Why Stay In? 10 Winter Date Ideas in Grand Rapids

Food is the way to anyone’s heart and while I am all for eating at one of the MANY delicious restaurants in Grand Rapids… elevate date night with a cooking class. Some places that offer classes include:

• The Downtown Market
• Sur La Table
• The Local Epicurean

If a cooking class isn’t an option money wise, you can always turn up the heat in your own kitchen!

Take a tour around the gardens with over 400K lights and 42 international trees and displays. It’ll feel like you’re in your own Hallmark Christmas movie, complete with a kiss under the mistletoe!

 Goes through January 6, 2019.

Straight out of a storybook!

Classic Carriage LLC (12/1 - 3/31)
Common Gentry

The lights make it extra romantic.

What I love about hockey games is that it makes the perfect first date, double date, group date… heck even a solo date! Tickets are $20 and Friday’s are $2 beer and $2 hot dog night. Fun and inexpensive… how can you go wrong?! Check out the schedule here.

Building off of the previous idea, this is a great option for a one-on-one or group date. I don’t care how old you are, you can never go wrong with the arcade. Nothing says “bonding time” like shooting zombies together.

Yes, it is as cool (no pun intended) as it sounds! Outside Coffee Co, located on Wealthy St. in the community garden. Stop at the "food truck" where you can order your coffee and then make yourselves cozy in one of the heated igloos.

Tip: go at night because you’ll have all the lights lit up around you. A snowfall would be the cherry on top to an already picturesque moment.

Igloos are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A standing ovation for the show and for a successful date night out.

The Little Mermaid closes out the 2018 season on December 16th.

You don’t even have to get out of the car for this one! Drive through and take a tour of West Michigan’s largest animated drive-thru light show. Is it just me or do Christmas lights give you “all the feels” as well? There are over a million of them so plenty of feels to go around.

You can also take the light tour on the Memory Lane Train.

For when you’re trying to have a casual night out together or meet up with friends. If you haven’t been to the Broadway Bar, you’re in for a Christmas treat! The whole place is decorated, from top to bottom, in holiday lights and decorations.

Since this is their busiest season, table reservations are required (first-come, first-serve afterward). Otherwise, you can just walk in and hope for a spot at the bar.

Whew! After all that, a night spent indoors with your cuddle buddy can make the best of dates. And it's free :-)