Date Ideas in Houston

Apart from being the largest city in the US state of Texas, Houston is also the economic hub of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown Metropolitan area, the sixth largest such metropolitan area in United States. This is an indication not only of its financial prosperity but also its location as a thriving culture and social hub. There are thus innumerable options if you are looking for date ideas in Houston.

Horseback Riding

This being Texas, one of the best ways you can have fun with your date is to go horse-back riding. There are several horse farms around Houston where you can do this and one such place is All Heart Horse Farm in the suburb of Manvel. Here you can either spend a day riding these magnificent animals; but if you have never been on a horse before the farm offers horse-back riding lessons too. It doesn’t really matter if one of you knows riding and the other doesn’t since this will only give you an opportunity to get close while teaching or learning.

Kemah Boardwalk

A fantastic dating venue in Houston is the Kemah Boardwalk Kemah is located east of Clear Lake, just past NASA, south of Seabrook and the Boardwalk is within walking distance to the colorful Kemah Marina. All along the Boardwalk area there are shops and entertainment areas for all ages – you can go for carnival-type rides and hop on a train. The outdoor pavilion even features live music acts during summers and when the weather is right. Next to the actual Boardwalk area sits a quaint little shopping district that features a variety of stores and eateries, all just a short walk away. You'll find a lot of antiques and items here that you won’t come across even in the swankiest of shopping malls. And after a hectic day of merrymaking, if you wish to grab a bite, you can drop in at any of the numerous casual dining such as Landry's Seafood, the Aquarium, Cadillac Mexican, and Joe's Crab Shack. On the other hand if you wish to treat your date to a special lunch or dinner, there is the Boardwalk Inn, a full-service hotel. So whether you are planning to spend an entire day or have a brief afternoon lunch, Kemah Boardwalk makes one of the best dating ideas in Houston.

Luxurious Yacht Cruise

However if you wish to celebrate an occasion like a birthday, anniversary or Valentine’s Day, you need to plan something really romantic and special for a date. And one of the best ideas of this nature would be a luxurious cruise on a yacht replete with dinner and champagne. In Houston there are several cruise providers who can offer you a fantastic sailing experience on the Galveston Bay or the Clear Lake. One such company is the Star Fleet Marina who not only offer romantic yacht cruises for couples but even have special packages like Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, the Disco Dance Dinner, or the Sunday Champagne Brunch Experience. So whether you wish to impress your new partner or are looking forward to celebrate your marriage of several years, book yourselves on a romantic yacht cruise and make memories to last a lifetime.

Look out for City Events

For most of the year, Houston hosts many events which are unique to the city’s unique culture. The most popular of these events are the Art Car Parade which showcases mind-boggling variety in car designs and makes are attended by both the wealthy and the city’s car aficionados. Yet another Houston event which draws both the popular and elite crowds is the annual Livestock Show and Rodeo which is held over twenty days and also includes carnival rides, concert performances along with typical rodeo events. So if you are looking for a date idea which showcases the typical Houstonian culture, look out for such events where you can have a whole lot of fun with your date and get to know about the city too.

Do the culture circuit

Houston has its own sprawling Museum District as well as a Theater District which is only second to New York City’s in the country on the basis of the largest number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area. Besides having permanent professional companies for all performing arts disciplines, Houston is also home to a rich visual arts culture. Thus if you and your partner are both culture lovers, here you can catch a theatrical performance, go for a movie show, the opera or attend a classical music concert.

Attend an arts class

Date ideas for art lovers usually have to do with browsing through art galleries or the museums. Here is however a far more interactive and fun option if you wish to indulge in your mutual artistic interests on a date. Pinot’s Palette is a great option for such an evening out since it is a wine bar and painting studio, rolled into one. Here the instructors not only take an orientation class before you get started but come with great pointers throughout your painting experience. Then of course there is a classy wine list to choose from and all the while you can listen to some great music too. So while it may be a little pricey - $35-45 – per person, you are sure to have a fun-filled and thrilling evening.

A romantic dinner

For a traditional date, nothing quite beats a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant. And Houston offers many such places where you can partake of a five star menu, silver-and-crystal dinnerware, select wine list and impeccable service. Fogo de Chao and Mark’s offers some of the best steaks in town and while Perry’s and Rudy & Paco’s are famous for their seafood. For an exclusive ambience head to the Four Seasons restaurant in downtown Houston while Au Petit Paris and Fuad’s are known for their continental menu. Such fine dining destinations may be expensive but in the end your date is sure to come off as a romantic experience.