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Photo courtesy of 1Up Arcade Bar
Have you fallen into the cycle of one boring date night after another? Dinner and a movie on repeat gets a little stale after the first few rounds. The next time you’re planning a date night, think about doing an activity that requires a little movement while you get out of the house! There are tons of fun activities happening at places across Metro Detroit that make for the perfect date night. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a little flirty competition? Whether you’re adrenaline junkies, gaming enthusiasts, or just looking for a unique way to spend an evening together, this guide has you covered…
THE AXE SOCIAL
925 North Lapeer Road, Oxford
The Axe Social offers a really great date night spot with more than just axe throwing, despite its’ name. Managers Amanda Michalik and Micayla Burr share, “The Axe Social is inside of the Legacy Center and has so much to offer including Axe Throwing, Bowling, Billiards, Corn Hole, and Darts. Compete with your date or even a group of friends—our coaches will ensure you have a great time! Full service of food and beverage is available with G’s Pizzeria.” Head to The Axe Social on a Monday through Thursday night and receive 15% off activities if you mention this article!
MIDWEST FREEFALL SKYDIVING
62912 Kunstman Road, Ray
For those looking for a more thrilling adventure, take your date to new heights with an exhilarating skydiving experience at Midwest Freefall Skydiving. Perfect for adventurous couples, skydiving offers a rush like no other, promising an unforgettable time that you’ll talk about for years to come. With over 20 years of experience, Midwest Freefall Skydiving has completed over 150,000 skydiving jumps. For first-time skydivers, this business recommends tandem skydiving, where you are paired with a professional skydiver who does all of the important work for you while you enjoy the fall.
1UP ARCADE BAR
33316 Grand River Avenue, Farmington
Located in the heart of Downtown Farmington, you’ll find 1Up Arcade Bar. Zachariah Devon, Operations Manager/Lead Mixologist shares, “Our bar is unlike any around; we have a variety of older and newer arcade-style games in-house for guests to enjoy. We just started our very own retro console game collection to offer to our guests to play the games and hold the history they once held themselves to provide an experience of nostalgia. Our vision is to bring a whole new world to gaming, where our customers can enjoy a carefully crafted cocktail from our very own mixologists, or sip on an ice-cold range of draft beers…all while indulging in a game of Mortal Kombat, pinball, or Pac Man just to name a few.” Try a Donkey Kong cocktail, which features dark rum, banana pudding liqueur, banana, cinnamon, vanilla, and more, play a few games, and enjoy an evening out at 1Up Arcade Bar. Most days of the week, this gaming bar is 21+ after 8 p.m. too!
HUB STADIUM
2550 Innovation Drive, Auburn Hills
44325 West 12 Mile Road, Novi
Hub Stadium has a variety of activities to make up a fun-filled date night. At both locations, you can play football bowling, where you combine elements of cornhole, as you throw a football to knock down bowling pins. Another option is interactive axe throwing, where you throw an axe at a screen to score points based on the game selected. If you’re on a double date, you can try out curling at the Novi location and compete against friends. The third activity at the Auburn Hills location is top golf, which offers virtual simulator games to play in a suite. Make a reservation ahead of your date night, and select which activity that interests you and your date most.
MUM’S ARCADE
17738 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe
Looking for a mid-week night out? Mum’s Arcade is a great place to be on Wednesday evenings. As a one-stop shop for Wednesday night plans, Mum’s Arcade has a food truck and is open from 5 to 10 p.m. for gameplay. As for other days of the week, “Tim and Pamela Grand, the owners of Mum’s Arcade welcome private parties of 10 or more to enjoy vintage and classic arcade and pinball machines,” shares the Mum’s Arcade team. Keep up with their social media to see what other select nights this arcade is open.
DYNO DETROIT
3500 Orleans Street, Detroit
For fitness enthusiast couples, Dyno Detroit offers a unique date night activity with its indoor climbing areas. It’s a great way to stay active together and maybe even indulge in a little friendly competition. If you’re interested in learning more about climbing, Dyno Detroit offers classes, ranging from introductory climbing techniques to one on one personalized instruction. Day passes are available for climbs, and gear is available to rent in a wide array of sizes. If you’re big fans of rock climbing, Dyno Detroit also sells lots of gear to purchase and membership options.
