1) The Escape Room
You can learn a lot about a person and the dynamics of a relationship when you put them in a new or stressful situation. If you are looking for a unique date experience to challenge your problem solving and teamwork skills check out The Escape Room.
In The Escape Room game, you and your date are locked in a room with a few other people. Your mission? Solve puzzles leading you to the keys to escape. You have to use your best communication skills as you work together to solve challenging clues during the hour-long experience.
2) Fort Harrison State Park
Getting outdoors is a great way to spend a springtime date. One of the best locations around Indianapolis to experience the great outdoors is Fort Harrison State Park. Situated just outside the 465 loop, the park is a woodland sanctuary of trails offering a wide variety of activities. Keep this one in your back pocket for multiple date ideas as you try out hiking, horseback riding, a dog park, bicycle trails, fishing, and various picnic areas.
3) Stray Boots
If you both have lived in Indianapolis for a while, you may feel as if there is nothing new to experience. The solution is the scavenger hunt app Stray Boots. The app guides you through the city as if you are a tourist showcasing Indy in a new way. Like any scavenger hunt, you locate items, solve riddles, take crazy photos, and answer trivia. After each challenge you receive fun facts about the area, so you learn about the city as you go.The scavenger hunts are a walkable 1-2 miles in length. You, also, have the option of pausing the hunt if you discover a new pub or eatery along the way you want to enjoy with your sweetie.
4) Go Ape
If you crave more adventure and physical challenge, check out Go Ape at Eagle Creek Park. Go Ape is a treetop ropes course with numerous rope ladders, crossings, Tarzan swings, and zip lines. There are five sections within the course, each section taking you higher into the trees and ending with a zip line. Move at your own pace, but plan to spend 2-3 hours on the experience. There is no rush if you want to enjoy the view, take a breath, or pause to ask for help.
Go Ape provides all necessary equipment and gives a 30 minute safety briefing before participants begin the course. Instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling to answer questions, provide guidance, and double check safety measures. It is completely safe, and completely fun.
5) Indy Wine Trail
If you like the idea of learning something new together, but prefer a more leisurely experience of Indianapolis, check out the Indy Wine Trail. The Indy Wine Trail includes four local wineries, each with their unique presentation. Get your Super Savor Ticket for $5 at any participating winery and visit all four destinations Monday through Thursday. Talk about a great mid-week date!
Buck Creek Winery
Cedar Creek Winery
Chateau Thomas Winery
Easley Winery
6) White River State Park
In the heart of Indianapolis, White River State Park offers a chance to be leisurely or active. You can walk the canal, rent a paddle boat, see an IMAX movie, museum hop, or check out the zoo.
You can rent a paddle boat or kayak and drift down the 1.5 miles of canal water via Wheel Fun Boat Rentals. Wide bike paths provide guests the opportunity to explore at their own pace by walking, renting bikes, or even signing up for a segway tour.
Two of the city’s museums, The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and The Indiana State Museum, sit next door to one another in White River State Park. The Eiteljorg has traditional and contemporary art collections. The Indiana State Museum uses art, science, and culture displays to show off Indiana’s history. The State Museum also houses the IMAX Theater, which has regular showings of 3D IMAX films as well as some mainstream movies.
The Indianapolis Zoo is triple-accredited as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden. Even if you have visited the zoo before, you can easily spend an entire day exploring the different areas. Their newest exhibit is the International Orangutan Center offering an intimate experience into the life of an orangutan.
7) Indy Runners
Looking for a more active date? Maybe one that includes an element of charity? Consider supporting your favorite cause by running a 5k together. Even if you’re not currently runners, pick a future race and add in training time as a number of active dates. There are runs taking place several times a month in the Indy area, so you have ample opportunity to pick a date and a particular cause. Choose from a wide range of organizations to support, such as schools, hospitals, animal shelters, or disease awareness associations.
8) Ice Cream and Conversation
For the last Spring date idea, keep it simple with a coffee or treat and good conversation. There are many parks in Indianapolis, Fishers, and Carmel with great areas to walk and talk. Grab some Handel’s ice cream and walk Holland Park in Fishers, or a cup of your favorite local java and walk the buzzing Broad Ripple Park. Take along a conversation book, such as If…, or download a conversation app on your phone, which can help inspire fun conversation topics.