Date Night Ideas in Columbus

Setup.Old Deaf School Park downtown holds the topiary garden, a 9.2 acre space behind a cast iron fence in the Discovery District, a short walk from the Columbus Museum of Art.

1. Walk in through the gatehouse and follow the paths at whatever pace you want
2. Stop at the pond and try to match each clipped figure back to its spot in Seurat's painting
3. Sit on one of the benches ringing the lawn and let the conversation run long
4. Walk out toward the Columbus Museum of Art or downtown for whatever comes next

Talk about:If we were two of the figures in this garden, what would we be doing in the scene?

Setup.The Scioto Mile runs along both banks of the river through downtown, connecting parks like Bicentennial Park and Genoa Park with a paved promenade, colonnades, and fountains.

1. Park downtown near Bicentennial Park after the sun starts to go down
2. Walk the promenade along the river, crossing at one of the pedestrian bridges to switch banks partway through
3. Stop wherever the fountains are lit and just stand there for a while
4. Loop back on the opposite bank so you see the skyline from both sides

Talk about:What's a small thing this week you haven't told me about yet?

Setup.North Market has been a public market since 1876 and moved in 1995 into a converted 1915 warehouse near the Short North and the Arena District.

1. Walk the full market once before ordering anything, so you both know what's on offer
2. Split a few different stalls' worth of food rather than each getting a full meal
3. Find one of the shared tables and eat slowly, going back for more if something was good
4. Walk it off toward the Short North or the riverfront afterward

Talk about:Which stall would you come back here for on your own?

Setup.Scioto Audubon Metro Park sits on the river south of downtown, built on a former brownfield, with a 35 foot fiberglass climbing wall and the Grange Insurance Audubon Center for birding.

1. Start at the climbing wall if you both already climb; it supports bouldering as well as roped climbing
2. Walk the Scioto Greenway Trail through the park afterward to cool down
3. Stop at the Audubon Center or just the riverbank to see what's flying over the water
4. Watch the sun go down over the river before heading back

Talk about:What's something you have always wanted to try but never had a reason to?

Setup.The Park of Roses sits inside Whetstone Park along the Olentangy River in Clintonville, alongside bike trails, a pond, and a restored gazebo used for summer concerts.

1. Time the visit for June if you can, when the roses are at their fullest
2. Walk the garden paths slowly and see how many varieties you can tell apart
3. Sit near the gazebo if a summer concert happens to be running that evening
4. Continue onto the Olentangy Trail along the river if you want to keep walking

Talk about:What is one thing about us that has bloomed since we started dating?

Setup.A weekend farmers' market. Reusable bags, a budget cap.

1. Walk the whole market once before buying.
2. Each picks two ingredients the other will use.
3. Brunch at the breakfast cart at the market.
4. Cook dinner at home with what you bought.

Setup.A disc-golf course (most parks have one). A starter set of three discs each.

1. Play teams of two for nine holes.
2. Switch hands for the back nine.
3. Picnic at the cart park afterwards.

Setup.A pumpkin patch (October only). Boots, it gets muddy.

1. Walk the whole patch before picking.
2. Hayride if available.
3. Carve at home that evening.

Setup.An indoor skydiving facility. Closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothes.

1. Watch the safety video twice, listen.
2. First flight is the hard one.
3. Second flight, you actually look around.

Setup.A drive-in cinema. A blanket for after sunset, snacks pre-packed.

1. Arrive 30 minutes early for a good spot.
2. Tune the radio to the listed FM frequency.
3. Recline seats for sightlines.
4. Coffee on the way home, drive-ins end late.

Setup.Two late-night noodle places. Walking distance apart.

1. One small bowl at the first place.
2. Walk to the second. Order a different style.
3. Tip well, both are working unsociable hours.

Setup.A restaurant doing weekend bottomless brunch. Reservations.

1. Order water alongside everything, important.
2. Eat the eggs first, the cocktails second.
3. Walk for at least 30 minutes after.

Setup.A public ferry route or commuter boat. Most coastal and river cities have at least one.

1. Take the slowest ferry that leaves before sunset.
2. Sit on the upper deck if there is one.
3. Walk for 30 minutes at the destination, even if you do not stay.
4. Take the next ferry back. Watch the lights come on.

Setup.A brush pen or basic calligraphy nib, ink, practice paper. A YouTube "modern calligraphy basics" video.

1. Watch the basics video together.
2. Drill the basic strokes for 20 minutes, boring, do it anyway.
3. Each writes the other's name three times.
4. Frame the best version on a small piece of card.

Setup.A sculpture park or outdoor art trail. Comfortable shoes, water.

1. Walk the loop without stopping the first time.
2. Walk it again, sit at the piece that pulled you in.
3. Each writes one paragraph in their notes app about it.
4. Café at the park's entrance afterwards.

Setup.Old physical photo albums or scanned versions. Tea or wine.

1. One album at a time, on the couch.
2. One story per album that the other has not heard.
3. Stay until the third album.

Setup.Three small wines (or teas if sober), three different dark chocolates (60–80%). A scoring sheet.

1. Pour blind, one of you covers labels with foil.
2. Smell, sip, score on three axes (one of which you invent).
3. Pair each chocolate with each drink. Find the best pairing.
4. Reveal the labels at the end.