Winter is now officially known as “cuffing season,” where single people look for someone to cozy up with for the holidays. The cold weather drives couples indoors, making it easy to settle into a monotonous routine where all you do together is curl up and binge-watch Netflix or Disney+. While this is a great way to relax, it can get boring fast –there’s only so many times you can re-watch Parks and Rec – and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t really count as a date in my book. As someone who’s spent every winter for the last seven years in a relationship (yikes), I’ve fallen into this trap myself. If you’re in this same rut and looking to break up the boredom, here’s some fun (mostly indoor) date night ideas for you and your boo that are perfect for winter:
1. Hatchet Jack’s – $$
If you like a little bit of danger infused in your date night, this one’s for you. Chucking hatchets at the wall is also a great way to relieve finals stress. If you’re over 21, you can even drink while you throw (because nothing screams fun like alcohol + mini axes).
Price: $20 per person per hour (25% off for students on Wednesdays!)
2. Plan3t Trampoline Park – $$
Will almost everyone else there be kids? Yes. Will it still be hella fun? Also yes. I actually did this one of the first times I hung out with my current boyfriend (and brought my best friend for moral support, lol), and we had a blast. It’s basically Sky Zone on steroids, from obstacle courses to high dives into foam pits. It’s also an insanely good workout – it takes more effort than you’d think to climb out of those foam pits.
Price: $13 per person per hour
3. Snowshoeing – $$
Okay, so I know I said these were mostly indoor, but this is the one exception. My boyfriend and I also did this early on in our relationship, and it was cold, but crazy fun. It’s also a great way to get some fresh air in the winter. If you don’t have your own snow shoes (because who does?), you can rent them for $15 a day from the university’s Outdoor Rental Center.
4. Climb at the Rock Wall – $
I’ve already done a whole Her Campus article about rock wall climbing, so I won’t harp too much on it here, but for $5 a person, you can do a “try climb.” This price includes all the necessary gear, allowing you to test out the wall for yourself (with the help of a certified wall employee so you don’t get hurt). This is a date, some friendly competition, and a workout all rolled into one.
5. Go Ice Skating – $
With Coral Ridge’s indoor Ice Arena, you don’t have to freeze to partake in this classic winter date. Nothing says ‘couple goals’ like watching each other wipe out multiple times or wowing someone with your impressive ice skating skills.
Price: $10/person, including skate rentals
Bonus: Drive Around and Look at Christmas Lights – Free
This one goes out to all those people on Twitter begging someone to take them on a date to go look at all the Christmas lights. Honestly, it doesn’t get much more romantic than this. @ any men reading: it’s literally free, and it will make her day.
Price: gas money
If you’re looking for an exciting alternative to the typical dinner-and-a-movie, these date night ideas are a great way to have some fun in the Iowa City area without breaking the bank (or freezing to death). Happy cuffing season y’all!