Edmonton 
The definition of ‘date’ is pretty open to interpretation. Move beyond a romantic dinner and try something new for your next date night. Your date might still involve a meal but try ordering from somewhere new and eating it somewhere new! Edmonton is home to a wonderful array of natural areas which allow for time out of the house with your partner doing several things: biking, hiking, kayaking, picnicking, or just relaxing with a view.
Let your partner know you have the next date night covered with some of these unique ideas sure to create a memorable day or night.
Dining in the Botanical Gardens
The U of A’s Botanical Gardens created a collection of meal and picnic kits that allow you to enjoy the area any time of day for a perfect date. For an outing earlier in the day, order a Brunch Box to enjoy in one of the Gardens’ many picnic sites. Their Picnic Box Experiences allow access to the gardens during ‘golden hour’ when you can enjoy a beautiful sunset or twilight picnic among the trees and gardens.
- Starting June 4th | 6 to 10 pm @ University of Alberta Botanic Garden, 51227 AB-60, Spruce Grove | $125 + tax includes admission for 2.
View this post on Instagram
Climb Around the Snow Valley Aerial Park
Dates don’t always require JUST romance. Sometimes they require a bit of adventure as well. Head to Snow Valley in Edmonton’s south end and challenge one another to the Aerial Park climb! This incredible recreational structure is hidden in the trees of the river valley and will make you feel like a kid again. This adult-sized playground takes you way, way up via harnesses, ladders, tire swings, balance beams, and other stuff you won’t believe until you’re doing the climb yourself (try a canoe or suspended RV!). You and your partner will be greeted at the top with a patio and lounge area where you can take in a 360 -degree view of the surrounding valley.
- Opens June 4th for the season @ Snow Valley Aerial Park, Rainbow Valley Road Northwest, Edmonton | $29 to $34
Pitch and Putt
This golfing activity is another fun and great way to work on your game together before hitting the large golf courses. All skill levels are welcome at Kinsmen Pitch and Putt where you traverse a small course through the river valley forest. This secluded but easily accessible par-3 course makes for an inexpensive way for you to golf together and feel as though you’ve escaped the city (while being in the heart of the city).
Take a Segway Tour thru Louise McKinney Park
Ready to ride? How about through arguably one of Edmonton’s most beautiful urban parks? This unique date allows you and your partner to see the iconic downtown skyline, the riverboat, the new riverfront park at Louise McKinney, and the raging spring waters of North Saskatchewan- all at once! River Valley Adventure Co. has a small storefront in the park, which is where your Segway adventure starts and is where you can grab a snack or drink afterwards. You can even book a special Sunset Cruise for some added romance.
Stroll the Whyte Avenue Art Walk
The areas in and around Whyte Avenue offer so much to do; you can get back to nature in one of the many parks, get some shopping done, or fill your bellies through the MANY local eateries. And from June 11th to August 1st, you can also enjoy an outdoor art gallery experience via the Whyte Avenue Art Walk. Located at the old Army & Navy Department Store, this outdoor gallery features all types of mediums, and artists from all over Alberta.
- Friday to Sunday, June 11-August 1, 2021 @ Army and Navy Department Store – 10411 82 Ave NW, Edmonton | Free
Spend the Night Under the Stars
Edmontonians are lucky in that we have Elk Island National Park just a short drive east of us. Elk Island is a popular place for all kinds of outdoor recreation but is becoming even more popular with its new geodomes! These clear home pods in the forest allow you to sleep in comfort under the stars. A second and just as new camping opportunity also allows you and your date a night under the stars through Urban River Adventures. Both Elk Island and Urban Island offer other add-ons which can help up the romance.
Wine & Charcuterie in the Park
Did you know you can now have open liquor (legally!) at select city parks!? The only other requirement is that you have food, so it is time for a wine and cheese night in the park with your partner. Grab your comfiest blanket, one of Edmonton’s local charcuterie boards to go, and a bottle of wine, and book yourself a city picnic site at one of seven Edmonton Parks.
