14 Unique Date Ideas in Lakeland That You Haven’t Thought Of

Catch a Film

📷 Silver Moon Drive-In

Catching a movie is a tried and true date idea that’s been around for ages. Add a romantic throwback and Grease-inspired spin to it by making it a drive-in movie date! Silvermoon Drive-In offers a fun and romantic drive-in theater. They serve your classic movie snacks like popcorn, pizzas, and nachos and screen a range of films spanning from new releases to classics.

Drive-ins provide a more intimate date experience! You get to stay in (or around) the comforts of your car, bring your own snacks and drinks, and cuddle under a cozy blanket from home. Plus, tickets sell for only $7, if you’re 10 and above!

Hours & Location:

Monday| 7pm- 10:30pm
Tuesday | 7pm-10:30pm
Wednesday | 7pm- 10:30pm
Thursday | 7pm-10:30pm
Friday | 6:30pm-12:30pm
Saturday | 6:30pm-12:30pm
Sunday | 7pm- 10:30pm

📍 4100 New Tampa Hwy, Lakeland, FL 33815

Take a Wildlife Safari

📸 Safari Wilderness

Get wild on your date in Lakeland with a wildlife safari! At the Safari Wilderness Ranch, knowledgeable tour guides will take you on an excursion through 260 acres housing various beautiful wildlife. Witness a herd of Grant Zebras gallop under the sun’s spotlight, learn about the largest Asian antelope, marvel at the Barasingha’s eloquent antlers, and meet other marvelous creatures.

Their safari trucks offer an open-air, canopy-shaded ride with plenty of room and good viewing spots. Safari Wilderness also offers other wildlife tours, including a camel expedition, kayak safari, and sunset safari!

Hours & Location

Monday | 8am- 5pm
Tuesday | 8am- 5pm
Wednesday | 8am- 5pm
Thursday | 8am- 5pm
Friday | 8am-5pm
Saturday | 8am-5pm
Sunday | 8am-5pm

📍 10850 Moore Rd, Lakeland, FL 33809

Have an Artsy Day

Surround yourself with stunning artwork while visiting the Polk Museum of Art! Hold hands and wander through hallways filled with masterpieces. The Polk Museum of Art showcases various art pieces, ranging from oil paintings to chalk drawings.

Polk Museum also highlights artwork that shines a light on African, Asian, and European cultures. The best part? Admission is free!

Hours & Location

Monday | Closed
Tuesday | 10am – 4pm
Wednesday | 10am- 4pm
Thursday | 10am- 4pm
Friday | 10am- 4pm
Saturday | 10am- 4pm
Sunday | 1pm – 5pm

📍 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland, FL 33801

Explore Florida Southern College's Campus and Hollis Gardens

Take your date on a romantic stroll across campus and admire giant fountains, lushes lawns, lakeside views, and colorful blooming flowers at Florida Southern College. Princeton Review ranks Florida Southern College’s Campus as “the Nation’s Most Beautiful Campus,” and we agree!

For another beautiful hot spot to explore, check out Hollis Gardens! From large botanical displays to various displays of public art, the gardens overflow with gorgeous scenery to take in.

Hours & Location

Monday | Closed
Tuesday | 10am-6pm
Wednesday | 10am-6pm
Thursday | 10am- 6pm
Friday | 10am-4pm
Saturday | 10am- 4pm
Sunday | Closed

📍 702 E Orange St, Lakeland, FL 33801

Hit the (Mini) Golf Course

📷 Family Fun Center

Aim, swing, shoot, and score with a friendly game of mini-golf! This classic date activity provides ample entertainment for an afternoon of fun. The Family Fun Center offers an Adventure Course consisting of challenging terrains, beautiful scenery, and lots of quirky holes to explore. Their course welcomes all types of golfers, from pros to beginners.

For a more unique date experience, head on over to the Back Nine! Here, you can enjoy a game of VR golf in their simulation studio. Swing towards a big screen and traverse a projected life-like course without feeling rushed (from the group behind you) or standing in the simmering sun.

Hours & Location

Monday | 10am-9pm
Tuesday | 10am- 9pm
Wednesday | 10am – 9pm
Thursday | 10am – 9pm
Friday | 10am – 12am
Saturday | 10am – 5pm
Sunday | Closed

📍4825 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33813

Get Outside and Rent a Kayak

Savor Florida’s tropical climate with an outdoor date! Rent kayaks at Lake Crago from their recreation center, or schedule a kayak tour through various channels, lakes, and islands around town with Lakeland Kayak Tours.

Soak up a healthy dose of vitamin D, refresh with a breath of fresh air, unwind with the tunes of nature, and relish good company while exploring the outdoors. Plan a memorable date outing by making the most of Florida’s sunshine!

Have a Picnic at Lake Mirror

Pack a picnic, layout by the lake, and cherish each other’s company with a romantic picnic date! With your picnic basket in tow, head to the The Joinery to grab lunch or dinner. Then admire the breathtaking views of Lake Mirror paired with a tasty feast!

The Joinery serves various food options, providing a delicious fit for everyone! And Mirror Lake offers many ideal picnic spots and shimmering waters that capture the sunset colors in the evening.

