10 Healthy (and Cheap!) Dates to Plan in Philly This Summer

These fun, good-for-you date ideas won't break the bank.

Our guide to summer date ideas in Philadelphia. / Photograph of Pixar Putt, courtesy of Rockefeller Sports & Events

Gone are the days when dinner and a movie was the benchmark for a decent night out. To help spruce up your repertoire of potential date ideas, we’ve compiled a list of local activities that are fun, health-conscious, and — most importantly — utterly romantic for the summer season.

The best part is all the ideas listed below are budget-friendly and some are even free (with a little effort, of course). Grab your significant other and get ready for a summer of fun in Philly.

Hit an outdoor movie

Okay, okay, fine: This involves watching a movie — but outdoors! And, my friend, this date is completely free. (Miraculous, we know.) Enjoy a film under the stars at Cira Green’s rooftop bar, Sunset Social every Wednesday at 7 p.m.; at Schuylkill Banks every Thursday between 8-8:30 p.m., or in one of Philly’s many public parks thanks to Fairmount Park Conservancy (multiple days). Some spots offer food and drink, while others are BYO. You can find a full list of local outdoor movie spots here.

Find your flow, together

If you’re looking to move your muscles (while also finding some zen), opt for an outdoor yoga class. There’s KG Strong’s rooftop yoga on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through October, Lumos’s yoga classes at Corinthian Gardens on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings, a slew of weekly offerings from Monarch Yoga in Kensington, and sessions on the footbridge in Manayunk every Thursday at 6 p.m., thanks to Unity Yoga. Find more outdoor options — yoga and other modalities — here.

Create unique art together

Tap into your artsy side at Bella Mosaic in Mt. Airy. About once per month, the studio hosts designated date night workshops, where you and your plus one can learn how to make your own mosaic using ceramic tiles, glass scraps, and other materials. This date is a bit on the pricier side compared to other ideas in this list ($55 per person), but it includes the two-hour class, all materials, and your finished product to take home.

Tour the Penitentiary at night

Eastern State Penitentiary is hosting Summer Twilight, which includes tours of the historic Fairmount cell blocks as the sun goes down. The series — which costs $19 to $30 depending on the day — runs Thursday through Sunday starting at 6 p.m. through September 4th, and includes an audio tour. Make an entire night of it by staying for snacks and drinks in the on-site beer garden, which features brews from Triple Bottom Brewing Company.

Perfect your putt

If you haven’t heard, a new Pixar-themed mini golf is opening at Penn’s Landing, just in time for you and your crush to putt 18 holes inspired by classics like Toy Story, Up, and Monsters, Inc. Open until October 1st, Pixar Putt will be open seven days per week, with off-peak afternoon discounts and adults-only After Dark sessions on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tickets range $27-$32 per person, and can be purchased here.

Explore wooded trails

A hike through the Wissahickon is more than just a walk in the park. There are dozens of trails to explore and most of them trek along the Wissahickon Creek, providing the perfect backdrop for a romantic outdoor date. If you’re interested in keeping the date going post-hike, grab lunch at Valley Green Inn, sip some all-natural tea blends at Craft Tea, or learn the ins and outs of building your own garden with FarmerJawn.

Get radiant

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Spring Garden cafe and beauty haven Callo/whill Greens hosts Skincare + Sip workshops where you and bae will focus on what owner Christie Dèsir calls “beauty from the inside out.” This is another more expensive date idea compared to the rest ($74 per person), but it includes up to two hours of creating customized facial moisturizers to bring home, sipping on good-for-your-skin-and-gut beauty elixirs from Dèsir’s CALLO line, and learning more about what makes for healthier, more radiant skin. Bonus: The event is BYO!

Have a “fair” time on the Waterfront

Nothing breaks the ice quite like face planting in front of the potential love of your life. Roller skating at Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest is an outdoor experience that is sure to impress any date — that is, if you can manage to keep both feet on the ground. Admission is only $5 (plus $10 if you need skates), but if you want to skip the rink and potential embarrassment, try your hand at one of the many carnival games or hop on the Ferris wheel.

Take an art-centric stroll

If your date had paintbrush and palette emojis on their online profile, a self-guided mural tour is sure to win you some extra points. The outdoor “Mural Mile” walking tour created by Mural Arts Philadelphia has two routes, consisting of over a dozen diverse art pieces, and is over two miles long.

Hit the water

Beat that sweltering city heat at one of the many free public pools throughout the city. Grab your partner, pack a tote bag to float, splash, and swim until you’re pruney and cold. Yes, you could get dressed and head to a fancy meal, but what’s more romantic than enjoying a quiet, DIY picnic in a nearby park?

Additional reporting by Stephanie Haenn and Bailey King.