There’s more to dating than crowded bars or Netflix nights at home! Sure, that’s fine for some couples, but if you’re from Arkansas, you know there are a lot of us who don’t settle for the average night at home or out at the local watering hole. When you get tired of the usual date, try one of these unique dates in Arkansas to the normal restaurants or locales you regularly frequent- you just may find your new favorite spot and create magnificent memories!

Hot Springs National Park, AR, USA
Petit Jean State Park–Lake Bailey–Roosevelt Lake Historic District, AR 72110, USA
Devil's Den State Park, 11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74, Winslow, AR 72774, USA
Flickr/littlecity
8. Lace Up A Pair Of Ice Skates
The Jones Center, 922 E Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764, USA
Arkansas Skatium, 1311 S Bowman Rd, Little Rock, AR 72211, USA
Facebook/The Jones Center
If you're somewhat coordinated or brave enough to make an attempt, you can lace up your skates and get to the Arkansas Skatium in Little Rock or to The Jones Center in Fort Smith to have a fun night out on the ice with your date! The Arkansas Skatium is ginormous, a NHL regulation-sized rink that covers 17,000 square feet. If you'd like to take lessons, it offers "Learn to Skate" sessions. There's also a snack bar if you need to replenish all those calories burned off while skating!
7. Go Apple Picking
Vanzant Fruit Farms, 3705 AR-264, Lowell, AR 72745, USA
Facebook/Vanzant Fruit Farms
If you're not into sitting around and watching TV with your date, get active and go pick a barrel-full of apples together! Arkansas has a great number of pick your own farms (including Vanzant Fruit Farms in Lowell) with apples and pumpkins now looking almost as lovely as the autumn weather!
6. Get Out To A Carnival, Festival, or Fair
Midway, AR 72651, USA
Facebook/Washington County Fair
Fall is an excellent time of year for taking a date out on the town, because there's always a county fair, carnival, or local festival going on around Arkansas from September through the rest of the season. If you want to go all out, save up a few dollars for the Arkansas State Fair midway and win something crazy and memorable on your date!

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5. Go To A Drive-In Movie
112 Drive in Theater Rd, Ahoskie, NC 27910, USA
Kenda Drive-In, US-65, Marshall, AR 72650, USA
Stone Drive-In Theatre, 808 Theatre Ln, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA
Facebook/112 Drive In Inc
If you absolutely feel the necessity to see a good popcorn flick while out on a date - you know a trip to a drive-in movie never goes out of style! Whether it's Fayetteville's 112 Drive-In, the Stone Drive-In Theatre in Mountain View, or the Kenda Drive-In (located in Marshall), there's still a chance for romance during a date at a drive-in theater!
4. Discover The Enchantment of A Hibachi Grill
Osaka Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, 3954 Central Ave M, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, 11401 Financial Centre Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72211, USA
Facebook/Fuji Japanese Steak House Jonesboro
There are several Japanese Steakhouses in Arkansas where you and your date can sit around the hibachi and enjoy the show! From Benihana & Kobe Steakhouse in Little Rock to Osaka Steakhouse in Hot Springs and Sashimi in Maumelle, there are a wealth of options when it comes to this specialty dining instead of the regular restaurant experience!
3. Ride A Duck Out On The Lake
National Park Duck Tours, 418 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, USA
TripAdvisor/Nettm0575
The National Park Duck Tours in Hot Springs will take you and your date on an entertaining and informative hour and a half tour that takes you over both land and water through the Spa City's beautiful and historic downtown on to scenic Lake Hamilton and then back downtown. Learn all about the history of Hot Springs and some of the lake homes and their stories while enjoying some sunshine out on the lake.
2. Get Fancy With A Riverboat Cruise
Facebook/Arkansas Mark Twain
The Arkansas Mark Twain, docked on the north shore of the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, offers group and private riverboat charters for enjoying a formal dinner date on board or cuddling with your sweetheart on the top deck while floating on the river. Reservations are available on weekdays from 11am to 5pm and on Saturday afternoons from 1 to 5.

Update: Unfortunately, the Arkansas Mark Twain is permanently closed.
1. Take Your Date To Dinner On A Plane That Never Leaves The Ground
Yelp/Jessica M
Located in Walnut Ridge, the Parachute Inn allows couples to dine in a redesigned Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. Featuring a restored interior to give diners a feel of the original Southwest interior, the restaurant itself serves classic Southern surf and turf entrees.

Update: Unfortunately, the Parachute Inn is now permanently closed.

Some of you have tried these unique date ideas for yourself – how was your experience? Share a comment below about how much you love these out-of-the-box date night locales or what quirky and fun things around Arkansas you’ve found while out with your significant other!

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More to Explore

Unique Dates In Arkansas

AnneMarie | October 09, 2022

What are some places for romantic dates in Arkansas?

There are a couple of romantic restaurants in Arkansas that provide the perfect setting for date. One of those is called the Crystal Dining Room, which even sounds romantic. It’s located in a quaint hotel in Eureka Springs called the Crescent Hotel. Ventro 1925 Ristorante in Fayetteville is another great restaurant for a date, with excellent food and service as well as a quiet atmosphere. There’s a secluded island paradise in the state that’s perfect if you’re looking for more of a romantic getaway kind of date.

Where are the best places for day dates in Arkansas?

Nature lovers will enjoy going to see Copperhead Falls, a secluded waterfall in Arkansas, or the Arkansas Wildlife Refuge. For history buffs, Hedges Homestead is a site with several different things to explore, including the old, abandoned home, artifacts, Hedges Pouroff, and more.

What are the best little known attractions in Arkansas?

Arkansas has quite a few hidden gem attractions and there may be certain ones you’d prefer seeing over others. The Bard Springs Dam in Athens is a stunning sight, located in the scenic Ouachita Mountains and on the National Register of Historic Places. Nerdy types would get a kick out of The Galaxy Connection, a museum and collectible toy store in Hot Springs.

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