PHOENIX — Our Valley has a rich dining scene that many of us love to explore and try on date nights. But there’s more than just drinks and delicious dishes, there are plenty of things you can do to create lasting memories with your partner.
Here is a list of ideas:
CANDLE CHEMISTRY
Create a custom scent together to use later on future dates – perhaps a candlelit dinner? Candle Chemistry lets you invent your scent for a candle you make from scratch. Smell scents, choose your container, mix oils at the fragrance bar, and take your creation home the same night if you’d like. No reservations are necessary, and candles start at $25.
This company has multiple locations throughout the valley. Click here to learn more about this experience.
- Scottsdale
- 15323 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 140
- Peoria
- 9780 West Northern Avenue, Suite 1160
- Downtown Gilbert
- 51 W. Vaughn Avenue, Ste 102
- Tempe
- 516 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
TUTUGETHER
Craft together to create things that last forever. This unique space lets you craft without worrying about your masterpiece making a mess. Projects available in the studio: rug tufting, pouring art (on bears, keychains, etc.), decoden art (on iPhone cases, tissue boxes, mirrors, jewelry bows, etc.).
- Click here to see the pricing breakdown for each project.
- Address: 740 S Mill Ave, Suite 120, in Tempe
- Opening hours: Monday – Thursday (12 – 21.30), Friday (12 – 22.00), Saturday (11 – 22.00) and Sunday (11 – 21.30)
Tutugether AZ
DIY TERRARIUM BAR
If you are interested in plants – especially succulents – and enjoy indoor activities, you should check out Jade & Clover.
Jade & Clover: a unique shop with a DIY terrarium bar in Phoenix
“So when you come in … the first thing you do is pick your container; you can pick any container or jar in the store. So it’s fun to look for exactly the one that speaks to you,” Frank Ruggeberg, co-owner of the Arizona location, said in a previous interview with ABC15. “Then you pick your succulent … and then we’ll meet at the plant bar.” The location is also a gift and plant shop.
- Address: 3939 E. Campbell Ave #130 in Phoenix
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-8pm
LEGO FUN
The Legoland Discovery Center is a great place for the little ones with its numerous indoor activities, but there is also a lot of fun for adults: the shop also has great ideas for an evening date.
- You can build your own minifigure in the shop or take a LEGO set home and continue building at home.
- Click here to see a list of LEGO sets perfect for a relaxing evening for two.
- Adult evening: Lego games edition
- Next event date: August 29th from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Guests must be 18 years or older to attend this event. Adults have full access to all rides at the center, there are building activities and other activities for guests throughout the evening. Click here for more information.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona
Where:
- LEGO® Store Arrowhead Towne Center
- Address: 7700 West Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale
- Opening hours: Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- LEGO® Store Chandler Fashion Center
- Address: 3111 West Chandler Boulevard in Chandler
- Opening hours: Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SLIMY
- Of course, if you’re looking for a funky date idea, you can make your own slime. In the town of Gilbert, there’s the DIY Slime Bar, where you can choose the texture, scent/color, and toppings, and create a custom label.
- Address: 2270 E Williams Field Rd #106 in Gilbert
- Opening hours: Monday – Thursday (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), Friday & Saturday (10 a.m. – 9 p.m.) and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
ARIZONA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Maybe you don’t want to stay out too long but want to experience something new. Check out this museum where you can see dinosaurs, pan for gold, learn about ancient civilizations, mammoths and much more!
- Cost: Admission prices are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older.
- Address: 53 N. Macdonald in Mesa
- Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.
MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS
“The Museum of Illusion features more than 60 mind-blowing exhibits, installations and immersive spaces where guests can walk into a room and actually become part of the illusion – which makes for some pretty fun, photo-worthy moments,” said Stacy Stec, director of sales and marketing for the Museum of Illusions, in an interview with ABC15.
ABC15 |
- The museum also features several framed optical illusions; the illusion effect can occur when you stare at them, walk past them, or even view them with your phone’s camera.
- Location: 9500 East Via de Ventura in Scottsdale
PUTTSHACK
Not your typical mini golf, say hello to “Puttshack.” The courses here are “high-tech,” meaning you don’t have to keep track of who wins – the ball serves as your record of the player’s score.
The two-story site has four nine-hole courses: Amber, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire.
Nicole Gutierrez
“(We’ve) put different themes into it – from beer pong to easy prey to a halfpipe that’s included in our course. So there are a lot of different variations of these holes that you’ll have fun with,” said operations manager Joe Romanosky.
- Address: located in the Scottsdale Quarter (15059 N. Scottsdale Rd #100)
- Opening hours: Monday-Thursday from 11am-11pm, Friday & Saturday from 11am-midnight and Sunday from 11am-10pm
- After 8pm you must be over 21 years old to enter.
PECAN LAKE ENTERTAINMENT
This 12-hectare property offers plenty of outdoor activities, but there are also some indoor entertainment options for your evening date.
Nicole Gutierrez
The on-site building features axe throwing, a karaoke booth, a 4D VR experience and escape rooms!
- Pecan Lake Entertainment Address: 25004 S 206th St in Queen Creek
CHICKEN WITH CUCUMBER
Live in the West Valley and want to try pickleball? This place has courts you can reserve indoors! This entertainment destination also has outdoor pickleball courts as well as yard games like Jenga, cornhole, battleships, bocce ball, and giant yard pong.
Nicole Gutierrez
- Location: 9330 W. Hanna Ln. in Glendale
CANDYTOPIA
Need a sweet idea for a date night? Candytopia, an interactive art experience all about candy, is now open at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Zack Perry
“I wanted to create an experience that would make people feel like they were stepping into Candyland or the world of Willy Wonka,” said Jackie Sorkin, founder. “Candytopia is really a world of art. It’s candy art. People have never seen anything like it before. There are lots of interactive, fun things in 11 different environments.”
- Candytopia runs now through September 1. Tickets start at $24.90 for adults and $17.90 for children ages 4-12.
- Address: 7014 East Camelback Rd., Unit #1023, Scottsdale.
SMOOTH CITY
Slide into the fun in Peoria this summer! “We have 10 amazing giant slides (,), this is a waterless slide park, so we’re nice and cool inside (with) air conditioning running,” said Kevin Dugal, vice president of operations at Slick City, in an exclusive interview with ABC15. “We also have two sports fields. So you can play basketball, soccer and volleyball, we also have a junior area (…) for kids under three, with great smaller slides, different attractions and amenities in there as well.
@abc15arizona A Sneak Peek 🛝 Slick City Action Park will open its FIRST Arizona location in Peoria! ABC15’s Nicole Gutierrez takes us inside the NEW slide park with HUGE slides! #Exclusive #Peoria #FamilyFun #ABC15 #ThingsToDo @NicoleGutierrez ♬ Original Sound – ABC15Arizona
And don’t think that these huge slides are just for children, adults have fun here too. “20% of our guests are actually 18 or older. But (..) of course the children have an incredible amount of fun here. Many parents also like to join in. It’s fun for all age groups,” explains Dugal.
- Address: 7586 W. Thunderbird Rd., Suite A, in Peoria.
More stories about activities:
The video in the player above shows some of the best things to do in the valley this August. Read more about exactly here.
