8 Unique dates for couples in Columbus, Ohio

As a couple therapist I often see couples who are looking for unique, romantic, fun, date ideas in Columbus, Ohio. Sometimes they want date ideas that are interesting and quirky to help bring them closer together, something other than dinner and a movie. Others just have a hard time finding date ideas for date nights and need a little inspiration. And some are looking for romantic things to do with their person.

I (Yvonne Judge) wrote this guide for couples, and others to help spark their creativity in spending quality time together while making it easy to plan a romantic date that their partner will enjoy. Please note that these are not cheap date nights. I’ll write something later for that. The goal here is to help you find date nights that are a bit different and very memorable.

I tried to put in things that people don’t think to do. Everyone in Columbus, Ohio knows the usual things to do around Columbus, Ohio. They’ve already gone to the Columbus zoo, Easton Town Center, walked German village and played mini golf or gone roller skating. Everyone seems to do axe throwing now, or has been to a drive in movie. This guide provides more than just coffee dates or ways to explore the city.

Some of the dates are romantic things, and others are more adventurous. Also, remember that novel experiences help bring you closer to your partner. So while doing romantic things is good, doing new, exciting. romantic things is even better!

 

The Coolest Date Imaginable!

When it comes to date night, I like date ideas that are different. Cryotherapy is like no date you will ever go on. While most cryotherapy spas have only individual services, Icebox Westerville has a cryotherapy chamber that is big enough for couples.

What is cryotherapy like?

It is an amazing experience, and will make for an interesting date night. Well, obviously cryo is cold. But there’s so much more to it than that. The wonderful thing about cryo is the endorphins. You get the same experience you get with the runner’s high, but more intense.

Cryo always puts me in a great mood. I can walk in with a lower mood and walk out feeling like I can run a marathon, and I hate to run! There’s nothing better to start off date nights than a good mood and a great attitude.

When doing cryo as a date night with a partner it’s extremely fun. You get to share a new experience. You get to see how each other handles the extreme temperature. My first trip to cryo was on a date night and we spent the entire time joking and laughing about the cold and our reactions to it.

What happens at cryotherapy?

When you arrive at Icebox for your date night, you will be shown around the spa, and then taken to a changing room. There you will strip down to your underwear and put on a comfy, fuzzy robe, warm socks and thick slippers.

Once dressed, the attendant will give you a hat or headband to cover your ears, a face mask if you want it, and warm gloves. These are all to keep your more delicate extremities safe from the deep cold.

Once you’ve donned your cold weather gear, the attendant will set the timer on the chamber, and show you into the cryo chamber. You and your partner will take off your robes in the cold room and spend 3 minutes in the exhilarating cold.

Halfway through the session the attendant will check on you, knocking on the door and waiting for a thumbs up to make sure everything is good. Please note that you can leave the chamber at any time if you are too uncomfortable. Trapped is a whole other type of date night and one you won’t find here.

Once your session ends, you put your robe back on and go back to the changing room to put your clothes back on. You are offered hot tea or water if you would like.

If you would like, you can continue your date night with a relaxing leg compression session. You will sit in reclining chairs next to each other, relaxing and getting compression to remove toxins from the lower extremities.

Why do cryotherapy?

The main reason to go on cryo date nights is bonding. Sharing new experiences makes memories, and this helps bring a couple closer together.

Your mood will be higher after the session. And everyone wants to be in a great mood on a date night.

It’s special, how many of your friends have been on a cryo date? You and your partner get bragging rights and the literal cool factor for coming up with unique date ideas.

Make class art at Glass Axis

Another of our interesting and unique date ideas is doing glass work with your partner at Glass Axis. This is definitely a fun date idea. Glass Axis is a small glass studio in Franklinton, a suburb of Columbus, Oh.

The studio has been open since 2014 and offers an array of glass art classes which range from one-off classes where you make a single item, to intensive classes that can teach the skills needed to become highly skilled in glass art.

What is glass class like?

The one-off classes make wonderful dates. You go in and get a short lesson, and one of the glass artists on staff helps you to make your item. You can make an amazing and beautiful item that you will be proud to display in your home, and it provides a souvenir of the date.

