Five Unforgettable Date Ideas in Dallas-Fort Worth
Overdue for some downtime with your significant other? When balancing work, children and finances has become a bit much and you're ready to rekindle the spark, Dallas-Fort Worth is waiting with the much-needed romance you need to strike the match. So call the babysitter or family member to watch the little ones and prepare for some Texas-sized fun!
Set Your Love in Stars
At 470 feet above street level, it's a bright-light, big-city panorama from the GeO-Deck of the Reunion Tower (300 Reunion Blvd. E., Dallas, TX). The indoor-outdoor viewing platform's HD zoom cameras and telescopes give up-close, 360-degree views while touch screens hone in on the Big D's landmarks and attractions. Program a screen's digital stars with your names, avatars and personal messages and create new stars each time you return until an entire constellation commemorates your love. Tower admission also includes a keepsake digital photo with your choice of backgrounds.
Tip: For an exotic finish to your night out, take the elevator up to Wolfgang Puck's revolving restaurant, Five Sixty, and savor the signature lacquered Cantonese duck. The dish takes two days to prepare, and luckily for you, someone else does all the work.
Moonlight Magic
Nothing casts a more romantic spell than the light of the silvery moon dancing over the water. Book the Moonlight Cruise on Lake Ray Hubbard with Sail with Scott (2055 Summer Lee Dr., Rockwall, TX), pack a hamper with your choice of beverages and finger food and prepare for 90 minutes of sailing, snacking and snuggling. Depart from the dock at 9 p.m. aboard the 40-foot catamaran Seawolf.
Know before you go:
- Alcoholic beverages, including bottled wine, beer and champagne are allowed on the cruise. Bring plastic cups only.
- The 60-minute round trip from Dallas means you won't be home much before midnight. Make your babysitting arrangements accordingly.
Flowering Romance
When it comes to romantic settings, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX) will leave you wanting more. The 66 acres of jaw-dropping landscape provides an endless succession of seasonal blooms, so you never visit the same garden twice. Schedule a Thursday date night between late March and late June or early September and late October, and reserve tickets for the Arboretum's Cool Thursday Concert of the week. Arrive at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn at 6 p.m. with blankets or low chairs and a picnic supper. Stake out a spot with the best view of the sun setting on White Rock Lake, and settle in for an evening of world-class sound. Dancing is definitely encouraged!
Stay Attached
Like your romance served with a side of adventure? Set aside a Saturday or Sunday and head for Trinity Forest Aerial Adventure Park (1820 Dowdy Ferry Rd., Dallas, TX), 7 acres of elevated obstacle courses and zip lines in the heart of Dallas. Test your balance and nerve on wood, rope or cable ladders, bridges and zip lines. Beware: To reach the zip lines, you must conquer the ladders and bridges! Once you're clipped into a course, you stay clipped in until you've completed it. This is one place where the phrase "an attached couple" takes on a whole new meaning.
Know before you go: Dress for safety in well-fitting clothes and closed-toe shoes, with no jewelry that might catch in the ropes or cables. If your hair is long, tie it back.
A Touch of Venice
The Gondola Adventures Irving (357 W. Fork, Irving, TX) dessert cruise is a boat trip and then some. You glide smoothly over Lake Carolyn, the water lapping gently against the side of the gondola. Your gondolier breaks into song as the two of you bask in the moonlight, stealing kisses beneath the bridges, nibbling on to-die-for desserts and sipping sparkling cider or Italian mineral water. Choose between a 60- or 90-minute cruise, with start times available nightly between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
References
- Reunion Tower: Explore
- Dallas News: Reunion Tower Set to Open New Observation Deck After 6-Year Hiatus
- Trip Advisor: Dallas' Reunion Tower GeO-Deck Observation Ticket
- D Magazine:Review: FIve Sixty
- Sail with Scott: Home
- Sail with Scott: Moonlight Cruise
- Yelp.com: Sail with Scott
- Sail with Scott: FAQ
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: Visit
- North Dallas Gazette: Dallas Arboretum’s Cool Thursdays Spring Concert Series Kicks Off on March 23rd
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: Single Tickets - Cool Thursday Concerts
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: Cool Thursdays Spring/Summer Concert Series through June 29
- Trinity Forest Adventure Park: More Than a Zip Line Park
- Trinity Forest Adventure Park: Frequently Asked Questions
- Trip Advisor: Romantic Relaxation Review of Gondola Adventures
- Goondola Adventure Irving: Delectable Dessert Cruise
Writer Bio
Passionate for travel and the well-written word, Judy Wolfe is a professional writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Cal Poly Pomona and a certificate in advanced floral design. Her thousands of published articles cover topics from travel and gardening to pet care and technology.