With the surrounding mountains, water and the downtown area itself, Seattle is a great place to spend the day outdoors. The Pacific Northwest affords you the opportunity to show off your adventurous side on a first date. You can also bring your relationship to the next level and keep things exciting by enjoying the surrounding nature. The best part is, you can get some exercise while on the date, and many of the activities are free.
Be More Playful
Bring out your playful sides with an active, fun date. Reconnect with your inner child and go fly a kite on the slopes of Gas Works Park. With fantastic views of the city and the water, the park's grassy open fields also make a great place to toss a throwing disc or to have a picnic. With more than 100 miles of signed bike paths, Seattle offers many different options for pedal-happy couples. Rent a bike and hop on Burke-Gilman Trail, which follows an abandoned railroad route and runs along a large section of the city's waterfront. Boasting picnic tables, swimming areas, boat launches and, maybe most importantly, public restrooms, the trail is perfect for an all-day affair. For a shorter ride, check out the Chief Sealth Trail, an easy, gently sloping path made from recycled materials and connecting Beacon Hill with Rainier Valley. For great views of Mount Rainier and Puget Sound, try the Myrtle Edwards and Elliot Bay trails. Make sure to take a hand-in-hand stroll through the adjacent 8.5-acre Olympic Sculpture Garden, viewing contemporary art while stretching your legs.
Try Some New Moves
Whether you are looking for a memorable first date or are in search of a way to keep the spark alive in a long-term relationship, try sharing a new experience. Learn how to move in sync at Washington Dance Club, which offers free ballroom, Latin, and swing dance workshops Friday nights, with an opportunity to show off your new moves at the dance that follows. For free country and line-dance lessons, check out the Little Red Hen. Get your adrenaline pumping with rock climbing lessons. Spend a few hours taking a beginner's course at Stone Gardens or Vertical World, and you may just well discover a new hobby that you two can share for years to come. Or sign up together for a cooking class at Dish it Up, Blue Ribbon Cooking and Culinary Center, or Diane's Market Kitchen and see whether the fastest way to the heart really is through the stomach.
Get Wet
Water sports are a great way to spend some quality time together as a couple. Rent a canoe or rowboat from the University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center down by the Ship Canal for a relaxing afternoon on the water. To perfect your paddling strokes, head to lovely Lake Union and rent kayaks or paddle boats and paddle boards from Moss Bay or Northwest Outdoor Center. To keep your cool even as pulses race, take a dip in the waters of Lake Washington at Madison Park Beach, Pritchard Island Beach, or Seward Park Beach.
Tantalize Your Senses
Scattered all across the city, many local and small breweries call Seattle home. Beer tastings are offered at most, so try some new brews at Pike, Big Al, Redhook Ale, or Naked City Brewery or go on a tour of several of the city's standouts through the Great Pacific Northwest Brewery Tour Company. Wander through the colorful marketplaces in Seattle's Chinatown and International Districts and discover exotic fruits, foreign snack foods and the unusual offerings of the meat markets. Locate those hard-to-find ingredients and then take your honey home to try making a new recipe with your day's haul. Or instead of a boring dinner date, head downtown and do a restaurant crawl, exploring a new locale for each course. Strolls in between appetizers, dinner, dessert and drinks will give you plenty of time to chat and ensure you don't overeat.
Work Up a Sweat
Get to know Seattle's neighborhoods through a walking tour. Go at your own pace and explore the city's history and public art with printable maps available through Seattle.gov. If a guided tour is more your style, try the Seattle Architecture Foundation, Seattle By Foot or The World's Great Seattle Walking Tour. For some more heavy-breathing opportunities, take a hike. Mercer Slough Nature Park's miles of trails through freshwater wetlands provide great bird watching opportunities. Discovery Park, the city's largest park, is set among forest groves, beaches, streams and sand dunes, and it offers six miles of hiking trails. Another option is to find the right romantic hike for you and your date through Washington Trail Association's online guide.
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