Email
PrintMake it A Date Night
21 Ways to rekindle the romance in your life
No matter if you’re planning a first date or looking to add a little excitement to a longtime marriage, scientific studies have shown that incorporating new and different activities into your daily routine can help strengthen your relationship. So, before you plan your next date night (or day), take a look at our list of great places to dine, see a show, and experience a relaxing weekend getaway right in your own backyard.—The Editors
Be A Kid Again…
1. Footloose Fun
Dancing is a fun social activity and learning to ballroom dance as a couple can be a particularly romantic experience. Consider taking a ballroom dance class at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Plymouth. With a little practice you and your loved one can waltz, swing, or salsa like Hollywood’s Dancing with the Stars. Oftentimes, there are introductory specials, for couples looking to give ballroom dancing a try. 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 115, Plymouth, (508) 732-6790, www.fadsplymouth.com
2. Back in the Saddle
A scenic trail ride can be a thrilling activity no matter the season. Blazing Saddles Equestrian Center in Randolph offers daily, guided trail rides around Ponkapoag Pond in the Blue Hills Reservation in Canton. No riding experience is necessary. Each trail ride begins with an introductory lesson with one of the farm’s sweet-natured horses, before the group heads out into the woodland trails, which in January and February can look like a winter wonderland. Rides cost $35 an hour, per person. 384 High Street, Randolph, (781) 961-9132, www.blazing-saddles.net
3. Smooth as Ice
You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy an afternoon of ice-skating with your date. It’s a great winter activity for people of all ages and abilities. Public skating hours vary rink to rink, and most have reasonably priced skate rentals and snack concessions. Call your local rink for updated public skating days and times.
• John A. Armstrong Memorial Rink, 103 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, (508) 746-8825
• The Bog, 188 Summer Street, Kingston, (781) 585-2111
• Rockland Ice Rink, 599 Summer Street, Rockland, (781) 878-7500
• Shea Memorial Rink, 651 Willard Street, Quincy, (617) 472-9325
• Connell Memorial Rink, 220 Broad Street, Weymouth, (781) 335-2090
4. Rock and Bowl
Bowling is a timeless and affordable date night activity and today’s high-tech lighting shows, the game is anything but old fashioned. Timber Lanes in Abington is a popular candlepin bowling center that offers cosmic bowling every Friday night from 10 p.m.-Midnight, where the lanes are colored by lasers and flashing nightclub lighting, as well as Bowling to the Oldies on Saturday nights, with all your favorites oldies songs playing from 7:30-Midnight. 460 Bedford Street (Route 18), Abington, (781) 878-0219, www.candlepin.com
5. Fast Track
Thrill seekers can add a little excitement to their dating life by hopping behind the wheel of a race car at F1 Boston in Braintree. The unique entertainment facility offers the ultimate indoor kart racing experience. Drivers first receive an F1 license, and can then “arrive and drive,” seven days a week. Simply put on a racing suit and helmet and you’re ready to take a speedy spin around either the city or country racecourse. 290 Wood Road, Braintree, (781) 848-2300, www.f1boston.com
6. Soaring Heights
Surprise your special someone with an aerial helicopter tour of the South Shore, courtesy of Ryan Rotors Inc. This breathtaking trip delivers spectacular views of lighthouses, local fishing marinas, and even the monuments like Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II, all from the air. On clear days you can see to the Boston skyline and Provincetown. A helicopter ride is also a great photo opportunity, so make sure you bring your camera. Ryan Rotors operate out of the Plymouth Municipal Airport in Plymouth. Call ahead for dates and times. 246 South Meadow Road, Plymouth (508) 746-3111, www.ryanrotors.com
Wine and Dine...
