5 Unique Date Ideas in Spokane

For many couples, a typical date night consists of dinner and a movie. Sometimes, however, it’s fun to get creative and switch things up. When you’re looking for a new or unusual outing to impress your paramour, take advantage of our helpful guide. Use this list of the top five unique date ideas in Spokane that you and your better half will adore.

Take a Foodie Tour of the City

Take your loved one by the hand and embark on a walking tour. Spokane is a dynamic city filled with unique destinations even natives might not know about. With expert guides from companies like Relish, you and your date can eat your way across downtown. Couples meet up with staff at Riverfront Park. Then together, you’ll explore Spokane’s culture and history while delicious cuisines from favorite local restaurants tantalize your taste buds. Relish also hosts a wine tour for connoisseurs where you can:

• Sip some of the city’s most tantalizing wine.
• Acquire basic wine-tasting skills.
• Learn the history of Washington’s wine industry.

Go Indoor Rock Climbing

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by andy liang

Nothing bonds couples like working up a good sweat. Indoor rock climbing is a terrific option because you can count on this adventure rain or shine. It’s one of those activities that’s never boring. You’re also less likely to share that awkward silence you might experience with other activities, such as sipping a brew at your neighborhood pub. The good news is no matter your skill level, you can find a climbing wall with your name on it in Spokane.

Wild Walls Climbing Gym on West Second Avenue is a top option right in town. If you’re a novice, its beginner course is a great place to introduce yourself to the sport. The friendly, helpful staff at Wild Walls are there to support you every step of the way — even if you get stuck at the top. You’ll learn the foundations from experienced climbers, and some dating experts say we’re more spontaneous when learning something new. So, who knows? You might develop a passion for more than just climbing with this unique idea.

If you and your sweetheart are serious about rock climbing, head to Bloc Yard Bouldering Gym on East Lyons Avenue. This state-of-the-art facility offers a chill vibe and a diverse selection of terrain covering 4,500 square feet. Bloc Yard is the ideal destination to work on your skills, be it climbing or schmoozing. Scale the walls with a background of good music and pro gear like tension board sets and a lip finish wall to challenge your abilities.

Hunt for a Geocache

We invite you and your mate to fall in love with the game of geocaching. Why would you and your date want to spend your time strolling through parks, wading through streams, and peeking under rocks and bushes looking for a lost piece of Tupperware? Because it’s fun — and people always connect over nature.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt using modern GPS technology. Looking for hidden gems is a terrific way to spend quality time together, and the excitement of a find is a fond memory you’ll share for years. The basic app is free — and so is the adventure — making this a budget-friendly option for a first date or a 50th.

If your date is already an avid geocacher, awesome! You both will have nearly endless topics of conversation. You can tell each other stories about your wildest caching excursions, share your secret tips and techniques, and reveal your all-time favorite finds. All that chitchat is sure to loosen you up so you’ll feel more relaxed if you’ve got the first-date jitters. Downtown Spokane is home to dozens of caches of various difficulty levels and sizes, including:

• GC1H8M4 (Dave’s Place V).
• GC247H3 (First Try at Tricky).
• GC1YXH4 (Get Outside Yourself).
• GC20W0T (INWCBSA Treasures of Scouting Chief Spokane 2).
• GCKYET (R is for River Relaxation).

Brush Up on Your Art Appreciation

Spokane is fortunate to feature several world-class museums. These inspiring institutions offer stimulating experiences that are better when shared. Plus, a great way to feel comfortable around a new romantic interest is having something in common. Whether it’s art or history you fancy, you’ll automatically have something to talk about.

A visit to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on West First Avenue is a top out-of-the-box date idea. Founders incorporated the center in 1916, and today it touts a permanent collection comprising 68,000 pieces that showcase some of the region’s best examples of art, history, and Native American culture. Curators also assemble a variety of traveling exhibits that grace its halls each year, including “Awakenings: Traditional Canoes And Calling The Salmon Home.”

Discover the Spokane River Gorge

One of the best things about dating in Spokane is access to the River Gorge. This stunning natural feature draws loads of residents each year, and for good reasons. Its unparalleled scenic beauty inspires all kinds of wonderful emotions — maybe even love.

Leave the hectic pace of the city behind, and unwind with someone special along the 4.5-mile-long paved trail. The path loops through the lovely Peaceful Valley neighborhood on both sides of the gorge and over the Monroe Street and Sandifur Memorial bridges.

You’ll enjoy towering vistas that offer views of the falls that you won’t see anywhere else in the city, plus a series of Native American sculptures. Slip-resistant stairs improve access to the river, just minutes from the city center. So park your new Hyundai in the paved lot, and make this a date to remember with activities such as:

• Rafting.
• Photographing the falls.
• Fishing.
• Picnicking.
• Biking.

That’s a wrap! The friendly folks at Spokane Hyundai just shared our ideas for the top five unique dates in the city. What do you think of the destinations we choose? Did we miss a favorite romantic spot of yours — one other residents will love? If we did, let us know! Drop us a line so we can add your suggestions to our list.