Great Local Date Ideas

By: Madie Blancaflor

        Finally, the cutie in your biology class that you’ve been crushing on asks you out. Being the gentleman that he is, he lets you pick where to go and what to do, yet you have absolutely no clue what the date should be. Hot Springs is home to bath houses, a national state park, and a bunch of trees, but what about date possibilities? Believe it or not, this town can inspire the best of dates for all types of personalities.

          If simple is your style, then a dinner date mixed with some hanging out is the perfect date formula for you. Austin Womack, a sophomore at Lake Hamilton High School, says, “Typically, I like to take a girl out to eat pizza and then catch a movie. That way it’s relaxed and neither one of us is under any pressure.” Hotsprings.org names Behind the Mall Cinema as one of Hot Springs’ better movie theatres while Rod’s Pizza is home to their famous godfather pizza. Heather Young gushes that her boyfriend takes her to Don Juan’s for dates all the time. “It’s an informal, relaxed place where we can just be ourselves,” Heather confirms. Rod’s Pizza, Don Juan’s, The San Francisco Bread Company, and Gino’s are some of Hot Springs’ more informal restaurants where you can get anything from Mexican to Italian.

          Almost all guys love sports, and occasionally you find a girl who feels the same. If you and your date fit under this category, then a fun sports activity paired with some good food is just what you need. Cameron Anderson loves to take his sweetheart out to Buffalo Wild Wings. “It has great food, arcade games, and ESPN is on 24/7. What could be better?” Taylor Duke of Lake Hamilton High School agrees, saying, “It’s so much fun playing games, competing with your guy or girl, make bets, and just goofing off. Not to mention, with sports always on, there’s never a moment when you have nothing to do or talk about!” Along with Buffalo Wild Wings, hotspringsattractionguides.com recommends Fun Trackers for a fun place to take your boo. Go carts, an arcade, and bumper boats anyone? Nothing beats winning a go cart race! For more outdoor fun, Mountain Xpress, a free tour through the mountains surrounding Hot Springs, and Panther Valley Ranch, a dude ranch where you can go horseback riding, top the list. After you’ve horsed around for a few hours, head to Applebee’s or Chili’s for a relaxed atmosphere and a game on the big screens.

          Last, but not least, there are the romantics. This is where Hot Springs get’s REAL interesting. Ashley Kendal spills that her favorite date was when her boyfriend took her on a romantic picnic on an Ouachita beach. Lake Hamilton, Ouachita, and Lake Catherine are the three main lakes surrounding the Hot Springs area, all with beaches open to the public. Another super sweet date idea is a carriage ride downtown. Just think: riding around, snuggled up to your cutie, what could be more perfect? Candace Boehm, yet another LH student, describes her perfect date as a “romantic picnic in a field, out somewhere that you can see the stars.” If Hot Springs has nothing else, it definitely has fields. Out past the Lake Hamilton Bridge on Amity road there is field after field full of flowers, grass, and the occasional cow. You just have to remember to ask the owner’s permission before the date; nothing’s more romantic than getting shot at. Brack Teague gives us insight into the male mind by admitting that guys like romance too. “A walk downtown is romantic, but not to the point of questioning whether your ‘guy’ really is a guy,” he says. Hot Springs’ historic district downtown is perfect for a walk. Because it neighbors Hot Springs National Park, you can stick to the sidewalks and lights, or go on trails for a little adventure of your own. On the subject of trails, Garven Woodland Gardens is home to some of the most romantic trails. You’ll walk under trees filled with lights, over creeks cascading into beautiful waterfalls, and through garden after garden of gorgeous flowers. When it’s chilly outside, they offer hot chocolate as well. Kyle Rainwater, a junior living in the Hot Springs area, loves to take girls on romantic dinners. His favorite restaurants for dates include Olive Gardens, Outback, and Red Lobster.

          From a simple dinner date at Rod’s Pizza, to racing go carts at Fun Trackers, to a romantic stroll downtown, Hot Springs holds a date idea for everybody. So next time the cutie you’ve been eying from across the room asks you out, don’t worry. You live in a city chalked full of date adventures waiting just around the corner.