Tired of dinner and a movie? Innovate your date (night) with one of these suggestions (don’t worry, I didn’t even put a single movie theater on my list). Some of these ideas are better suited for specific seasons and times, so make sure to check each place’s business hours, and *ALWAYS* check Groupon and LivingSocial for discounts. You might even find something on those sites that we haven’t found out about yet! Also, check out We Still Date for some other great ideas.
{Be sure to check out our other date night post, more about romantic dinner locations, and BFF Dates Around Town!}
If you are catching this full list before Valentine’s Day be sure to check out Volunteer Princess Cruises and their Valentine Starlight Dinner!
“Our Starlight Dinner Cruise is the ultimate in romance! We welcome you aboard with Champagne and a perfect long-stemmed rose before showing you to your private table. Enjoy our excellent service and an assortment of passed appetizers before your four-course dinner. As always, window tables and other cruise enhancements are available to make the evening exceptionally memorable!”
Knoxville Date Night Ideas
Valentine’s Day Special Events
- Jazzspirations Live at Historic Southern Railway Station
- Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance at The Press Room
- Valentine’s date night at Mighty Mud Pottery
- Cupid Valentine’s Dinner Show at Historic Grove Theater
- Be My Valentine Partner Yoga class at Creative Edge Dance Studio
Downtown
- Go bowling (and have a drink) at Maple Hall
- Go on a romantic cruise aboard Volunteer Princess Cruises
- Get crafty at AR Workshop
- Blow Glass and Enjoy a Craft Beer at Pretentious Glass Co.
- Throw an axe at Craft Axe Throwing
- Learn to Letterpress @ Striped Light
- Check out some galleries on a First Friday downtown
- Have fun doing an Urban Scavenger Hunt
- Take in a gallery at the Knoxville Museum of Art
- Enjoy an in-town getaway at The Oliver Hotel and have drinks at the Peter Kern Library
- Take a $3 swing dance lesson with Knoxville Swing Dance Association
- Throw and paint some pottery at Mighty Mud
- Go on a train ride on Three Rivers Rambler
- Paint it up at Painting with a Twist
- UT Football Game anyone?
- Catch a puck at an Ice Bears game
- Go on a food tour of Knoxville
- Tasting room or a tour of Knox Whiskey Works
- Take a cooking or dancing class together at UT
- Go indoor rock climbing at The Climbing Center on Sutherland
- Enjoy the show, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Bijou, Clarence Brown Theatre, Tennessee Theatre.
- High gravity beer AND an arcade? Say no more and head to Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern.
South Knoxville
- Go hiking at Ijams Nature Center
- Zipline under the stars at the Navitat Canopy Adventure
- Rent a SUP/kayak/canoe at Ijams
- Go antiquing
North Knoxville
- Have a blast at a nearby trampoline park Max Air Trampoline Park
- Take an aerial silks and trapeze class at Dragonfly Aerial Arts Studio
- Enjoy the wildly fun Zoo Knoxville
- Have a roller skating throwback date night at Skatetown
- Couple’s massage; there are endless places to have a couple’s massage but Tennessee School of Therapeutic Massage is half the cost at $80
- Go indoor rock climbing at Onsight Rock Gym
West Knoxville
- Rent a SUP/kayak/canoe at the Cove at Concord from River Sports Outfitters
- Book a cooking class at The Cutting Edge Classroom
- Get some energy out at Urban Air Adventure Park, DEFY or Action Adventure Park
- Make it a double date and see how great your escape skills are Escape Game Knoxville or Breakout Knoxville
- Paint some pottery at Liza Moz Pottery Painting
- Challenge your love to a duel at Laser Tag
- Ice skating at the Ice Chalet or Cool Sports
- Mini golf at Putt Putt Golf & Games or Sir Gooney’s
- Paint it up at Painting with a Twist
- Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Head to Token Game Tavern
- Shout your love from the rooftops (or the ropes course) at Main Event. While you’re there, you can also bowl, play laser tag, or goof off in the arcade area. It’s a blast!
Outside Knoxville
- Rent a pedal boat in Oak Ridge on Melton Lake at Adventures Outdoors
- Go skiing or snow tubing at Ober Gatlinburg
- Go tubing in Townsend or white water rafting in the Smokies
- Ride down the mountain on the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster or The Coaster and then dine with Goats on the Roof
- From camels to kangaroos, enjoy the wildlife at Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo
- Zipline in Pigeon Forge
- Horseback riding
- Cook it up at The Cook N Craft Academy in Loudon
- Visit the Forbidden Caverns
- Take a tour of the Lost Sea
- Watch the Hard Knox Roller Derby Girls in action
- Take in a Smokies Baseball game
- Ripley’s Aquarium, or if you don’t mind a little bit extra of a drive, try the Tennessee Aquarium and spend the day in Chattanooga
- Picnic at one of the local parks
- Go to a bed and breakfast, have a picnic, and enjoy the scenery at Whitestone Country Inn
- Book one of many special and romantic packages at Mountain Harbor Inn and rent a jet ski or pontoon boat while you are there
