Date nights are always fun…or are they? When the pressure is on you to provide the fun experience everyone looks for, the pressure can overtake the party planning. To settle your stomach and calm those “pre-date-night” jitters, we offer the following five favorite date nights to be found in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It’s time to sit back and relax: you can’t go wrong with one of these creative dates.
1. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre
Without a doubt, the captivating art deco and gothic architecture of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre will lure you and your date inside this elegant theatre. And, your great date only starts there and gets better because, no matter what type of entertainment you and your date choose, this event center can fulfill your wish. From Broadway shows to ballet, concerts or musicals, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre is the perfect place to enjoy an evening with someone special.
Secure tickets early and be prepared to park nearby in one of the available parking lots. Plan for a late night dinner after experiencing the theater, choosing one that will fit your mood of the evening. Look for a restaurant that will cater to the foods you and your date will enjoy and make reservations there, as well. This is a date night that will bring delicious enjoyment from start to finish.
2. Private Night Air Tour Of Mount Pocono
A private nighttime air tour of Mount Pocono may sound ridiculously expensive, but in actuality, it is quite reasonable and the “thrill factor” of a private tour will be a huge hit with your date. Book your flight in advance, as these flights are popular, and expect to spend some time talking with the pilot. You and your date will be supplied with headsets for communication and you’ll get a briefing on the required safety gear. Your pilot will be sure to fly where you can see the beauty of the night sky, along with the contours of the surrounding landscape, all cloaked in the glow of the setting sun.
Follow your flight with a late-night meal at a casual diner nearby; lighten the mood and look for a fun, engaging environment for your meal. In truth, an expensive meal in a fancy restaurant is not going to enhance this evening and isn’t going to make an impression on your date; not after the private air tour. You’ve already made lifetime memories this evening.
3. Lake Scranton Early Evening Feast
Just outside the city, Lake Scranton envelopes a large swath of beautiful landscape in a calm, cool flatwater lake that can be enjoyed by visitors every day of the year. The walking trail is well-groomed and offers outstanding views of trees, foliage, stone causeways and the 3.5 mile trail that winds around the lake in one big loop. Lake Scranton holds 2.5 billion gallons of water and is used to provide drinking water for over 160,000 customers in fourteen communities in the surrounding area. The Pennsylvania American Water Company owns this lake and the water distribution, and includes a list of activities that are/are not allowed at the lake. Because many communities rely on this water resource, activities, such as boating and fishing in the lake, are not allowed.
While no open fires are allowed at Lake Scranton, you and your date can carry a luxurious movable feast of your favorite foods to enjoy during your stroll around the lake. Stop to set up a picnic area and enjoy the warmth of a late summer afternoon. Evening sunsets can be spectacular over the water, however, you’ll want to head for home at dusk when the private lake closes.
4. Ice Skating Dinner Date
When winter weather hits, consider making a late afternoon ice skating date that leads to a dinner destination and make that date fun and adventurous by visiting any one of the ice skating centers in the greater Scranton area. Ice skating is excellent exercise and, with a date, you’ll get the added bonus of skating in the “starlight dance” and the “couples skate” specials.
Ice skating is perfect for beginners who skate with more experienced partners; the fun begins right there, as one person attempts to hold up the other. Laughter is definitely an accompaniment to this evening! After an hour or two of skating, depending on what your date prefers, you’ll want to head to a nearby cozy restaurant with at least one fireplace and friendly cocktail service close at hand. Simple and reminiscent of childhood, ice skating is always an event that brings laughter and renewed energy; it’s a perfect favorite date any night of the year.
5. Escape Room Dinner Date
An escape room date is perfect for those who are not gifted in the art of setting up a date. Some wildly creative people can plan and execute a perfect date; however, for the rest of us, an escape room is top-to-bottom a planned date that you don’t need to fret over and that is exactly what we’re looking for. There are numerous escape rooms in Scranton with a variety of themes in each room. Choose one that you know your date will enjoy (in other words, if they don’t like bloody horror scenes, avoid that escape room and opt for the treasure hunt instead).
Escape rooms vary a bit in cost and they are very popular on the weekends. Book tickets well in advance and get ready to be a good sport about everything involved in the multiple attempts to get out of the room you paid good money to get into. Follow up the escape room with a not-too-fancy dinner nearby. Look for an inviting restaurant with a cozy atmosphere so you and your date can discuss the escape room experience and look forward to many more.
With these potentially favorite dates in mind, you’ll want to use your imagination and creativity to build ideas for a favorite date night of your own design. Wishing you many great dates!
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