Date Night Archives - mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents

Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. Whether you’re looking for something special this weekend or to plan for something soon, we have some unique date night ideas (and date day ideas, too) for you and your significant other in DFW.

Every couple falls into one of two categories – those who do stuff on Valentine’s Day and those that absolutely do not. And if you are lucky enough to have been together, you may need to spice it up with something a little different than the norm. So here are a few unique date night ideas to add to your list to keep your love life a little more interesting. (And make sure to to read to the bottom for some BIG surprises!)

Dinner That Goes Above Your Expectations

THE RANCH AT LAS COLINAS // website

Whether it’s a quick lunch date or a weekend outing with live music, you will find it at The Ranch. A steakhouse with all the amenities you expect from a high-scale restaurant, but without all the pomp and circumstance. While you’ll love all the Texas farm to fork selections you’ll find on the menu, it’s the last course that’s really going to make it a memorable meal experience. After your done eating, head outdoors to have the helicopter whisk you above DFW for a tour. With prices ranging from $35 per person – $300 per person depending on length of tour, you can make any weekend a high-flying experience. To schedule a tour, call 214.906.9800.

While the menu is always good, Friday, Feb. 12 – Sunday, Feb. 14, The Ranch is offering a special à la Carte 3-Course Dinner Menu, available from 5-9 p.m., in addition to its regular menu with wine pairings. In addition, The Ranch will be open Sunday, Feb. 14, offering a special Valentine’s Day Brunch Buffet from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for $44.95. And don’t forget, there’s live music will be performing both Friday and Saturday night, as well as, during brunch on Sunday.

A Dinner That Goes Up, Up and Away and Over:

DELTA CHARLIE’S // website

If you’re really ready to go BIG, then Delta Charlie’s is your answer to a date night dinner experience like none other. You’ll have a 3-course private dining experience while flying over DFW for a high-flying night you’ll never forget. As you can expect, many of engagements have happened with a Delta Charlie’s date night.

Get Dirty:

CENTRAL MARKET COOKING CLASSES // website

My husband and I just enjoyed one of these fun events for our anniversary with the Texas Parks and Wildlife and German cuisine. Even if you already consider yourself a great cook, there’s something fun about all the stress of the menu and the cleanup is taken care of so you can concentrate on creating a great meal together and meeting others. There’s everything from kolaches, tamales, sushi, lobster, wine pairings and more (Bacon!) Prices vary but range from $67 and up.

Add a Little Mystery:

MYSTERY MURDER THEATRE // website

The Mystery Murder Theatre is a perfect event for those who are looking for a unique form of live entertainment that allows you to get involved, and enjoy a great 3 -course meal at the same time. Shows are fun for the whole family (PG-10 rating), and is also perfect for a date night.

See Some Stars:

HARKINS THEATRE // website

Yep, I can’t even tell you the last movie I’ve seen without my kids. While my husband and I have a long list of must-watch movies, most the time trying to get a sitter to watch the kids or the price of a sitter keeps up from heading to the Big Screen. Harkins’ exclusive in-lobby children’s PlayCenter offers a supervised, engaging environment where children ages 3 through 8 can play games, read books, enjoy toys, and of course, watch movies, just steps from Mom and Dad’s auditorium.

PlayCenter staff members are trained professionals who work exclusively in the PlayCenter. They are background checked and fingerprinted. At only $6 per child, it’s a deal. Walk-ups are welcome and reservations are recommended.

COYOTE THEATRE // website

Of course, a movie is always nice, but you actually don’t get to enjoy speaking with each other. Unless of course, you’re under the stars in your own car! Coyote Theatre is a great option for staying the car all cuddled up. And if you go on Wednesdays, you can get bottles of wine half off with Wine Down Wednesdays along with your $6 ticket per person admission. Get your tickets online in advance to make it even easier.

See THE stars:

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON PLANETARIUM // website

Bring your sweetheart to the Planetarium this Valentine’s Day weekend for our special Couples Only event, Romancing the Stars. This program takes a lighthearted look at the night sky and tells many stories of love and devotion that can be found there. Tickets are $15. Other days are also available for their regular showings throughout the weekend super cheap rates ranging from $4-6. Get the schedule online and make a reservation at 817.272.1183.

Shoot for the Stars:

ELM FORK SHOOTING SPORTS // website

“A 467-acre amusement park for sporting enthusiasts,” Elm Fork Shooting Sports is where to go if you are ready to target a good time. There are several different activities you can do at this huge outdoor arena in Dallas from shooting clays, shooting ranges, skeet fields, trap fields, 5 stand games, beginners courses, 25 yard Pistol bays, 50 & 100 yard Rifle ranges, reactive steel for pistol and much more! Best of all, it’s public, so you don’t have to have a membership or a reservation to get your turn! And there’s free coaching, specialty classes for women, rentals, and an opportunity to really get out there for a good time together. Fees range depending on the course. For more information, call 972.556.0103.

