Shake up date night in Greensboro with these 12 unique ideas

Dinner and a movie is a classic date night combination, but after a while, it can become a bit boring. If you want to wow someone on a first date or treat your significant other to an extra special night out, you’ll have to get creative and put together an out-of-the-box date night itinerary.

Luckily for Greensboro residents, the area is home to plenty of places you can bring a date for an extraordinary experience. Keep reading to discover our favorite unique date night ideas in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Paint at Mad Splatter 

2917 Battleground Ave. Ste. A

Show off your artistic side at Mad Splatter, a paint and pottery studio with tons of activities and creative events to partake in. 

Go on Friday Date Night, when two people paint for the price of one and you can bring your drinks. You can choose your own design to paint, follow along with the instructions provided, and take your work of art home with you as a memento of your date. 

While we love the Friday Date Night option, the main attraction here is the Mad Splatter Room.

Book the room for you and your date, then you’ll suit up, select your canvas and music to play throughout the experience, pick your paint colors, and start splattering. 

Photo courtesy of Mad Splatter via Instagram.

Eat, drink, and roll at Bourbon Bowl

531 S. Elm St.

Spare your companion another boring dinner date and head to Bourbon Bowl instead. This locally owned bowling alley, housed in a former junkyard and abandoned gas station, features six lanes, as well as an indoor and outdoor dining area and a cocktail bar. 

Strike up a conversation as you indulge in delicious dishes like brisket mac and cheese, a hot honey chicken sandwich, and buffalo chicken tots. There’s also a large selection of craft cocktails, beer, and wine to sip on while you chat. 

Lanes are rentable by the hour, and if you want to bowl amongst an adults-only crowd, wait until 9 p.m. when the venue becomes a 21-and-older establishment. 

Photo courtesy of Bourbon Bowl via Instagram.

SKYWILD

4301 Lawndale Dr.

Impress your date with your athletic abilities as you conquer new heights at SKYWILD. This treetop adventure course, located at the Greensboro Science Center, features bridges, ropes, and obstacles suspended in the forest. There are multiple courses to navigate, each designed for different skill levels. 

Your SKYWILD ticket also grants you access to the rest of Greensboro Science Center, so if your date is going well, be sure to continue exploring everything the museum and park has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Greensboro Science Center via Instagram.

Coffee at Crooked Tail Cat Cafe

604 S. Elm St.

Coffee dates are cute, but coffee dates at a cat cafe are even cuter. Crooked Tail Cat Cafe, a plant-based, non-profit cafe, is the purrfect date spot for coffee and animal lovers. Sip on a Catpuccino or an Ameowicano and interact with adoptable cats. 

Crooked Tail Cat Cafe is a casual option for a low-key first date and a fun choice if you’re looking to take things to the next level with your partner by adopting a pet together. 

Photo courtesy of Crooked Tail Cat Cafe via Instagram.

Read and sip at Scuppernong Books

304 S. Elm St.

Scuppernong Books is another great casual daytime date spot. This independent bookstore has been a downtown Greensboro fixture for more than a decade. But it’s more than just a bookstore. The space also has a cafe where you can enjoy locally roasted coffee, tea, beer, and wine.  

Learning about someone’s reading preferences is an excellent way to get to know them without a bunch of awkward small talk, and you might even walk away with some solid book recommendations. 

Jump around at Sky Zone

1572-A Highwoods Blvd.

Your date will be flying high after a trip to Sky Zone. This entertainment park features tons of activities and attractions, including wall-to-wall trampoline courts, a Foam Zone, an Air Court for sports like basketball and dodgeball, and SkySlam, featuring trampoline launch pads designed to help you dunk like a pro (and impress your date). 

Should you work up an appetite, head to the Fuel Zone for snacks and drinks, or continue your adventure together at a nearby restaurant. 

Photo courtesy of Sky Zone Trampoline Park via Instagram.

Rock climb at The Ultimate Climbing Gym

6904 Downwind Rd.

Rock Climbing at The Ultimate Climbing Gym is another terrific date idea for active couples. With walls up to 40 feet high, three auto-belays, a bouldering area, and more, there’s something for climbers of all skill levels. If you and your date are completely new to climbing, consider taking a class together. 

Explore Rich Girls Museum

4000 Spring Garden St., Ste. M and 4004 Spring Garden St., Ste. D

Looking to make a relationship Instagram official? Head to Rich Girls Museum, the world’s first black-owned selfie museum, to capture some cute couple photos for your announcement. 

Technically two museums — Rich Girls Museum and Icy Rich Girls Museum — located next to each other, these spaces feature several themed, interactive rooms that are highly Instagrammable. Spend an afternoon exploring the Pink Party Bus, Rainbow Room, Jail Cell, and more with your date, and don’t forget to take plenty of photos along the way. 

Photo courtesy of Rich Girls Museum via Instagram.

Adult Night Skate at Skateland USA North

3801 N. Church St.

For a nostalgic night out, head to Skateland USA North to roller skate your way into your date’s heart. If the thought of skating around a rink full of kids doesn’t seem very romantic to you, be sure to go on Sunday night when the facility is reserved for adults only. 

Kayak Lake Brandt

5945 Lake Brandt Rd.

For an outdoorsy date, head to Lake Brandt and spend a day on the water. Rent a tandem kayak or canoe for you and your date to share, or you can each get your own paddle board to explore the 816-acre lake. 

This picturesque reservoir and the lush greenery that surrounds it is the perfect setting for a romantic date. There are also plenty of scenic trails around the lake, so you can take a nature walk after your time on the water. 

Dessert Date at Ozzie’s Ice Cream Shop

3712 Old Battleground Rd.

Ozzie’s Ice Cream Shop is the perfect post-dinner spot, or a destination all its own. Dessert lovers can indulge in classic ice cream flavors or satisfy their sweet tooth with a scoop of something less traditional like Southern Blackberry Cobbler, Bourbon Brown Butter, or Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. Post up at one of the outdoor picnic tables and get to know your date over a delicious frozen dessert. 

Depending on the day you visit, you might also be able to enjoy live music or get a hot dog and homemade chili from the hot dog cart. 

Photo courtesy of Ozzie’s Ice Cream via Instagram.

Drink and play at Boxcar Bar + Arcade

120 W. Lewis St.

It’s all fun and games at Boxcar Bar + Arcade. Show your date your playful side as you play classic and modern arcade games at this lively but casual entertainment center. If your date has a competitive side, see who can win the most games and have the loser pay for dinner at the pizza kitchen, where everything is made in-house with fresh ingredients.

Boxcar Bar + Arcade also has year-round patio seating, a full bar, and live music on the weekends.  

Photo courtesy of Boxcar Bar + Arcade Greensboro via Instagram.

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  • Britteny has worked as a professional writer for more than a decade. She launched her career as a features writer in New York City, covering fashion, food, hospitality, and beauty. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Bitches Who Brunch, International Business Times and Glam, and has worked with famous faces such as Kate Upton and Nigel Barker throughout her career. She is currently a freelance writer focused on a variety of lifestyle topics, including travel, fitness and food.

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