Five Dates on a Dime

By Heather Freeman

As the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches is a place full of history, making it the perfect place to do some learning and exploring with that special someone. And to top it off, there are a handful of things to do that are guaranteed not to empty your pockets.

Whether your idea of a good date is something educational like a historic tour of some of the oldest structures in Texas, or relaxing, like a day at the lake, you are sure to find something in the Piney Woods. Put a few nights aside for these next five date ideas; you’ll enjoy them, and even more you’ll enjoy not hearing your significant other complain about not going on enough dates.

Bowling is, of course, a great pastime to enjoy with family, friends, coworkers, or just about anyone. It usually isn’t the cheapest way to spend a Friday night, but the quaint bowling alley in Nacogdoches hosts specials throughout the week to appeal to students. My favorite is the special on Tuesday, the $2 day. From 5 p.m. until when they close at midnight, everything costs only $2. So you and your date can rent a pair of bowling shoes, spend the evening devouring juicy burgers, and bowl the night away all for under $20. According to an employee, “We have daily specials everyday from Monday to Thursday, like half off the original price and $2 burgers” Plus, doing active or competitive activities together can help a couple develop a stronger bond. “Working up a sweat might not seem that romantic, but it’ll keep your blood pumping and will make you feel more connected.” (www.cosmopolitan.com).

Now, a date idea that’ll appeal more to the man in the relationship who really prefers kicking back and watching Monday Night Football; the only thing separating his eyes from the plasma screen being a mountain of greasy hot wings. There’s no better place locally to accomplish this date idea than Flashback Café. And maybe they had these greasy fingered sports fanatics in mind when they made their delicious wings $.25 each all day on Mondays. And the best part of this date is that the guy in the relationship will appreciate his lady participating in such an important aspect of his life, watching sports; getting buffalo sauce all over your fingers and face is optional.

As long as 25 miles isn’t too long of a drive for a wonderful date idea, then the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin is next on the list. This quiet, hidden treasure is the perfect place to relax and get lost admiring the 500 species of reptiles, birds and mammals that live here. And compared to the zoos in bigger cities like Dallas or Houston, the admission price is great. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday with an affordable admission of only $5. So this is the perfect date for a couple that likes to explore outdoors as opposed to a typical dinner and movie. “The landscape of this zoo is beautiful and the layout is such that you may go all day and only see a few other people, which is great for couples.” (www.tripadvisor.com).

The next two choices are ideal and each is a must-do in Nacogdoches now that the holiday season is right around the corner. The first is perfect for people who like to participate in Halloween festivities. Every year, the Nacogdoches Christ Episcopal Church School is home to a pumpkin patch with thousands of pumpkins. There were 1,800 pumpkins delivered to the church this past weekend. The patch is open to the public every year and they encourage community members to come take pictures with the pumpkins and maybe buy a few to take home. “The pumpkin patch looks so pretty and festive, especially once the sun starts to set,” said an SFA student who attends every year. This is the perfect way to spend a relaxing day. You don’t have to pay to admire the huge patch of pumpkins and you can take pictures of spending a unique evening like this together.

And of course, after Halloween and Thanksgiving come Christmas. The Christmas celebration in downtown Nacogdoches is like no other. The “Nine Flags Christmas Festival” doesn’t begin until the end of November, but would definitely be an important date to mark on the calendar. Each year, the festival includes different activities that appeal to adults and children so there will definitely be something for everyone. Just a few of the festivities include carriage rides, pictures with Santa featuring live reindeer, a new Christmas lights display, and holiday shopping in Main Street’s beautiful shops. All of these activities lead up to the lighted Christmas parade and fireworks on December 4.

So grab your special someone and practice your pose for your Santa photo, and until then, you have plenty of other cheap date ideas to spend together.