They have a range of classes from glass fusing, to glass blowing, to bead making. For instance, some of the classes now include, making fused jewelry, blown glass ornaments, wine stoppers and a stained glass window.

Classes range in price from around $50 to over $100 and materials are included. You can pre book classes on their website. These classes make a fun date night and is one of the more unique things to do around Columbus, Oh.

Why do a glass class?

If you plan a date night to become a treasured memory, this is a wonderful idea. You get to do something new and exciting, and get a beautiful souvenir of your outing. Again, the cool factor cannot be denied here. How many people can say their loved one has taken them for dates like this?

Another good thing about this fun date is that you don’t have to use a Friday and Saturday to take a class. Classes are available many days and times to help you work them into you busy schedule.

Food Tours

Are you or your partner a foodie? Is dining out, trying new restaurants and finding new food your happy spot? Among unique date ideas in Columbus, OH is doing a food tour. Columbus Food Adventures offers food tours throughout the Columbus, OH area that you and your partner can take together. German Village, Old Worthington, The Short North, and Dublin are only a few of the Columbus, Ohio neighborhoods where tours are available. All are easily accessible from downtown Columbus, Oh and the outlying areas.

What is a food tour like?

Each tour offers a food tasting menu from several restaurants. Once you’ve completed the tour the amount of food you’ve eaten is about the same as a meal. This is a great way to find new restaurants to enjoy together on future dates and new varieties of food you enjoy or would like to try in the future.

The company provides both walking food tours and van food tours. The food tour is guided and the ticket price includes the price of the food you are tasting as well as transportation for the van tours. The company even offers private food tours for small groups.

This food tour is not just walking around from restaurant to restaurant and eating delicious food. The guide brings local flavor to the tour, talking about the local neighborhood and the restaurants you will be visiting together. Give this Columbus, OH company a try and take one of their food tours for your next date night.

Why do a food tour?

If you like to try fun new things, and new foods this is the date for you. Food may be local farm to table, or otherwise prepared. The experience can be romantic or casual, depending on the tour and the venue and if you are going by day or at night. And the best part is now you know which restaurants you both want to visit together for a future fun or romantic date night.

Franklinton Fridays at 400 West Rich

400 West Rich is an arts community in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, OH. They are a building full of maker spaces for local artists. This is one of my favorite date ideas as well as an excellent place to go with friends.

What are Franklinton Fridays like?

Every month this venue participates in Franklinton Fridays, which happens on the second Friday of each month. During this time the art space as vendors selling arts, crafts, and foods. Many of the art studios are also open to the public during this time.

They are also in the same building as Strongwater Brewery. This is a local bar/restaurant with an excellent menu for both food and drink. So, on the second Friday of each month, you can enjoy the arts, then grab a meal or drinks with your partner.

Why go to Franklinton Fridays?

Franklinton Fridays are always a fun night. Because this center hosts local Columbus, Ohio artists and other vendors that visit from around Columbus, Ohio you can find new art and interests from around this great city. These date nights can be as quick or as lingering as you like, and unlike seeing a movie, there is plenty of fodder for conversation. Unlike a museum you get to see current art by living artists and even take some home if you would like. Some of the artists will even let you sign up for a class alter at their studios. And you can always visit a bar or restaurant on the way to or from the venue to round out the night and make it more romantic.

Gallery Hop

Another old Columbus, OH tradition is the Short North Gallery Hop. This art event takes place the first Saturday of each month in the Short North Art District near downtown Columbus, OH.

What is gallery hop like?

Each month the art galleries open their doors to the public for one fun and festive gallery hop evening. Some art galleries even offer drinks and snacks or have other special events planned.

You will also find street performers and vendors located throughout the district. These have ranged from musicians to even stilt walkers and they change throughout the year.

If you want to grab a drink, it’s very easy to find the type of bar you would like in the area. The short north is filled with every type of bar and restaurant you could want.

Why go to gallery hop?

This is a wonderful, romantic date to do together, as you have plenty of conversations starters. If you love art or do art this is the place you want to be. You can also grab a hot dog at Myungrang hot dog, visit a local favorite like The Pearl, or take things up a notch with a romantic dinner at the Guild House.