7. Haute Cuisine
The intimate atmosphere at Bistro Chez Ducrot is as charming as that found at quaint neighborhood restaurants in Paris, France. Guests can enjoy a gourmet four-course dinner prepared in the Duxbury home of Chef Philippe Ducrot, whose menu items are created using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Tables are reserved for the entire evening, which means there’s plenty of time for conversation and the dining experience is as relaxing as it is delicious. Bistro Ducrot accepts reservations for Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. and every 15 minutes thereafter. During the rest of the week the restaurant is available for private dining reservations only. 40 Russell Street, Plymouth, (508) 747-4148, www.chezducrot.com
8. Authentic Italian
Tucked inside a bustling shopping plaza along the Plymouth waterfront, Patrizia’s Italy Trattoria is a delightful little restaurant dedicated to serving up big flavor. With only a small number of tables to attend to, the atmosphere is cozy and restaurant staff are able to deliver attentive, accommodating service. Chef Patrizia Galassi’s menu is constantly evolving to incorporate the freshest, seasonal dishes. The authentic Italian bistro has the energy of a small family-run restaurant in Italy, and if couples come in for dinner on a Sunday evening, chances are good they might even catch an accordion player serenading diners with Italian music. 170 Water Street, Plymouth, (508) 747-0015, www.patriziasitaly.com
9. Neapolitan Flavor
Guests who dine at Orta in Pembroke are greeted at the door by the comforting aroma of Neapolitan pizzas cooking in the restaurant’s wood-burning brick oven. The dining room is warm and inviting, and features a large bar stocked with an extensive wine selection, with many varieties available by the glass. Chef Jimmy Burke’s menu features a range of classic Italian dishes that give diners the best bang for their buck. Choose from hearty homemade pastas and entrees or flavorful antipasti and piattini (little plates), which are perfectly portioned for two people to share. 75 Washington Street, Pembroke, (781) 826-8883, www.ortarestaurant.com
10. Creative Tavern Fare
Housed within a 1741 Cape style homestead in Duxbury, the Sun Tavern serves sophisticated cuisine in a casually elegant environment. Wood fireplaces warm the rooms of this antique building, making it a cozy place for a quiet dinner for two. Chef Ken Wisneski’s menu features hearty American dishes, such as the Black Diamond New York Sirloin, and there’s usually a hint of the French-Cajun flavor as is evident by the popular seafood jambalaya. Don’t forget to order Duxbury’s famous Island Creek Oysters on the half shell. 500 Congress Street, Duxbury, (781) 837-1027, www.suntavernrestaurant.com
11. Tuscan Infusion
Across the street from scenic Hingham Harbor in a building that once housed a turn-of-the-century granary, Tosca possesses a rustic elegance that makes it an ideal choice for a special occasion dinner. The grand dining room features exposed brick walls, dark wood furnishings, and high barn-like ceilings. The creative Italian cuisine at Tosca has made it a culinary destination and its formal wine dinners offer a chance to experience the restaurant’s award winning wine selection. On weekends, couples can relax in the wine room, which fills with the sultry sounds of jazz and blues musicians from across the South Shore. 14 North Street, Hingham, (781) 740-0080, www.toscahingham.com
12. Spa Stay-Cation
Rest your mind and rejuvenate your body with a couple’s treatment at the Beach Plum Spa in Plymouth. You and your date can treat yourselves to full body massages, scalp treatments, soothing hot showers, and even an herbal lavender Dead Sea mud wrap. Robes, slippers and personal amenities are provided along with complimentary fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and beach plum jelly. All body products used are all natural or 100% certified organic. The Spa is open to the public, so you need not be a guest at the John Carver Inn to enjoy the relaxing services. 25 Summer Street, Plymouth, (508) 746-7100, www.beachplumspa.com
Get Pampered...
13. Soothing Escape
The beautifully designed couple’s treatment room at Adamo Day Spa in Cohasset provides guests with a conveniently located tranquil retreat that is tucked away from the outside world. Choose from a range of therapeutic massage and relaxing spa services. Sooth your tired muscles with a side-by-side hot stone or a foot reflexology massage. To refresh and soften dry winter skin, enjoy an organic mini facial or aromatherapy massage and body wrap. Afterwards, you and your loved one can slip into complimentary cozy robes and allow the feeling of relaxation wash over you. 5 Stagecoach Way, Cohasset, (781) 383-3011, www.adamodayspa.com
14. Stress Medicine
You can leave your worries and stress at the door when you come to Massage RX Day Spa in Norwell. Trained professionals offer a range of therapeutic massages and body treatments designed to restore the body and soothe the mind. Enjoy a simultaneous massage in a specially designed massage suite or a foot therapy session. There is also a couple’s steam shower and sauna therapy room that will make guests feel like royalty. 134 Washington Street, Norwell, (781) 871-4200, www.massagerxdayspa.com
See A Show...