View this post on Instagram
Dining and Bingo on 124th Street
Dinner makes a classic, simple, and easy way to treat someone on a date. You can add a little extra fun to your dining experience by participating in the 124th Street Bingo. Each bingo square on your downloadable sheet involves trying something at a local business in the area and tagging your experience on social media with #Eat124StBingo. Every time you use the hashtag, you submit one entry for the ultimate prize pack, valued at over $1000!
- Through June 15, 2021 @ Participating Businesses in 124 Street, Edmonton
Kayak the Sturgeon River Together
For an adrenaline-pumping day out together, try a kayak tour out on the Sturgeon River.
- Open every day @ Riel Recreation Park , #2 Rodeo Drive St.Albert | $30 to $35 for rentals
Outdoor Yoga
Join for a late night, sunset glow yoga class, where you can practice in the setting sun, with glow-sticks adorning your body in Edmonton or a enjoy a summer restorative sound vibes yoga at U of A Botanic Garden.
- Glow Yoga: June 18 & 19, 2021 | 9:30 pm – 10:30 pm @ Secret Location | $18
- Soundvibes: June 12, 2021 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm @ University of Alberta Botanic Garden,51227 AB-60, Spruce Grove | $35.00 per person + tax
Magic Show and Dinner Event at the Westin
See a magic show by local sensation Sheldon Casavant and enjoy an intimate 3 course dinner. Overnight stay at Westin Edmonton is also included in the package.
- Saturday,June 19, 2021 @ The Westin Edmonton, 10135 100 Street Northwest, Edmonton | $389.83 include dinner for 2 and stay.
Treat Yourselves
Edmonton is home to a wealth of local sweet treats. For a simple date, simply grab something sweet, and explore the surrounding neighbourhood by foot. Here are a few ideas to get your date started:
Treats from: Doughnut Party or Kind Ice Cream; Explore: Ritchie and the Millcreek Ravine
Treats from: La Boule Patisserie & Bakery Inc. or Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bakeshop; Explore: Old Strathcona
Treats from: Cupcake Mama or Mishmash Parfait & Ice Cream; Explore: Downtown and the Ice District
Treats from: Blossom Cakery or Malina Ukrainian Bakery; Explore: Terwillegar and Riverbend
Treats from: Portuguese Canadian Bakery or The Whole Scoop; Explore: Rundle, Beverly, and Gold Bar
Lazy River Float
The North Saskatchewan River makes for more of an adventurous float. But not too far away from Edmonton is the smaller Pembina River, better suited to lazy floating. Pembina River Tubing run a small rental company through which you need to book parking, or a tube or shuttle back, if you need one. There is not a lot of legal parking also close to safe launch areas, so it is highly recommended that even if you aren’t renting tubes, to reserve your parking through Pembina River Tubing.
View this post on Instagram
Scoot!
In some of Edmonton’s most populous neighbourhoods, like downtown and Old Strathcona/U of A, you can find full fleets of motorized scooters. So rather than explore Edmonton on foot together, explore it with a little more speed. Depending on the brand, some scooters have room for two, or you can each rent your own and travel urban pathways and sidewalks with the wind in your hair.
Hit up the Markets
Any farmers’ market in Edmonton can provide an entire afternoon worth of date time. Within these markets you can shop for the perfect romantic dinner to cook at home, you can shop for gifts for one another, or enjoy your meal at the market via the food stands and food trucks. No matter what part of the Capital Region you are in, there is a market near you this spring and summer. Find the market closest to you.
Get to the River Valley
No matter the kind of date you are looking for- relaxing, romantic, adventurous, or active- you can find something in Edmonton’s River Valley. The numerous paved pathways are perfect for cycling or rollerblading and can take you to numerous romantic viewpoints across Edmonton. For something more relaxing, pack a picnic! A few great picnic spots include Rundle Park, Hawrelak Park, and the Fort Edmonton Footbridge/Wolf Willow Ravine area. And right in the heart of Edmonton is Kinsmen Park where you two will have space to throw or kick around a ball, lay out a picnic, and explore the River Valley.
