Exciting date adventures don’t have to be a thing of the past for Baltimore/Annapolis area parents. There are plenty of ways for Mommy and Daddy to get their groove back.
Out-of-the-box date ideas
Sometimes spending alone time with your spouse requires out-of-the-box thinking. If you want to rekindle the romance or just get out of the house for grown-up fun, check out the list below for 12 great date adventures that won’t break the bank.
Cooking Classes
Get things sizzling by taking a cooking class together at a local kitchen or restaurant. Increase your kitchen confidence and create gourmet meals to enjoy together. Students experience hands-on learning and chef-led demonstrations in every class. Try one of these 7 cooking classes.
Archeology Dig
Every summer, volunteers can see what it’s like to be an archaeologist and excavate an actual site through the Archaeological Society of Maryland. Summer 2024, the dig will be held at the Oldtown I archeological site near Oldtown, Maryland, from May 31 – June 10. You can dig and screen for artifacts in the field or wash, label, and count objects in the lab. The Office of Archeology staff will oversee volunteers and provide the final scientific report to the National Park Service.
The fee is $25/person per day and registration is required. The program runs from May 4th through June 2, 2023. The site is approximately 2 1/2 hours from Baltimore. Camp sites are available nearby and reservations are advised.
Biking the Cross Island Trail on Kent Island
The Cross Island Trail spans the width of Kent Island from Terrapin Nature Park on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to the Kent Narrows. It also connects cyclists to Old Love Point Park and the Chesapeake Exploration Center. The approximately 6-mile rail trail affords natural vistas and opportunities to view wildlife in an environmentally sensitive designed setting. Trail access is free. Open during daylight hours. Parking available at Terrapin Nature Park, Old Love Point Park, Castle Marina Road and the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center plus public clots beneath the Kent Narrows US 50/301 bridge. Find more info and a map at http://www.parksnrec.org/hiker-biker-trails/parks-and-maps/
Go-Kart Racing
Unleash your competitive spirit screeching through 27 hairpin turns around the half-mile track in go-karts with 5.5 horsepower Honda engines, but let your spouse win, if you know what’s good for you. Starts at $3.50 per lap.
Crofton Go-Kart Raceway.
Indoor Rock Climbing
One hour of climbing can burn more than 900 calories, and exercises trust as much as it exercises the body. Movement Columbia offers all the equipment and instruction needed for beginners to advanced climbers. Make reservations for a class online.
Monster Mini Golf
Play a round or two in the dark while a disc jockey cues up the tunes. This indoor course features 18 holes of pitch-black putting surfaces lined by neon rails, phosphorescent ghouls and gothic décor by black light. Starting at $12 per person. Columbia East Marketplace, Jessup
Theatre Under the Stars
Almost any summer weekend, you can catch a show under the stars at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre. Check the website to confirm dates and purchase tickets. Single tickets are $30. Most weekend nights sell out. Thursdays through Sundays, Late May–Sept. weather permitting. 143 Compromise St., Annapolis
Walking Ghost Tour of Historic Annapolis
Take a lantern-led ghost walk through the historic downtown district on a spine-tingling journey into Annapolis’ dark and troubled history, while meeting some of its more spirited residents and visiting horrific haunted sites. 90- to 120-minute tours. Starts at $30/person. Meets at the Maryland Inn, 12 Church Circle, Annapolis
Wm. B. Tennison Solomons Island cruise
Enjoy a leisurely hour on the Patuxent River with a relaxing sightseeing cruise. Sail Solomons inner harbor, pass underneath the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge and turn back at Point Patience and the Naval Recreation Center. Departures are from the Calvert Marine Museum dock weather permitting. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis and tickets must be purchased the day of the cruise at the museum. $7.00 for Adults; $4.00 for children 5-12 years. The one-hour cruise leaves the museum dock at 2 p.m., Wednesday–Sunday May–October. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons.
Wine Tasting Picnic
Pack a picnic and head to Great Frogs Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting. Samples available for a small fee. Stroll the vineyards, play cornhole, bring a picnic for outdoors or purchase charcuterie. Well-behaved dogs on a lease are allowed outside. Indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations are encouraged. Friday through Sunday. Annapolis
Yacht Racing
Become a guest crewmember on board the Schooner Woodwind for its Wednesday night races. The Woodwind, featured in the movie “Wedding Crashers,” and sister ship, the Woodwind II, are beautiful, wooden 74-foot schooners that offer great views of Annapolis. Wednesdays, 6:25 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. $65/person. Cruises depart from the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, 80 Compromise St., Annapolis.
Zip through the treetops on a zip line
Glide through the forest canopy at up to 20 miles an hour on a 330-foot zip line at Terrapin Adventures. Try the best challenges at night under the lights and party music. Terrapin After Dark: $59/person for 2 hours. Or try horseback riding, kayaking, climbing, a giant rope swing, geocaching, nature hikes, and windsurfing. Reservations recommended. Terrapin Adventures, Savage.