Creative Dates InTheBurg
Are you looking for something a little different than your usual dinner for two or takeout and a movie for date night? Are you and your significant other looking for new alternatives to your favorite activities?
Don't get bored with the same-old-same-old! We gathered some creative, socially-distanced dates for you and your loved ones to explore Spartanburg, perfect for both romantic outings and friend dates.
Are you a sporty couple that loves a competition? Culinary connoisseurs? History buffs? Choose your adventure style, or mix & match these ideas for your perfect date:
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve
A Slice Of Romance
We'll start off these date ideas with the most relaxing: a cozy picnic!
Order take-out from your favorite local restaurant, pack a blanket, then head to one of Spartanburg's many outdoor preserves, wooded escapes, and arboretums for a romantic setting. Here's our full guide to building the perfect charcuterie board, for the fanciest of picnic spreads.
Dray Bar + Grill charcuterie and signature cocktails
Wander the 600 acre Milliken Arboretum, picnic between splashing waterfalls and historic mill towers at Glendale Shoals Preserve, or explore the nine botanical gardens and trails at Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve. Check out these romantic gardens to get lost in.
Or, get creative in the kitchen... Start your weekend with a trip to the Saturday morning Hub City Farmer's Market at the Northside Harvest Park (498 Howard St,) to gather cooking ingredients together. Winter markets occur on the third Saturday of the month, January through March, and the regular weekly markets run April through December. Pick the perfect South Carolina peaches-- then bake them into a picnic peach cobbler. (Recipe here.)
Get Your Sweat-- And Sparks-- On
Lace up your sneakers, and pack your bug spray and sunscreen. Spartanburg County is full of greenspaces and waterways to explore with your favorite adventure buddy.
Rent kayaks by the hour at Croft State Park, set up your hammocks for a breezy date by Lake Craig, or choose one of the 20+ trails to hike or bike in the state park.
Feeling competitive? Test your aim with bowling at UnderPin Lanes 'N Lounge (127 West Main St,) or at axe throwing, with Craft Axe Throwing in downtown Spartanburg (226 West Main St,) Peach Rail Tavern & Hatchet House in Inman (32 South Howard St,) or Wolverine Axe Throwing in downtown Woodruff (216 South Main St.)
Rent electric B-Cycles to travel in speedy, urban style on the Mary Black Rail Trail, stopping at Fretwell Spartanburg’s outdoor venue for food, coffee and adult beverages, live music, markets, and more.
Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail
Take a leisurely walk through the Cottonwood Trail Preserve along Lawson's Fork Creek, or on one of the many Partners for Active Living trails within the 50 mile Daniel Morgan Trail System.
Or, put some extra miles on your relationship and hiking boots; the statewide Palmetto Trail has several passages in the Upstate, each multiple miles long.
Wine & Fine Arts
Celebrate the finer things in life, and no, we're not talking about your date!
Chapman Cultural Center (200 East Saint Broad St) is home to three galleries and museums to wander: Spartanburg Art Museum, The Artists' Guild Gallery, and the Upstate Gallery.
Every third Thursday night of the month, Spartanburg’s galleries and cultural entities host ArtWalk, a free event that often includes artists’ talks, exhibition openings, interactive art, and complementary wine and snacks.
Or, host your own gallery tour from home! Pick out a bottle of wine from your favorite specialty shop, such as Bond Street Wines, then snuggle up on the couch for a classy night in. Over 1,200 masterworks of art and Southern history are available to browse online in The Johnson Collection's archives and artist index.
If you're looking for a more hands-on approach with your artsy date, try a pottery workshop together! Spartanburg Art Museum hosts frequent beginners' ceramics classes at Chapman Cultural Center (200 East Saint John St,) and Mayfair Art Studios (1885 Hayne St) offers hourly wheel rentals and beginners ceramics workshops. (But, don't get all Patrick Swayze with the pottery wheel, please.)
Hunting Through History
Spartanburg has multiple walking tours to explore-- both virtually and on foot.
In downtown Spartanburg, check out the Spartanburg Music Trail and Downtown Historic Walking Tour. Countywide, explore the Revolutionary War Tour and Textile Town Tour, for restored mills, classic restaurants, and historic battlefields. (These travel tours have full or half routes, depending on how much time you have to explore.)
Morgan Square at night, Downtown Spartanburg
Or, get quirky in a different type of history, with vintage scavenger hunting in City of Landrum-- known for some of the best antiques in the Upstate. This small town in the Blue Ridge Foothills has everything from eclectic collectibles to rustic architectural elements to search through. See who can find the most unique item!
Drayton Mills
A Full Day Of Adventure
There's some locations that practically plan a date for you! Head to Drayton Mills, (1800 Drayton Ave,) for an all-in-one experience: with coffee, waterside picnics, trails to wander, fireside cocktails, romantic dinners, and more. Drayton Mill's Marketplace is full of history, with the original 1902 textile mill buildings renovated into luxury apartments, restaurants, event centers, and craft breweries.
Sparkle City Mini Putt
Classic Romance
You can't mess with a classic, and this final date idea has all the charm of your favorite rom-com.
Head to downtown Spartanburg to check out Sparkle City Mini Putt, (128 East Broad St.) This FREE golf course in the center of downtown is completely Spartanburg-themed. Bring your own putters and balls, or borrow for free from these downtown businesses: Hub City Scoops, Little River Coffee Bar, The Local Hiker, and Paisley Paw.
Then, finish the day with an ice cream cone; here's our ten favorite in Spartanburg County.
Hub City Scoops’ ice cream flight