Catch the Golden Hour Glow
Along with the recreational opportunities provided by the river valley, we also get some epic sunset locations here in Edmonton. To catch the perfect sunset, you’ll want to get to an elevated and west-facing location which can be found on and off the North Saskatchewan. For a river sunset, walk down to Keillor Point off Saskatchewan Drive which is a pretty unique lookout point, providing mostly river and park views. For a downtown skyline sunset, try the aptly named Edmonton Skyline Lookout, or the Rowland Park lookout. And for a more northern sunset spot, try Summit Pointe in Griesbach Central Park.
Order a #datebox
Thanks to YEG.Date, you can let someone else take care of all the date planning with a Date Box! They are now offering their Spring 2021 Date Box and will release their Summer Patio Date Box on June 15th. The boxes include four dates, two mini dates, and a bunch of perks from local businesses that help you out on each date. These range from meals to activities, to a bit of both and include partnerships from local Edmonton businesses.
Get Creative with Clay and Cupcakes
This date can either be enjoyed in-store or to-go and involves enjoying delicious cupcakes while getting creative together. Clay & Cupcakes can provide everything you need at an affordable price to paint and design fun items. Take the clay home as your newest piece of décor!
Book a Spooky Ghost Tour
Take a haunting stroll past the long-standing buildings of Whyte Avenue with an Old Strathcona Ghost Tour. You’ll hear tales of hauntings, murders, mysteries, and everything spooky about the area. Your tour will occur outside and at night, so dress appropriately and be prepared to hold each other tight (whether from cold or fear).
- Various Dates in June @ 10322 83rd Avenue Northwest, Edmonton | $16.93 to $22.23
Take a Historic Train Ride
Take the highways south of Edmonton to Kelsey, Alberta to travel back in time. Kelsey is the meeting point for the Historic Train Ride to Heisler which takes passengers on an educational and entertaining prairie ride. You’ll visit a vintage hotel where you can enjoy a locally sourced meal, and you’ll get to tour the Historic town of Heisler with all its surrounding natural beauty.
- Sun, June 20 | 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM @ Kelsey Loading Site, Range Road 183 & Railway Avenue | $110 includes meal
Catch a Drive-In Flick
Summer means drive-in theatres! Check your nearby community league to see when the next drive-in movie could pop up. Cub Cinema presents movies regularly throughout the summer at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, and your ticket proceeds go to support the Stollery Children’s Hospital. You can also catch a movie in St. Albert at Larry Olexiuk Field (47 Riel Dr.).
- Raya and the Last Dragon: Sat, June 5, 2021 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM @ Larry Olexiuk Field, St Albert
- Cub Cinema: Sat, Jun 26, 2021 | 6:00 PM & 9:00 PM @ Edmonton EXPO Centre
Paddle Boarding
Even if you don’t own two, or even one paddleboard, you can rent yourselves each one for the day from Totem Outfitters. Once you have your paddleboards (and know you won’t hit rough waters), you just need to choose one of Edmonton’s many surrounding lakes and beaches from which to launch:
- Wabamun Lake
- Pigeon Lake
- Sylvan Lake (also provide paddleboard rentals)
- Gull Lake
- Lac St. Anne
- Long Lake
Snow Valley Target Golf
Target Golf: a unique take on golf and an incredibly fun way to spend a warm summer night together (while also working on your aim and your game). You and your partner will hit golf balls up a hill at different targets and novelty items as you make your way through the course. The area is not intended as a driving range, but rather a different way to golf! This activity does not require you to book in advance and is first-come, first-served. If you have your own clubs, they kindly ask you to bring them.
Eat & Seek Edmonton
Enjoy your next meal at Kingsway Mall’s new interactive outdoor space: Eat & Seek! Eat & Seek is an inventive outdoor dining experience featuring artwork from local Alberta artists. Explore vibrant interactive designs and wordplay that will inspire you to hunt for hidden messages in a larger-than-life word search, attempt unconventional hopscotch, and more!
- 35+ Restaurants and Cafes For Outdoor Patio Dining in Edmonton
- 24 Places to Enjoy the Best Craft Beer in and Around Edmonton
The Edmonton Ripper
Think you have what it takes to catch a killer? Join for outdoor detective adventure – and scramble across town, solve the clues and crack the case before The Ripper strikes again.
- June 19, 2021 | 9 AM – 5 PM @ Citywide, Edmonton
