to have dinner aboard as well, but they do cost significantly more. Whether you decide to grab dinner or not, a night spent sailing and taking in the beauty around you draws you away from the scramble of everyday life, slows it down and draws you and your date into your own little world together.
Take a Day Trip to Gatlinburg ($0+)
It’s an hour’s drive from Knoxville, but Gatlinburg could be where your next adventure together takes place. From skiing to playing mini golf, from riding mountain coasters to seeing the fish at the aquarium, Gatlinburg has an infinite amount of possibilities for you to bond and get to know your date better. Anakeesta is offering a special couple’s package for Valentines that includes general admission, tickets to their stargazing show, two free deserts, and a stuffed black bear to take home. But the most romantic opportunity has got to be wandering the Parkway strip. With dozens of shops and restaurants that have everything from candy to swords, pancakes to wood-carved mugs, there’s a limitless possibility for a fun adventure just exploring everything Gatlinburg has to offer.
Some Final Advice
The hardest part of compiling a list of romantic dates is that every couple is different, and everyone has their own idea of romance. Volunteering at a soup kitchen might not be one couple’s idea of a romantic getaway, but it might be for another. So make your date personal, and do things you know your date would enjoy. Maybe there’s an artist they’ve always wanted to see, or maybe they love it when you get them flowers. Whatever it is, doing what your date loves on Valentine’s Day can make the night that much more special and memorable.
Finally, it’s not about how expensive the date is. What makes a date romantic is just having a moment where you connect. That moment is unique and can never be repeated exactly the same way ever again. That passing moment, the fact that moments only happen once in a lifetime before they become memories, is what makes a night special. So finally, find love in the small moments, and really embrace all the time you spend together on your date.