THE LEGENDARY AXE
37550 Cherry Hill Road, Westland
Open every day for walk-ins, The Legendary Axe is a great spot in the Western Wayne area for axe throwing. Partner Nathan Polanco shares, “The Legendary Axe is Metro Detroit’s most immersive axe-throwing venue. The facility has 10 axe throwing lanes, a kitchen, a full bar, and private VIP rooms perfect for parties and events.” Grab a bite to eat and a drink or two and relax in the lounge, or amp up the competition in one of the throwing lanes. A trained ‘axe-pert’ will be onsite to guide you on how to throw an axe, as well as teach you the ropes to mini-games and tournaments. You can also set up reservations for your date night ahead of time, with options of one or two-hour slots for axe throwing.
Hungry after an evening filled with fun? We’ve got you covered with late-night dining spots here.
THE TAILGATE GARAGE
43335 Michigan Avenue, Canton
The Tailgate Garage brings the excitement of game day to your date night where sports meet interactive fun. This innovative space combines the thrill of tailgating with a variety of virtual sports and games, making it the perfect spot for couples who love to get into the competitive spirit together. Try your hand at corn hole, football bowling, and axe throwing, or switch things up with bubble soccer, archery tag, a ropes course, and more. The Tailgate Garage also features quite the menu along with slushies and various alcoholic beverages.
FŌWLING WAREHOUSE HAMTRAMCK
3901 Christopher Street, Hamtramck
What do you get when you combine football, bowling, and a bar? Besides a bunch of fun, you get a Fowling Warehouse. Fōwling Warehouse Hamtramck opened ten years ago, adding the classic football bowling pin game to the Metro Detroit Area. Manager Michael Smith tells us, “We have 30 Fōwling lanes that get used by close to a thousand people a week! We have 4 eighteen-foot screens and 18 big screen TVs playing all kinds of sports and big games. We have over 150 beers, a Bottoms Up tap system that fills cups from the bottom, and our famous Mystery Beer Machine™ that keeps you guessing! You can book a reservation for a private lane or walk in for unlimited Open Play Tuesday-Sunday 21+ after 8 p.m.” Hungry from all of your play? Fōwling Warehouse Hamtramck allows guests to bring their own food (or get it delivered!).
ON THE DUNES
2055 Haggerty Road, Commerce Charter Township
On The Dunes features a variety of indoor and outdoor sporting activities. For indoor options, there are golf simulators, footpool (picture soccer-ball-sized pool balls on a court), street curling, axe throwing, and more. For nicer-weather dates, check out baseball, dodgeball, and outdoor beach volleyball for more team-based activities. On The Dunes also has a full menu, ranging from salads, handhelds, hand-tossed pizzas, and a drink selection with wine, cocktails, drafts, and more.
PLAYERS GOLF
33463 8 Mile Road, Livonia
Offering state-of-the-art golf simulators, Players Golf is the go-to spot for couples looking to enjoy a laid-back yet interactive date night. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or picking up a club for the first time, the combination of sports and a great bar atmosphere ensures a fun night out. Players Golf offers four different simulators, offering the experience of famous golfers, like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Pair your tee time with the sports bar’s fully loaded bar and light fare menu, and you’ve made easy date night plans.
FULL THROTTLE ADRENALINE PARK
44225 West 12 Mile Road, Novi
42705 Van Dyke Avenue, Sterling Heights
Speed into an exciting date night at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park, where you can race go-karts and enjoy the thrill of the track. It’s a perfect option for couples who share a need for speed and are looking for an adrenaline-fueled outing. In the Sterling Heights location, other activities include a rage room, virtual reality, and axe throwing. In Novi, racing sims are available, which offer a fully immersive custom driving experience. You can book an Adrenaline Pass at either location, which allows you to enjoy 2 hours of Full Throttle Adrenaline Park’s most popular activities.
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on February 7, 2023, and was authored by Katie Goncalves.
