Need a date night out in Roanoke, Virginia? Don't we all?
The occasional date nights out are important for parents to connect and focus on each other. Date nights can "enhance your friendship as well as your emotional connectedness," Dianne Grande, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist wrote in a Psychology Today article called "Date Night: Not a Luxury, a Necessity."
"Usually, the challenge for long-term couples is to get out of the routine that they have fallen into and put in some effort to make their lives together more fun and joyful," she writes.
So find a babysitter, schedule a playdate, or recruit a family member or friend to take over kid duties for a few hours this weekend, and plan a great few hours away with your honey. Here are five ideas for creative dates in Roanoke:
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Hit a Trail in Roanoke
Find a new trail to explore together by foot, on bike, or horse — depending on the time of the year! Some of my favorite places to get out in nature:
- The Mill Mountain Star Trail - It's fairly easy and in town so easy to get to and leave more time for the rest of your date.
- Bike the Roanoke River Greenway
- Ride horses at Spring Valley Farm
- Great Hiking Resources to find a Hike in Roanoke:
Where to eat in Roanoke?
After working up an appetite on the trail, stop at one of these great lunch spots:
- Clutch
- Crescent City BBQ
- Paint Bank General Store & Swinging Bridge Restaurant (if you are doing hikes off 311, like McAfee's)
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Create in Roanoke!
Take a class together in Roanoke to get those creative juices flowing! In Roanoke you can find classes at places like:
- Learn to throw clay in a group or private lesson at Common Clay Collective
- From Paint to Plant's Let's Party Creatively offers classes throughout the month Let's Party Creatively LLC
- Shaken or Stirred? You decide when you take a cocktail class with Roanoke Food Tours and Lucky Food Tours
Where to eat in Roanoke?
After creating your masterpiece, head to one of these Roanoke restaurants, known for their innovative and creative dishes:
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Get out that stress
Life have you both feeling stressed out? Relax or burn some energy together! From throwing axes to couples massages — Roanoke has it all! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Blue Ridge Axe Throwing
- River Rock Climbing Gym
- Crystal's Healing Hands Massage and Salt Cave
- Still Water Floatation
- Salsa Noke - Here's a Valentine's Salsa Event!
Where to eat in Roanoke?
You'll want a nice relaxed meal in Roanoke after getting all that stress out! Try a restaurant or brewery for a casual, unrushed meal to enjoy together.
- Twisted Track
- Tuco's
- Village Grill
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Enjoy your favorite attractions... without the kids!
You probably always have kids along when you visit some of Roanoke's best attractions. So leave the kids at home and get out to explore on your own — you might be surprised how you enjoy places in a new way when the kids aren't pulling you in different directions. Here are some of our favorite places to visit again ... without the kids!
- Center in the Square's Pinball Museum or Starcade
- The Taubman Museum of Art
- The Virginia Museum of Transportation
Where to eat in Roanoke?
Have a great brunch in Roanoke before heading out to your favorite attraction! Some of our favorite spots for brunch in Roanoke are:
- Food Hut Roanoke & Golden Cactus Brewery
- First Watch
- Famous Toastery
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Relive your early days
Where was your first date in Roanoke? What did you love to do together when you were dating? Here are some of our favorite classic Roanoke spots that are great for reminiscing about those early days.
- Firehouse Skating - Roller skating in Vinton
- Lee Hi Lanes
- Mill Mountain Star- come on, we all know what the star is known for!
Where to eat in Roanoke?
If the restaurant you enjoyed on one of your first dates is still open in Roanoke, head there! Some of the great longtime restaurants and bars in town we love:
- Macado's
- Montano's
- Kabuki
- Corned Beef & Co