Dazzling dates:
Alternatives to dinner and a movie

In and around Charleston

By Caitlyn Nelson
Scott High School

Face it, Charleston isn’t the biggest city in the United States. But it is West Virginia’s major metropolitan area. Therefore, when you’re looking to take a girl- or boyfriend on a date, it’s a good place to go.

You might not believe it, but there are plenty of things to do in Charleston — you just have to get creative. When you do, you’ll discover the awesome date spots that have been right under your nose all along.

So take Marquee Cinemas off your favorites list, and try one of these possibilities instead.

For day dates, there are several places you can go. For starters, you can spend an afternoon at Kanawha State Forest. Take a blanket and snacks and have a picnic, or get active by playing Frisbee or taking a hike on one of the many trails there. A perfect cloud-free sky equals a perfect date.

During baseball season, why not spend a warm Sunday afternoon at West Virginia Power Park? There’s nothing better than eating hotdogs, cheering for the team and basking in the beautiful sunshine. Sometimes the park hosts non-baseball events, too, so keep an eye out for those.

If there’s stormy weather, try the Clay Center planetarium. You might be a little too old for the other things there, but you never outgrow the planetarium. It is beautiful and also informative.

Or you could go simple and head to Charleston Town Center. “ I like going to the mall because you have a lot of things to do in one place,” said Scott junior Alex Stonestreet. “You’ve got shopping, eating or even just sitting down and talking. The mall is a great place to pass time.”

If you merely want to get to know a person, try taking him or her out for a walk throughout downtown Charleston. You can stop at Blossom Deli for a giant milkshake or at Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream for another sort of tasty treat. And if you are downtown, be sure to stop at Taylor Books. Not only will browsing the aisles give you insight into each other’s personalities, but on the weekends, it has live music.

There are also some date possibilities out Corridor G. At this time of year, ice skating at the South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena is especially fun. It’s a fun and friendly way to flirt - holding hands as you skate around the rink, listening to great music and using “I’m cold” as an excuse to cuddle. Plus, it gives girls a good excuse to go out and buy a cute scarf and gloves set.

If that isn’t your thing, though, try dinner at Quaker Steak and Lube, followed by some laser tag and go-kart fun at Southridge Grand Prix. This will really bring out a girl’s competitive side, but guys, remember to always let her win - no matter how badly it hurts you!

To bring out the inner child in both of you, have a date at Chuck E. Cheese. “Chuck E. Cheese is my favorite date spot because my boyfriend and I took his little sister, and we had more fun than she did,” said Ashton Bias, a junior at Scott.

Even if you live on the outskirts of Charleston, there are still plenty of things for you to do. If you live south of Charleston, maybe towards Madison or Logan, take a trip to Chief Logan State Park or head to the Logan County Airport to watch the planes take off and the sun set.

If you are in the Teays Valley area, try paintballing. It may sound extreme, but it’s definitely unique and something that the two of you won’t forget any time soon. Plus, you’ll have a great story to tell your friends when they ask you what you did on your date.

Finally, if you live close to Huntington, take advantage of all the good music that HYAMP offers. It’s affordable, fun and a good time. There’s also Jungle Glow Golf, the glow-in-the-dark putt-putt course at the Huntington Mall that is sure to be a blast.

In and around Huntington

By Dibya Subedi
Cabell Midland High School

After all the anticipation and preparation that goes into what you hope will be a smooth, conversational, laugh-filled, at-ease-with-who-I’m-with kind of night, the last thing you want is for your destination to be a bust. So if you’re worried about your date spot, check out one of these locales.

One popular destination is the casual Java Joint, located at Third Street and Hal Greer Avenue. This hangout offers an atmosphere for conversation, even inspiring some via its artsy décor that sports graffiti-inspired work, vibrant still life portraits and art by the quintessential surrealist Salvador Dali.

“I like it because it’s an independent place and the open mic night is funny, whether deliberate or unintentional,” said Cabell Midland senior Jacob Eller.

Pullman Square offers a number of dine-in restaurants and treat stores as well as one of the most comfortable movie theaters around. You can make a whole date out of just roaming around Pullman.

As far as dine-ins go, Max and Erma’s is a friendly restaurant that has an array of scrumptious dishes, upbeat background music and eclectic interior design. It’s also totally affordable and allows you to focus on your date instead of worrying about impressing him or her.

A more casual choice would be Moe’s Southwest Grill, and after dinner, you can grab coffee or dessert at Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery.

Junior Brandon Mitchell recommends exploring Empire Books at Pullman Square because an adventure through a book store is “informative about who your date really is.”

The riverfront is just a short walk from Pullman Square. Cabell Midland junior Dylan Elder recommends going there for stargazing, which is another nice activity that allows you and your date to get to know each other. “It’s just special when two people connect,” Elder said.

Outside of downtown Huntington, the best date spot in the area is Barboursville Park. It’s surrounded by a wealth of pretty hills and centered on a lake that offers a path for a stroll. The lookout point offers a scenic view and a bit of peace, while the jungle gyms allow you to be a kid.

Like all the other preferred spots, Barboursville Park just allows people to relax and get to know one another. “It’s free and it allows you to be romantic and creative,” said Heather Black, a Cabell Midland senior and advocate of outdoorsy adventures.

Whether you’re dining in or enjoying the outdoors, a date spot should allow you to be yourself. If none of these spots appeal to you, then get creative and find a place that fits who you are.