20 Twin Cities Winter Date Night Ideas

Don’t let our Minnesota winters send your dating life into hibernation mode. Let these 20 Twin Cities winter date night ideas inspire you! 

Here is a list of winter date night ideas in the Twin Cities for when just ‘going out to eat’ isn’t going to cut it:

1. Snow Tubing Arguably one of the best parts of living in the Twin Cities when the snow flies is the abundance of parks for outdoor activities. An easy one that requires (almost) no skill is tubing. A few of our favorite hills are Wirth Park, Elm Creek, Wild Mountain, and Buck Hill.

2. Skiing or Snowshoeing There are so many amazing park systems in the Twin Cities to enjoy downhill skiing, cross country skiing, or snowshoeing. If you don’t have the equipment, you can rent them for a small fee. My favorites are Theodore Wirth Park and Elm Creek Park. The trails are gorgeous and lit up at night.

3. Ice Skating Check out the Central Park Ice Loop in Maple Grove. The Loop is set up to feel like you are ice skating through the park so it is a unique experience. Skating at the Loop is free and they have skate rentals, restrooms, concessions, and even a fireplace.

4. Winter Festivals Hit up one of the many winter festivals such as The City Of Lakes Loppet, Winter Carnival, or US Pond Hockey Championship.

5. Ice Castle / Maze Explore the magical, frozen attractions at the MN Ice Castle  in Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton and the Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater.

6. Snack Your Way Through a Food Hall If you’re looking for a culinary adventure on your night out, these fabulous food halls have you covered; Keg and Case Market in the West Seventh area of St. Paul, Graze Provisions + Libations in the North Loop and The Market at Malcolm Yards in Northeast Minneapolis.

7. Rock Climbing at Vertical Endeavors Nothing says trust like having your partner belay you on a climbing wall. Vertical Endeavors has date options available for all skill levels. Don a harness and get ready to scale some heights- teamwork makes the dream work, right?

8. Acme Comedy Club Known as one of the best spots to see live comedy in the Midwest. And, what better way to break the ice on a first date than laugh over jokes? Acme’s open mic night is totally free every Monday if you want to watch (or heckle) stand-up hopefuls -- and there are always two shows on Friday and Saturday nights.

9. Sporting Events Get out and cheer for our hometown teams whether it’s the Wild, Vikings, Lynx, Timberwolves, or even the Gophers. Looking for a different type of sport experience? Check out the Rollergirls!

10. Cooking Classes In a cooking or meal idea rut? Try taking a cooking class together! You might get some great new meal ideas and have fun learning how to make them together.

11. Horse Carriage Ride through Downtown Check out The Hitching Company to arrange for a romantic night on the town. Cuddle up under a blanket, bring a thermos of hot chocolate (and maybe some Baily’s to put in it), and enjoy the beautiful downtown Minneapolis lights and views.

12. Attend a Concert Check out the upcoming concerts or go low key and check out a local live band at a neighborhood bar such as Driftwood or 

13. The Spa Minnesota winters are tough on our skin. Relax and enjoy a couples massage or facials together.

14. Guthrie Theater  There’s a reason why people fly from all over the country to see the gorgeously staged productions. The theater itself is an architectural landmark with majorly Insta-worthy views of the beautiful Mississippi River. Combined with delicious on-site dining at Sea Change, the Guthrie is a great one-stop date shop.

15. Minnehaha Falls and Riverview Theater One of the most scenic spots to take your significant other in the Twin Cities is Minnehaha Falls. The 100-foot cascade is beautiful at any time of year, but especially in the winter when it’s frozen. Then head on over to the classic neighborhood Riverview Theater to warm up. Movies are only $3 ($2 on select days and anytime before 6pm).

16. Bowling From Punch Bowl Social to Town Hall Lanes, there are a lot of great bowling venues in the Twin Cities.

17. Axe Throwing If you’re looking for a unique idea for a night out that also serves as a stress reliever, check out Bad Axe’s 8,000-square-foot building in the industrial area not far from Northeast Minneapolis. They supply you with tools, coaching, and safety tips so you can learn how to throw an axe like a Northwoods lumberjack. Described as “like bowling, but edgier,” it’s a guaranteed good time. Afterwards, stop at neighboring Norseman Distillery for a nightcap with your partner.

18. Indoor Mini Golf Did you know more people play golf in Minnesota per capita than any other state? If you (or your S.O.) love hitting the links, try indoor mini-golf or (regular) golf at some hot spots around town. For mini-golf, Can Can Wonderland’s elaborate course in Midway is a terrific option to check out. For “real golf,” Topgolf in the north suburbs has more than 100 climate-controlled hitting bays and  Thr3 Jack in the North Loop has six state-of-the-art simulators. All have stellar food menus, too.

19. Upstairs Circus Put a little DIY into your date night at this crafty North Loop bar with a Project Menu packed with 25+ crafts, from concrete coasters and wine bottle tumblers to beaded jewelry and nail-and-string art. Yes, there’s a cocktail menu, too. (And if you catch the crafting bug, second projects are half price).

20. Wabasha Street Caves Learn about St. Paul’s Prohibition-era mobster past or hit the dance floor with your significant other at the 150-plus-year-old Wabasha Street Caves. You can either come for swing night with live bands or check out the year-round historical and seasonal cave hideaway tours. Around Halloween, the cave does a spooky “Lost Souls” tour and at the holidays, a winter lights tour.