WINTER DATE NIGHT IDEAS IN METRO VANCOUVER

But seriously, date nights are important for us parents because they give us a chance to reconnect and remember why we fell in love in the first place. And let's be real, sometimes it's the only time we get to have a conversation that doesn't revolve around diaper sizes, sports schedules, or school drama. Plus, when we take care of our relationship, it creates a happy & healthy environment for our little ones. Don't let the chaos of parenting get in the way of some much-needed quality time with your partner. Trust us, it'll be worth it for your whole family!

25 winter Date Night Ideas For Metro Vancouver Parents

1. Go ice skating at one of the many outdoor rinks in the area:

• Robson Square Ice Rink, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver and stays open late.
• Shipyards Skate Plaza, located in North Vancouver offers the best views of the city skyline.

2. Visit one of the local suspension bridges and take in the views of the canyon and rainforest, admiring the beauty of nature:

• Capilano Suspension Bridge Park features a 137-metre-long suspension bridge, and other attractions such as a treetop adventure and cliff walk.
• Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is a smaller suspension bridge in North Vancouver with trails and waterfalls in the surrounding park.

3. Visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden and marvel 5th the stunning 55-acre garden home to 250,000 plants from 7,500 taxa from all over the world:

• Enjoy the winter garden's muted colour palettes, stunning silhouettes, and a scattering of colour from winter berries and blooms.
• Join a walking, golf cart, or self-guided tour of one of the top ten public gardens in North America.

4. Enjoy the North Shore's Winter Playground, and go sliding down the snow-covered hills on a  date that will sweep you off your feet:

• Gnarly's Tube Park at Cypress Mountain is fun for people both young and young at heart! With up to 6 chutes roughly 100 meters in length and a tube tow to do the work of bringing you back to the top, all you have to do is sit down and enjoy the thrill of the ride.
• The Grouse Mountain Sliding Zone has two designated lanes of groomed terrain for your winter enjoyment. 
• The Snow Tube Park at Mount Seymour, where you can not only enjoy the rush of sliding down a hill in their specially designed tubes, but also the easy ride back up in their custom tube tow!

5. See a performance at the Vancouver Opera:

• Don Pasquale : Given a mid-20th century Technicolour makeover by the acclaimed creative duo of André Barbe and Renaud Doucet, Don Pasquale’s world bustles with a ramshackle vibrancy.
• Carmen: The blood of passion surges and spills in one of the most beloved and widely performed works in operatic history. The conflicting worlds and failed romance of the sensual, rebellious Carmen and the possessive military man Don José absolutely burst off the stage.

6. Warm up a dreary winter afternoon with fondue:

• At Roosh, in the heart of Gastown.
• At Burgoo, famous for their menu of ultimate comfort food.
• Or go for a classic with The French Table.

7. Try your hand at indoor rock climbing, challenging each other to see who can make it to the top of the wall first, at a local gym or climbing center:

• The Hive Climbing Centre is a large facility in North Vancouver with over 15,000 sq. ft of climbing surface.
• Climb Base5 has rock climbing gyms in Burnaby and North Vancouver with a variety of routes for all skill levels.
• See more options across Metro Vancouver.

8. Take a cooking class together, learning how to prepare a new dish or cuisine:

• Try out Gelato 101 at Uno Gelato, with seasonally-themed classes that are designed for “cone-noisseurs” and beginners alike, no experience needed!
• An Italian cooking class, learning how to make traditional, tasty classics like pasta and risotto.

9. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium including their new Nature Ninjas exhibit:

• Check out the Marine Mammal Rescue exhibit at the B.C. Wild Coast for a sneak peek at Marine Mammal Rescue Centre ─ the only facility of its kind in Canada and one of the world's largest rescue facilities. 
• The Canada’s Arctic exhibit tells the story of the changes experienced by the people, land & animals. It engages visitors with stories of the melting Arctic and its impact on people & its uniquely adapted animals.

10. Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the city, snuggling under blankets and taking in the sights and sounds of the season:

• with Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours, including a professional guide fully narrating the tour which highlights Deadman's Island, Vancouver's Harbour, Lions Gate Bridge, and a Coastal Red Cedar Forest. 
• On Vancouver Island, Tally-Ho Carriage Tours started services in the 1850's, making it the longest-running historical tour in Victoria.

11. Have a laugh together:

• Take in a show at Comedy After Dark.
• Join a workshop at The Improv Centre.

12. Stroll Granville Island; browse the artisanal food and craft markets and find unique gifts:

• Wander the Granville Island Public Market and try their fresh produce, seafood & artisanal products.
• Stop by Granville Island Brewing, a small brewery with a tasting room and a selection of craft beers.

13. Immerse yourself in epic art:

• Grab a brush at PaintNite ... no experience needed!  Shake things up on your next date night and discover creative expert led paining and art events at a restaurants and bar across Metro Vancouver.
• Dimensions Art Gallery is the first in Vancouver to bring illusions to life and to your camera. Handcrafted by local artists, not only are there painted illusions but physical ones; endless reflections, become giant and miniature, or just sit sideways on a wall.

14. Go for a spin on a guided bike tour:

• Join a short & sweet ride around scenic Vancouver neighbourhoods with Bee's Knees eBike Tours.
• Try the One Day Escape Tour from Into the Wild Cycling Tours

15. Take a dance class together, learning a new style of dance or perfecting your technique:

• Feel the rhythm in a belly dance group class.
• Learn traditional ballroom dancing, including waltz, foxtrot, and other classic dance styles.

16. Run away to the Circus:

• Join the fun at a CircusWest workshop.

17. Learn about First Nations culture, and explore Indigenous tourism:

• Stay at Skwachàys Lodge Aboriginal Hotel & Gallery
• Book a paddling tour with Takaya Tours
• Visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, enjoying the stunning sea-to-sky scenery!

18. Come out of the cold and take a hot yoga class together, in a warm, relaxing environment:

• West Coast Hot Yoga in White Rock also offers Aerial Yoga Classes.
• The Modo Yoga Studios features a range of hot yoga classes in a variety of styles.

19. Go to a trampoline park and have a fun, active date, bouncing and flipping together:

• Bounce into The Apex Adventureplex in Richmond with trampolines, bubble soccer and a ninja course!
• Extreme Air Park, is a trampoline park with locations in Langley, Richmond, and New West.

20. Go see a live music performance at a local venue:

• The Commodore Ballroom features a range of local and touring bands and musicians.
• The Orpheum Theatre hosts concerts by classical musicians, pop stars, and other performers.

21. Take a ghost tour of Gastown, learning about the haunted history of the area and hearing some spooky stories:

• Walk cobblestone streets with the Lost Souls of Gastown tour, and immerse yourself in the dramatic sagas of historic Gastown.
• The Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour takes you through ghostly city streets, a cemetery, and the police museum with a live storytelling guide!

22. Go to a high-end restaurant and indulge in a fancy meal, trying dishes made with fine ingredients that are expertly prepared:

• The Hawksworth Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia featuring inventive Pacific Northwest Cuisine.
• The Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar is a sophisticated locale for high-end, locally sourced seafood dishes, brunch & artisanal cocktails.

23. Take a scenic walk or hike through Stanley Park, exploring the seawall or the many trails in the park:

• Stanley Park Seawall is an 8.8 km loop around the park with stunning views of the ocean, mountains, and city.
• Stanley Park Nature Trail is a 3 km loop through the park's forested areas with old-growth trees & wildlife.

24. Go to a paint night event and create some art together, sipping on drinks and having fun as you create your own masterpieces, at a local studio such as:

• Art From the Heart YVR offers paint-and-sip events with a variety of themes to choose from.
• Bella Ceramica is a studio hosting paint & sip, glass fusing, resin pour, and other unique & creative events.

25. Go to a sports event and cheer on your favorite team, whether it's hockey, basketball, or another sport:

• A hockey game at Rogers Arena, cheering on the Vancouver Canucks.
• A Vancouver Whitecaps soccer match at BC Place