If there is one thing I’d like to tell my pre-baby self, it would be to go on more dates with my husband before we have kids.  Because, you know, once there is a baby in the picture, going out on a real date with just you and your significant other becomes more of a dream than a reality.  Going out for dinner and a movie was so easy before, what with no baby to take care of and all.  But now that we are 10 months into this parenting thing, Lance and I have both realized how important it is to make time for just the two of us.  And that means real-life, written-on-the-calendar, hire-a-babysitter dates.

Whether it is easy for you to get away for some romance or not, here are some of my favorite Austin date ideas:

Classix1.) For a classic Austin evening…

Stroll down the Congress Avenue bridge at sunset and watch the bats fly out for the evening.  I never get tired of seeing that column of bats swirl up through the sky!

Grab dinner and a movie at one of Austin’s many Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations.    Check their Web site for events or special showings.

Two step to live Texas bluegrass at the world-famous Broken Spoke on South Lamar.  Wear your best pair of boots, and be prepared to go a round or two with all the chivalrous older gentlemen.

Romanitc2.) For something more romantic…

Have a relaxed dinner on the stylish patio at Snack Bar on South Congress. Don’t forget dessert.  I’m pretty sure Snack Bar’s pastry chef is an angel from heaven.

Put on your best vintage attire and sip retro cocktails at the East Side Showroom, home of the best Old Fashioned in town in my humble opinion.  I also highly recommend Pimm’s Cup and French 75 for the gin lovers out there.

Share oysters (an aphrodisiac!) and a bottle of wine at Perla’s in the heart of South Congress.

Watch the sun set over the Lake Austin from the patio at Abel’s on the Lake.

3.) For those of you who are kids at heart like us…

Play a round or two at Peter Pan Mini Golf.  Bring along an ice chest, it’s BYOB!

Head over to SoCo to get your sugar fix at Big Top Candy Shop.  They have an old-fashioned soda fountain, tons of delicious chocolates, candy by the pound, and all the free smells you can handle.

Laugh it up at one of Austin’s comedy clubs like The Velveeta Room, Capitol City Comedy, or Esther’s Follies.

Or shoot each other all night long at Blazer Tag.  There is the obvious drawback of hiring a babysitter only to be surrounded by more children, but seriously, it is a blast.

And if you are just terrible at planning or don’t have time to get a babysitter, just remember that date night doesn’t have to be fancy!  Some of our favorite nights together involve a bottle of wine from HEB, some homemade chocolate cookies, and a Red Box rental after the baby has gone to bed.  No matter how you choose to do it, remember to appreciate even the simplest moments in your marriage!

Date Night

Putting together this list just gets me itching for a date night with my hubby.  What are your favorite date-night locations in Austin?  

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