Hoping to turn up the heat in the romance department this winter? While the beckoning of romantic destinations like the Biltmore Estate and Palmetto Bluff can never be silenced, you might be surprised by the number of cute winter date ideas in your hometown.
Whether you’re getting ahead of the game with Valentine’s Day ideas, first date ideas, winter date ideas, or cheap date ideas (hey, no judgment), we’re confident these upcoming recommendations will fit your budget and make an unforgettable impression.
Bird-watching at Brookgreen Gardens, one of the most beautiful places in South Carolina.
Go Birdwatching At A Carolina State Park
Hear us out on one of our most underrated winter date ideas – what’s more romantic than a day date observing the whimsical antics of delicate birds in winter and delving deeper into each other’s personality and preferences as you traipse gingerly through the woods on a crisp winter’s day? Check your local state park website to browse the bird species native to your area, and turn your date into a birdwatching scavenger hunt. Whoever spies the most birds gets to choose your next date!
If you both actively worship at the altar of Audubon, consider attending a birdwatching festival – after all, winter is prime time for observing migrating birds. The Hammock Coast Birding Festival is perched for February 9-11, 2024, featuring three days of exploration at some of the best birdwatching locations in the Lowcountry: Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park, and Hobcaw Barony.
Hands-on cooking workshops can be as low-key or exhilarating as you make them!
Have A Lady And The Tramp Moment At A Local Food Festival
What’s a better way to break down walls than breaking bread? Lucky for us Carolina Travelers, all seasons of the year bequeath a bounty of local produce and animal products for culinary indulgence. Winter is especially ideal for savoring succulent steamed oysters, barbecue-smothered pork, or a locally brewed stout.Â
The Charleston Wine + Food Festival is the mac daddy of food festivals in the South, taking place March 6-10, 2024. Choose from signature dinners featuring multiple-course menus with wine pairings at some of the best restaurants in the Southeast, or opt to circle the Culinary Village, where you can nosh on an assortment of soul-penetrating selections from local chefs and brewers.
Regardless of your culinary path, you and your date will have plenty of sensory inspiration to keep a good conversation going!
Alexa, play “She Blinded Me With Science”!
Gaze Up Into The Stars At A Planetarium Show
The Carolina planetarium scene is hot in the wintertime. With at least 16 planetariums and science centers scattered throughout NC and SC, you’re never too far from a trip to the stars. Plus, imagine the look on your date’s face when they ask you where you’re going and you tell them another one of your epic winter date ideas: to the moon.
In the Palmetto State, we recommend winter date ideas like visits to the Hooper Planetarium or the Settlemyre Planetarium. Both are housed at larger science centers or museums and offer a calendar of exciting community events. At the Settlemyre Planetarium, learn the fascinating evolution of black holes, question the possibility of life on hypothetical planets, and enjoy crystal clear features of the Carolina skies.
The Hooper Planetarium features a brand new 360-degree full immersion dome and first American installation of the Spitz 4K IA projection system. Hey, they had us at “immersion dome.”
Up in Tar Heel country, the James H. Lynn Planetarium and Science Theatre at the top-rated Schiele Museum reigns supreme as one of the state’s largest planetariums. Winter date ideas could include attending shows like, “Snow Much Science,” “Music Under the Stars,” and “Fossils in Space.”
A little healthy competition makes any date fun!
Cheer On Your Favorite College Basketball Team
With so many NCAA teams rooted in NC and SC, it’s highly likely you’ll be dating someone in a “house divided.” That said, competitive couples will undoubtedly flock to the ticket stands to jump and scream in support of their team during the 2023-2024 NCAA basketball season.
Tailgating with friends is one of many great sports-related winter date ideas, or you can research a restaurant close to the stadium that serves great food in a space dedicated exclusively to your team. Whether you’re a Clemson Tiger or a Carolina Gamecock, a Tar Heel or a Blue Devil, or someone who just likes to watch how the crowd behaves at spectator sporting events, you’ll enjoy yourself while watching this talented teams compete.
If both of you are basketball aficionados, you can have a true winning experience by attending the ACC basketball in Greensboro – both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be competing in this annual event.
Dry Falls: one of our favorite spots on the Waterfall Byway.
Steal A Kiss Behind A Cascading Waterfall: One Of Our Favorite Winter Date Ideas
Whoever said, “Don’t go chasing waterfalls” never had the privilege of cruising the Waterfall Byway. When you tell your date that you’re taking them on a romantic journey through a land of waterfalls, it can only go uphill from there (literally – you’ll be winding through the western NC mountains!
The toughest part of your date? Choosing among more than 200 waterfalls for exploring. Plan ahead by marking the different stop-off areas for the falls you’re most interested in viewing.Â
For a real thrill, visit Bridal Veil Falls and walk behind the cascading waters without getting a single splash! Bridal Veil Falls is another popular place for snapping cute selfies and perhaps making a grand gesture (hint hint, bridal veil falls…).
Explore majestic mansions and glorious gardens as part of the inaugural Charleston Festival.
Wander Through Other People’s HousesÂ
Disclaimer: Carolina Traveler does not endorse trespassing on any personal or commercial property in the Carolinas — not for winter date ideas or other seasonal fun. However, we fully support wandering through old houses kept in pristine condition (led by a licensed tour guide). Bonus points if the residence is haunted by a pesky poltergeist.
In its 77th year, the iconic Festival of Houses and Gardens in Charleston, SC, will rebrand as “The Charleston Festival” and offer immersive home and garden experiences in some of the most stunning and gargantuan homes in the Palmetto State. From March 14 to April 14, 2024, you and your date can pick the tour that best suits your interest. Avid gardeners may flock to the “Glorious Gardens” tours, while architecture enthusiasts will enjoy lectures on preservation.
If you live in the Carolinas, chances are your town has at least one sprawling mansion, antebellum estate, or architectural wonder that draws many annual visitors. Should the date not go well, at least you might emerge with some interior design inspiration!
