With summer almost here, it is almost full-fledged wedding season in Seattle!! Are all of you engaged couples enjoying these last few months (weeks? days? hours?) of your engagement before your big wedding day? The time spent between the proposal and the wedding day is often overlooked, but it is super important to appreciate and enjoy this time in your life before you two are officially married!
Since we live in such an amazing and flourishing city, take time away from wedding planning to-do's and go enjoy a summer day or evening away from it all! Going out on dates as an engaged couple is extremely special, especially because you can take the time to remember and appreciate all of the reasons why you fell for the person you are about to marry and spend the rest of your life with. Try out a few (if not all) of these Seattle summer date ideas. Personally, my boyfriend and I enjoy the more interactive dates which include more than just dinner and a movie, so below are some of our absolute favorites that I wanted to share with you all! Enjoy! Have all the fun in the world!
Rent a canoe
Spend the summer day on the waters of Lake Washington and Lake Union in your own canoe or rowboat! The Waterfront Activities Center is conveniently located right behind the University of Washington and rentals are only $8/hr for UW students, $10/hr for UW faculty or staff, and $12/hr for the general public.
Free sailing on Sundays
The Center for Wooden Boats, located in Queen Anne, offers free sailing on Sundays from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Volunteer skippers and crew sail you out onto Lake Union in spirit boats, steamboats, electric boats, schooners, ketches, yawls, and yachts. To make your reservation, you must go in-person to The Center for Wooden Boats at 10:00am to sign up. If your scheduled time is not until later, you are welcome to leave and come back with your entire party later! Voyages accommodate anywhere between four to fifteen passengers and last about an hour.
Golden Gardens
Located in Ballard, Golden Gardens Park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain range. This park is a perfect summer date destination for strolling along sandy beaches, enjoying an evening beach bonfire, star-gazing, and even playing volleyball on the courts next to the Golden Gardens Bathhouse.
Go on a hike
If you are up for adventure and want to take advantage of Seattle's non-rainy days, there are hundreds of hikes just out of Seattle. Visit the Washington Trails Association to find the hike that best fits what distance you want to travel, and what sites you want to see along the way! From gorgeous cascading waterfalls to summiting mountain tops, you are bound to not be disappointed!
Art Marble 21
Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood, Art Marble 21 has become a staple restaurant and sports bar. With 20 beers always on tap, bottled local and international beers, specialty cocktails, Carribbean-inspired food selection, and forty-two flat screen TVs, this is the place to be for all televised sporting events! Art Marble 21 also offers its full-sized game room of fun games that are free to play. Their list of games includes: Shuffleboard, Bocce Ball, Pool, Pop-a-Shot, NASCAR Racing, Skeeball, Big Buck Hunter, Darts, Foosball, Air Hockey, Ping Pong, Giant Jenga and Ms. Pac-man.
Rooftop drinks and dining
Rooftop bars are popping up all over Seattle! Enjoy scenic city views from establishments such as Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails, The Nest, Monsoon, Terra Plata, and MBar while enjoying specialty cocktails and craft beers. It's not everyday that Seattle gets some sun, so go enjoy!
Flat Stick Pub
Enjoy tasting Washington-brewed beers and ciders while simultaneously challenging an opponent to an indoor 9-hole mini golf course with your biggest obstacles being recycled kegs - only for $6 per person! AND as a bonus... Flat Stick Pub is dog-friendly!! Enjoy "Yappy Hour" Monday - Friday from 6:00pm - 7:00pm and all day Sunday! If you bring in your furry friend, you will receive $1 off pints.
Dance classes
Century Ballroom offers dance classes in a variety of different styles - Bachata, Salsa, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Tango, Tap, Waltz, Lindy Hop, Kizomba, and others! You can choose to just drop in on occasion, or sign up for their monthly classes! There is the option to sign up for the Couples Only classes, which do not require you and your dancing partner to rotate during the course of the class. Classes are conveniently held in the ballroom right across from The Tin Table restaurant and bar, which makes this a perfect Dance and Dinner date idea!
Keys on Main
Liven up your night by dropping in on Queen Anne's famous dueling piano bar! Keys on Main puts members of the audience in complete control of which songs are played throughout the entire evening via song requests. Requests are typically accompanied by a monetary tip, with song order being determined by which song request has the highest tip amount. If you hear a song you don’t like, you can “out bid” the person who requested it to stop their song and hear yours instead. Great drinks, great music, and definitely an evening you won't forget! Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 8:15pm - 1:30am.
Seattle Mariner's Game
Supporting your local baseball team is a fun and inexpensive date option! With multiple games each week during the season, attending a Seattle Mariner's game can be something you and your fiancé can look forward to! Safeco Field is also located right in the heart of SODO, providing you with a ton of food and drink options available nearby for your pre- and post-game festivities.
Trivia Night
Grab a beer (or two) and go get competitive at local trivia nights all around the Seattle area. Some great places for trivia are Kate's Pub (Mondays), Buckley's (Tuesdays), The Lookout Bar and Grill (Tuesdays), The George and Dragon Pub (Tuesdays), Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub (Tuesdays), and Pyramid Alehouse(Wednesdays).
The Triple Door
Right next to Seattle's renowned Wild Ginger restaurant is a dinner theater that is perfect for grabbing dinner and a show! The Triple Door aims to provide a space where live musical artists can connect with their audience in an intimate, urban space. Buy tickets to one of The Mainstage's featured shows or enjoy free live entertainment in the Musicquarium lounge while enjoying the Wild Ginger's Asian-inspired cuisine.
Movies at Marymoor
Why do the typical night out at the movies when you could do a an outdoors movie date night on the lawn of Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA? Enjoy the warm Seattle summer nights snuggled up with your date and come cozy blankets watching some of the latest movies. Make the experience complete by bringing along your pup and sharing a meal together from the local food trucks.
Canvas! Paint and Sip
Get in touch with your creative sides! Painting tutorial classes are always fun since you two will be able to bring tangible memories home with you. Canvas! Paint and Sip classes are very relaxed, fun, and social. Follow step-by-step how to create a beautiful painting with the guidance of the class instructor. Classes start at 7:00pm, and include a pre-stretched canvas, paint, palette, brushes, easels, and aprons. Beverages are available for purchase throughout the class, with classes ranging from 2 - 2.5 hours long with frequent breaks.