Franklin Park Conservatory Cooking Class

Many of us who are local to Columbus, Ohio have visited Franklin Park Conservatory. But did you know that they offer classes? One of the romantic things to do together is to take a cooking class together here.

Offered through the metro park system, these classes change throughout the year and cover a range of cuisines from Indian to American. You can also find classes on sustainable cooking.

Why go to a Franklin Park Conservatory cooking class?

Not only do you learn a new skill, but you can make this date longer as needed. You can extend it and make it more romantic by visiting the park part of the conservatory. This is one of the more interesting date sites in Columbus, Ohio.

Not only is this a cool and interesting date night, but you can also be prepared for future dates of cooking together at home. Imagine your next date as a romantic night in, cooking the dish you learned to make together at this class!

Maker’s Social

Maker’s Social is a locally owned and operated DIY craft and cocktail bar in the Columbus, Ohio Franklinton arts district. When going to visit this bar it is ideal to have a reservation to make sure they have space for you and your partner.

What is Maker’s Social like?

Once you’ve arrived you can order a drink, and explore the project menu to pick a craft. There are little crafts you can make for yourself such as key chains and wallets, things you can make for your pet or your home. There are alcohol-themed crafts such as coasters and tasting boards, and even jewelry projects.

Craft kits currently run from $36 to $60 and take from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours to complete. You can complete your craft while enjoying their local brew list or one of their “creative cocktails”. And at the end of the date you and your loved one have a wonderful memento and a fun story!

Why go to Maker’s Social?

Building or making something together can be one of the more romantic things a couple can do. This is a date you can do not only on a Friday and Saturday, but any day of the week. Your visit here can be a fun change from just grabbing drinks somewhere. You also don’t need a class to make these creations. They are simple enough to do with minimal help. And as always, making something together can bring out a sense of play in your relationship and increase the fun.

Make Candles at the Penn & Beech Candle Company

Penn & Beech Candle Company has 3 locations in Columbus, Ohio; Grandview, The Short North and Worthington. These are all accessible from downtown Columbus, OH and the outlying areas. They offer an in-store candle creation experience that can be assisted by an adult beverage if you choose.

What is a date at Penn & Beech Candle Company like?

This fun date night starts out with smelling all of the wonderful scents that you can use to create your candles. You find out which smells you really love and make a list of your favorites.

Once you’ve found scents you like, it’s time to pick a vessel (or a few) to put your candle in. You and your partner can choose to make candles together, or each make their own.

At this point in the date night you will have a seat at the fragrance bar and one of the scent specialists will help you choose which scents to blend. I find this helpful because you don’t want to put some things together that will end up smelling awful. The workers know what will go together and what will clash and can offer you advice on the best combinations.

After you’ve mixed your custom blend of scented oils, you will mix them into hot wax. The scent expert will pour the wax into your candle vessel for you and you only have to wait for the candle to cool.

Cooling the candles takes 2 hours, so this is a good time to do another of the fun date ideas, grab a drink, or visit a restaurant within a short walk of Penn & Beech while waiting. You can also come back to pick up the candles within a couple weeks.

The candle making process takes around an hour, so you have time for a drink and some good conversation. And again, you get something to take home from your date night to remember it by!

Why go to Penn & Beech Candle Company?

This date will not only be memorable, but you get something lovely and sensual to bring home. Creating the candles can be a very relaxing process since you get to get more of your senses involved than you do on most dates. After all, how often do you go around sniffing your environment and making comparisons!

Your visit here can be a quick addition to a more traditional dinner, theatre or or movie date to help make it more memorable. And again, you don’t need a class to know how to make the items, help is provided along the way as you need it.

Do you have a unique and interesting date idea?

This list will grow and evolve as we find new things and as time permits. Do you have a place you like to visit on a date that you think we should add? Contact us and let us know, and we’ll take a look and make a visit to see what it’s like.

And as always, if you want to improve your communication, need to feel more love in your relationship, or are interested in improving your relationship, contact us for couple therapy sessions!