Meighan Coretti & JoAnn Lindfors|
Contributors
Are you tired of the same old date-night destinations? Are you looking to take your significant other to some new local places that will be an enjoyable and lovely experience? Well, look no further. We have the top four date night spots here in Augusta.
Whether your significant other is a lover of the outdoors and its natural beauty or simply enjoys an easy workout, the Savannah Rapids walking trails are a perfect date spot. The Savannah Rapids are very easy to locate and includes free parking. Once you arrive, you can begin your exploration of the Rapids right where you are. There is a peaceful, clean walking trail that many people use for running and exercising. While walking along the trail, you can experience the most beautiful views and some clean, crisp air (which truly makes for a romantic getaway from the hustle and bustle of Augusta city life). One of the most romantic aspects of the Savannah Rapids trails is the dam. You can bring a lock engraved with the initials of you and your significant other and place it on the dam as a gesture to symbolize the love that you two have for one another.
Valentine could walk or even exersise day or night. (Photo by: Meighan Coretti)
If your significant other prefers getting dressed up to enjoy a night on the town and candlelit dining, we suggest these two restaurants located in the heart of downtown Augusta: The Bees Knees and The Boll Weevil Cafe.
The Bees Knees is a tapas restaurant and bar. Here, you and your special someone can enjoy a variety of locally grown, organic food options. They even offer vegetarian and vegan options so that everyone can find something to enjoy. Their tapas are made for sharing, with choices ranging from a goat cheese bruschetta to sweet potato hummus. Their most popular dish is the hand-cut sweet potato fries. If you are more interested in a full dinner plate, The Bees Knees has several “large plates” for you to choose from, including: tangy teriyaki stir-fry (available with tofu, chicken, or shrimp), chicken and waffles covered in house-made gravy and 100% pure maple syrup, or their market fish, which changes seasonally according to your location. For those of you that can’t find a babysitter for the night, you can still come and enjoy thanks to their “little bees” menu. The Bees Knees is located at 211 10thSt. Augusta, GA 30901. Their hours are: Sunday – Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, and Friday - Saturday from 5pm to 11pm. Their bar also stays open late after the food is no longer served.
The Boll Weevil Café is popularly known for its absolutely delicious and largely-sliced desserts. However, they do have quite a few lunch/dinner options including: a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches, “Southern Delights”, and five different entrees, as well. For dessert, you and your date can enjoy a smorgasbord of options: from eleven different cake flavors, eight different cheesecakes, and five different types of pies. Their classic cake options include the Red Velvet, the Perfect Chocolate Cake, the Strawberry Cake and their Carrot Cake. They also have some of the best cheesecake flavors in Augusta, including: Blueberries and Cream, Cookies and Cream, Death by Chocolate, a Turtle Crunch and a White Chocolate Raspberry flavor. Their pie flavors range from Apple Blossoms, Key Lime, and a Peanut Butter pie. They even have a sugar-free Coconut Cream Pie. A woman named Karen, dining in at The Boll Weevil Café, said “Everything is great! Generous portions and an extensive dessert menu! This is great for Valentine’s Day or a lunch out with some friends”. The café is located at 10 James Brown Blvd. in Augusta. Their hours of operation are Sunday from noon until 8 p.m.; Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’re looking for delicious, homegrown and even organic food options, make sure you get to The Bees Knees and The Boll Weevil. You don’t want to miss out.
For the days and/or nights that are just too cold and rainy to be walking at the Rapids or exploring downtown, Augusta offers a luxury movie theatre off of Riverwatch Parkway. The Riverwatch 12 Cinemas is located at 832 Cabela Drive in Augusta. They offer self-serve popcorn buttering stations so you can get the perfect amount of butter on your tub of popcorn. If you are of legal age, you can wash that down with a cold beer. Riverwatch 12 Cinemas was the first movie theater in Augusta to incorporate a bar for their patrons to enjoy. They also have comfortable reclining chairs in every theater. This is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day watching that movie you have been dying to see, comfortably, while your significant other feel pampered. Sandra, an employee at the Riverwatch Cinemas ticket office, said, “The movies are a great Valentine’s Day activity, whether you have a date or want to watch a movie with your friends. There is an option for everyone. Here at our location, we cater to couples, friends, and family. The movies here are an awesome year-round date night option!”
Augusta offers some very beautiful and entertaining places to spice up your date nights. Instead of going to the “usual” spots like Wild Wing Cafe, Monterrey’s or Pizza Joint, take a trip downtown to enjoy some delicious and locally grown recipes at The Bees Knees, followed by a decadent dessert at The Boll Weevil. Wrap the end of the night up with a relaxing viewing of a must-see film featuring at Riverwatch 12 Cinemas.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so make sure you keep these places in mind and plan a unique date for your special person.
Contact Meighan Coretti at mcoretti@augusta.edu
Contact JoAnn Lindfors at jlindfors@augusta.edu