Hours & Location

Monday | 11am- 9pm
Tuesday | 11am – 9pm
Wednesday | 11am – 9pm
Thursday | 11am – pm
Friday | 11am – 11pm
Saturday | 11am – 11pm
Sunday | 11am – 9pm

📍 640 E Main St, Lakeland, FL 33801

Test Your Skills at an Escape Room

📷 Lakeland Escape Room

Show off your sleuthing skills by cracking the code to an Escape Room. Escape Rooms make for engaging, entertaining, and memorable dates… if you escape!

Lakeland Escape Room transports you to fantasy realms, cartel hideouts, horror movies, and back in time, among many more fantastical destinations. Escapology brings to life various stories, taking you on adventures through history, shootouts, thriller expresses, and lost cities!

Hours & Location

Monday | 11:30am – 10pm
Tuesday | 11:30pm – 10pm
Wednesday | 11:30am – 10pm
Thursday | 11:30pm – 10pm
Friday | 10:30am – Midnight
Saturday | 11am – Midnight
Sunday | Noon – 8pm

📍308 E Pine St, Lakeland, FL 33801

Get Crafty at Picassoz' Art Cafe

📷 Picassoz

Let your creative juices flow with a pottery painting date! Picassoz’ Art Café provides a diverse collection of pottery to paint, ranging from eclectic mugs to unicorn table décor.

Choose each other’s pieces for a fun challenge, paint pieces to give to one another, or create a piece of your choice to keep as memorabilia of your date. You can enjoy pottery painting in many ways. Picassoz’ also offers mosaic crafts!

Hours & Location

Monday | 10am – 7:30pm
Tuesday | 10am – 7:30pm
Wednesday | 10am – 7:30pm
Thursday | 10am -7:30pm
Friday | 10am – 8pm
Saturday | 10am – 8pm
Sunday | 10am – 8pm

📍4636 Cleveland Heights, Lakeland, FL 33813.

Have a Game Night

📷 Galaxy Bar

Turn date night into a fun games night with the best rec rooms in town! Feel nostalgic with throwback arcade games at the Galaxy Bar. From pinball to streetfighter arcade games, Galaxy will have you starstruck with their collection of classic arcade machines!

Rec Room provides a one-stop-shop for endless entertainment, offering a full bar, skeeball, golf simulators, high-end consoles, and arcade games, among many more. For an action-packed date, make your way to the Family Fun Center! They’ve got plenty of activities to explore, ranging from mini-golf to laser mazes!

Hours & Location

Monday | Closed
Tuesday | Closed
Wednesday | 6pm – 12am
Thursday | 6pm – 12am
Friday | 6pm- 2am
Saturday | 6pm – 2am
Sunday | 2pm – 12am

Go Mural Hunting

Love a good adventure? So do we! Plan a fun (and free) mural hunting exploration for your next date. Dazzling murals brighten the streets of Lakeland, adding color and art all around town. Set up an exciting date challenge with your partner and hunt down various murals!

Don’t forget to snap your discoveries for the memories and the gram! Get a head start and find some murals on our Instagram-Worthy Spots in Lakeland.

Throw Axe's at Ax-Caliber

📷 Ax Caliber

Axe your date out on a memorable outing with this unique date idea. Flash your strength while having fun by throwing axe’s at Ax-Caliber! Whether you’re an axe-throwing pro or a lousy aimer, you’re bound to have fun at Ax- Caliber.

Along with being an axe-throwing range, Ax-Caliber also doubles as a coffee house! Their menu offers delicious drinks, tasty bites, and alcoholic beverages.

Hours & Location

Monday | Closed
Tuesday | 11am – 10pm
Wednesday | 11am – 10pm
Thursday | 11am – 11pm
Friday | 11am – 11pm
Saturday | 10am – 11pm
Sunday | 10am – 7pm

📍 204 E Orange St #102, Lakeland, FL 33801

Have a Skate Day

📷 Skate World

Skate straight into your date’s heart with a skate day! Skate on ice or wheels – maybe both – with your date by your side for an amusing date out. Even if you end up spending most of the time on the ground or gripping on the railings, skating makes for a fun and entertaining activity to endure.

Soar across the ice at Lakeland Ice Arena. This ice skating rink offers year-round public skating over the weekends! For a disco skate combo, head on over to Skate World! They’ve got a groovy rink, catching tunes, and cheap prices.

Hours & Location

Monday | Closed
Tuesday | 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 8pm
Wednesday | 12pm – 4pm
Thursday | 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 8pm
Friday | 12pm – 4pm , 7pm – 10:30pm
Saturday | Closed
Sunday | Closed

📍 911 N Lake Parker Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801

Take a Cooking Class

📷 What’s Cooking Lakeland

Whip up a tasty dish with your date by taking a cooking class! Create, eat, drink, and have fun while curating splendid meals to share. Publix Apron’s Cooking School hosts hands-on cooking classes, ranging from seafood soirees to global gourmet classes. Plus, their cooking sessions come with wine to make it extra romantic!

Learn new recipes and make unique platters with classes from What’s Cooking Lakeland! They offer specialty classes that’ll teach you about creating four-course meals, butterfly brunches, food ornaments, and seasonal specials.

Hours & Location

Monday | 9am – 9pm
Tuesday | 9am – 9pm
Wednesday | 9am – 9pm
Thursday | 9am – 9pm
Friday | 9am – 9pm
Saturday | 9am – 9pm
Sunday | 9am – 9pm

📍6935 S Carter Rd suite 6/7, Lakeland, FL 33813