Game Time!

MAIN EVENT // website

Some couples are quite competitive (you remember Monica and Chandler’s awesome ping pong throwdown, right?) And sometimes it’s good to get it all out. You can do that and more at any of the 5 Main Event locations in DFW and one more on the way in Fort Worth (opening Feb. 18.) One of the ultimate destinations for a FUN date night, you can do it all with an “Eat.Bowl.Play” experience that combines bowling, video games, billiards, and laser tag with a chef-inspired menu and a full bar. Trying to keep it on the cheap? $5 Super Bowling from now until Feb. 25 is calling your name, Sundays, Tuesdays – Friday all day and Mondays from open- 4 pm.

Go Away:

TRAVEL TO GRANBURY //website

Have a few more hours to get away? You can really make a big weekend of it in Granbury, only an hour away, you can enjoy a lot of fun on the lake, around the square and much more including a tour of one of DFW’s favorite microbrewery, Revolver. Only held on Saturdays, a tour of the brewery includes tastings, a souvenir glass, live music and access to food trucks.

Looking for other fun things to do while you’re in town? Valentine’s weekend (6-10 p.m. on February 13 and 2-9 p.m. on February 14), get treated like a princess in the Cinderella coach or traditional horse-drawn carriage ride around the square, You can also enjoy the D’Vine Wine Valentine Dinner followed by a Granbury Ghosts and Legends tour and then stay at one the bed and breakfasts like the The Inn on Lake Granbury complete with Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, and large steam showers. And if you are off on Monday, stay to see handmade cheese made only from dairy cows from Sandy Creek farm in North Texas at Eagle Mountain Cheese. Can’t go Valentine’s Day weekend? You can spend a romantic weekend anytime in Granbury with this plan.

What’s the ideal date night for you?

Pizza is a very personal preference especially for our family. While starting anything off with cheese and buttery crust can never be bad, for the kids, it’s the environment. For my husband, it’s whether they have gluten-free options other than a salad. For me, I want to feel like I just took a trip to the Italian countryside with innovative ingredients, good wine, and a big ‘ole gelato to finish it off (with or without kids at that.)

In DFW, there aren’t a lot of pizza places that can do all that, but SPIN! Pizza is spinning that around…(one of many puns that SPIN! makes in their name.)

Last month, on a trip to Southlake we began salivating once we checked out the menu before the doors opened to this eatery.

I don’t know if it’s the melting cheese, the fun round (sometimes square) shape or the ability to make it your own masterpiece through simple ingredients that makes it a staple for quick and easy meals. Only good things can happen around a piece of pie and a glass of wine, which is why SPIN! Neopolitan Pizza’s new Southlake location is the perfect spot for date night, family dinner, or girls’ afternoon/brunch!

And SPIN! is more than just pizza. It’s a culinary experience right in the heart of Southlake – passport not needed.

Coming for happy hour, GNO or date night? Take a trip to the SPIN! bin where you can choose your favorite wine, beer or Sangria to drink with your Italian feast. They rotate the wine by the glass daily and the sangria comes in three flavors – red, white or blood orange. No judgement here if you try all three – because I did and they were all legit (I kinda consider myself an expert on Sangria!) However, the blood orange is the one that will really make you want “just one more glass.”

Start your meal with a antipasta plate made with roasted eggplant, creamy cheeses or mondo meatballs. If flatbreads are your fave, they have several Italian-inspired options including a white bean hummus and roasted red pepper with goat cheese that go great with a glass of vino…or just go with the trio and you can get a little of all the goodness.

“Hand-shaved grana, homemade fig onion marmalade, freshly sliced prosciutto, roasted red pepper goat cheese, roasted mushrooms, garlic, eggplants & chicken (just to name a few), crispy, chewy crusts with brown bubbles, authentic Neapolitan salamis, peppers and cheeses, and totally hand-made flavor…” sounds awful, right? Yep, that’s just for starters. There are hundreds of combinations of ingredients you can choose from. For those individuals who have food allergies, you can sub the original crust for gluten-free crust for only $3 and you can add dairy-free Daiya cheese to your pie if you’re vegan or lactose intolerance. My belly is happy already.

But it’s not all about the pizza. There are soups, huge innovative salads and fresh-made sandwiches that can make your taste buds just as happy.

Whether you bring the kids or are you looking for your own sweet creamy treat – gelato, made with all-natural ingredients with fun flavors including peanut butter, caramel and your Italian staple stracciatella, might be a reason to come in all by itself.

Of course, now that you’re mouth is watering, you definitely want to try your turn at SPIN! Enter to win a $100 gift card to SPIN! (with three locations in DFW and one more coming soon.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Unique Date Night Ideas in DFW