15. The Main Stage
If you’re looking to have a lively evening on the town that will keep you singing and tapping your feet till late at night, you might want to get tickets for a show at Memorial Hall in Plymouth. Whether your preference is 80s rock and roll, standup comedy acts, or theatrical productions, there’s always something exciting being staged at this popular downtown establishment. The main theater hall is fairly large (by South Shore standards) seating up to 1500 people, but you’re never more than 100 feet away from the stage. 83 Court Street, Plymouth, (508) 747-1622, www.memorialhall.com
16. Creative Folk
Enjoy an evening of easy listening by attending a live music show at the Driftwood Folk Café in Plymouth. The local non-profit organization regularly plays host to well-known folk acts from across the United States, and the small size of its venue allows audiences to experience an intimate listening atmosphere. Shows are held at Plymouth’s First Parish Church, downstairs in Kendall Hall. There is café style seating, accommodating four people per table, and plenty of baked goodies and beverages to snack on. 19 Town Square, Plymouth, (508) 224-7024, www.driftwoodfolkcafe.com
17. Feature Film
Instead of fighting long lines at an ultra modern cinemaplex, take your date to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster at a historic movie theater like Loring Hall in Hingham. Built in 1852, Loring Hall is a town building that is rich in local history. In addition to mainstream movies, the theater will sometimes show critically acclaimed independent films. The leather seats may creak a little when you sit in them, but with a bag of popcorn in hand and your loved one at your side, you won’t mind. For a bargain, catch a show on “super” Tuesdays, when all seats for all shows are just $5. 65 Main Street, Hingham, (781) 374-7076
Spend the Night...
18. America’s Hometown Hotel
Experience a relaxing stay at the John Carver Inn and Spa in Plymouth without breaking the bank. Just a short walk away from the historic Plymouth waterfront and Main Street shops, couples can let their stress melt away in a fireplace suite with a Jacuzzi tub and four poster bed. Special off-season romance packages include couple’s spa treatments at the on-site spa. The inn is comfortable but also casual, decorated with reproduction furniture and Colonial-style artwork honoring the inn’s historic location. Dining is available on-site at the Hearth ‘n Kettle Restaurant, or nearby at one of the many fine restaurants within walking distance. 25 Summer Street, Plymouth, (508) 746-7100, www.johncarverinn.com
19. French Country Comfort
The Red Lion Inn, located in the town of Cohasset, has all the makings
of a romantic getaway. Built in 1704, the inn is filled with historic charm and is outfitted with all the modern and luxurious amenities a couple could want. Rooms are thoughtfully appointed with four poster beds, antique furniture, working fireplaces, and Jacuzzis. Several rooms have French doors that lead to private balconies. The inn is home to the Parisian-inspired restaurant Brasserie Zapp, and is just a short walk away from local art galleries, clothing boutiques, fine restaurants, and scenic Cohasset harbor. 71 South Main Street, Cohasset, (781) 383-1704, www.redlioninn1704.com
20. Cozy Harbor Guesthouse
Guests who stay at the Inn at Scituate Harbor can witness a scenic harbor sunrise right from their bedroom. Located a short distance from Scituate Lighthouse, the cozy New England style inn features 29 comfortable guest rooms suitably outfitted with seaside décor. The inn also offers a range of modern comforts including access to an on-site indoor swimming pool. Guests are provided with a continental breakfast each morning and in the evenings are welcome to stop by the inn’s pub, the Dog Watch. Scituate’s waterfront district is only a short stroll away and offers a wide variety of fine dining establishments to choose from as well as interesting boutique gift shops to visit. 7 Beaver Dam Road, Scituate, (781) 545-5550, www.innatscituate.com
21. Charming Waterfront Inn
Spectacular panoramic ocean views wow visitors at the Fairview Inn in Marshfield. Built in 1874 and lovingly restored, the establishment captures the seaside charm of a quintessential New England vacation destination. Located in the Brant Rock neighborhood, just steps away from the ocean sea wall, the inn attracts many couples looking for a weekend away from their busy lives. The establishment offers seven guest rooms furnished with seaside-inspired nautical décor as well as plush bedding and private balconies. The Fairview Inn restaurant is open to the public and serves delicious New England fare, and a continental breakfast is provided to anyone staying at the inn. 133 Ocean Street, Marshfield, (781) 834-9144, www.thefairviewinn.com
