You've spent a week agonizing, a entire day getting ready, and the moment has come! Your date knocks on the door, flowers in hand, and whisks you off to a fun-filled evening of getting to know one another.
Dating is an art form nowadays, and a lot can be foretold about a significant other based on the planning and effort put into the first date, or any date! Luckily, San Marcos, Texas has a very unique culture and plenty of fun to choose from in town and surrounding areas so LOOK NO FURTHER! Here's a cheat sheet of 15 great date eateries, theaters, and miscellaneous fun places tested by Bobcats, for Bobcats.
FOR THE FOODIES:
1. Gil's Broiler & Manske Roll Bakery
Vibe: Casual
Cost: Medium
Did you know that when LBJ was a Texas State student, he loved Gil's Manske rolls so much that when he was elected President he had a fresh batch flown to the White House? Gil's is a San Marcos classic for fairly inexpensive hamburgers and wonderful desserts. If you're a bit of a penny pincher, check out their website for daily specials! The portions are huge, so if you and your date are foodies, you'll be able to graze for a few hours while you chat it up with each other. And if the manske rolls aren't enough for you, you can certainly pop a few shops down the block to Rhea's ice cream!
Vibe: Simple Elegance
Cost: Medium to Upscale
The Root Cellar Cafe is a quaint little restaurant just off of the Square with fantastic food options for brunch, lunch, and dinner! Enjoy a nice meal and a nice evening with outdoor seating options and fancy entrees. The experience is worth the price, and you'll appreciate the equivalent of a candlelit meal without the danger of setting your residence hall on fire- or worse: getting caught by your RAs. Be sure to call ahead as it can get busy, and if you're the giving kind, be sure to order dessert! $1 from every dessert item goes directly towards the Hays County Food Bank.
3. Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard
Vibe: Swanky
Cost: Upscale
Palmer's may be a bit pricy for the average college student, but the food and environment are worth it if you're in the mood to treat your date! The menu is wonderful and sure to hit the spot. On a nice day, enjoy eating outside in the courtyard by the fountain, or inside if you like a bit more bustle around you. Reservations are always a good idea, and the folded napkins won't disappoint.
4. Frozen CAVE
Vibe: Fun!
Cost: Pocket Change
Froyo is always fun and casual, and if you're in the mood for great flavors of frozen yogurt AND gelato, Frozen CAVE is your spot. Located just off of the Texas State campus and next to Pie Society, you and your date can snuggle up on a bench or make fun of each other sitting in the kid-sized chairs while chilling out with your favorite froyo flavors and toppings.
FOR THE CLASSICS:
Vibe: Competitive
Cost: Pocket Change
Sunset Lanes is a popular spot for any competitive Bobcats, and is a cheap way to get active and create some friendly competition between you and your date! They run fantastic specials throughout the week, including College night on Mondays when every game is just $1 per person with a student ID!
Vibe: Cheap
Cost: Quarters
If there's a movie out on DVD that you and your date have been wanting to see, check the showtimes at San Marcos's local dollar theatre! Featuring inexpensive popcorn and 50 cent Tuesdays, you two are sure to have a blast. Make sure you know them well enough to know that they would be okay coming here, though- that way you can both crack jokes about the broken theatre seats instead of losing credibility if they're less than impressed.
Vibe: Entertaining- duh!
Cost: Pocket change to Upscale
EVO Entertainment in Kyle offers so many different activities. Need to see a new movie? Bring your ID for a killer student discount! Wanna play some games afterwards? You got it. Interested in bowling outside of San Marcos? Right here! EVO is the small Dave & Busters of Hays County, so you and your date can stay entertained for however long you both want. Check out their website for weekly specials, too!
8. Stars and Stripes Drive-In Theatre
Vibe: Classic
Cost: Inexpensive
If you and your date are interested in a blast from the past, try New Braunfels' Drive-In movie theatre! Check ahead for showtimes, and see that newly released movie from the comfort of your car. For those who worry about sound, don't! This theatre provides a radio station that you can tune into for the audio of the movie. The cost isn't much, and you'll be able to get concessions if you're hungry. Plus, the drive-in environment is a bit more intimate than most theatres. Ladies, who wouldn't want the opportunity to comment on things without being shushed by other movie watchers?!
FOR THE ADVENTURERS:
Vibe: Adventurous or relaxed- you choose!
Cost: Free to upscale
If you're looking for an extended date and you're both the adventurous type, check out Texas Ski Ranch! Just down the highway from campus, go skate at their skatepark, ski or wakeboard on their cable system, or get some lessons if you're beginning. If you're not so adventurous but hankering for some water and sun-kissed skin, hang out on their beach for free and talk with each other! Be sure to check their website for an extended list of activities and prices.
10. Sewell Park
Vibe: Sun-kissed
Cost: FREE! to Pocket Change
If you and your date are feeling something low-key, grab your tubes and head down to Sewell Park! Tan on the famed bikini hill, float down the river with Lion's Club tubing, or on your own, or bring your student ID to the Campus Recreation office to rent a kayak, canoe, or tube, for next to nothing!
11. Purgatory Creek
Vibe: Active
Cost: FREE!
For the extreme adventurers, grab your hiking boots or mountain bikes and head out to Purgatory Creek for some hiking an amazing views! It's a great place to bring a picnic and learn about how well the both of you handle the outdoors. If you have a lot of stamina, choose a longer hiking trail, but the shorter hiking trails don't disappoint if you're not the super tough kind.
FOR THE ARTISTS:
12. Cafe Monet
Vibe: Artsy
Cost: Inexpensive to Upscale
Cafe Monet is a cute little pottery studio where you can learn the basics of painting and then create your own painted pottery! You pay only for the piece that you choose to paint- the painting class and materials are built into the cost. Whether you're a great artist or a terrible one, you and your date will have plenty of laughs as you create your masterpieces! There's even a built in way to see each other a few days after- the Cafe will need to fire your piece in the kiln, so you'll need to return to get it when they're done!
Vibe: Group Fun
Cost: Upscale
If you're nervous about taking your date out solo, get a group of friends together and sign up for a class at Painting With a Twist! Don't worry about being a great artist- the teachers of the class walk you through creating your masterpiece step-by-step and everyone is sure to have fun. Classes are $25-$35 per person, and everyone is guaranteed to have a fantastic two-hour session! If you and your group are of age, you can bring a bottle of wine to enjoy as you paint. Locations are in North and South Austin, and in New Braunfels, so you won't have to travel too far!
AND FOR THE MOVERS:
14. The Austin Swing Syndicate
Vibe: Vintage
Cost: Pocket Change
The Austin Swing Syndicate is a swanky organization that utilizes The Fed building in Downtown Austin every Thursday for some super inexpensive fun! If you arrive at 8:15, you can learn the basics from a pair of experienced swingers and then dance the night away! If you're an intermediate swinger yourself, you and your date can go to the experienced swinger's class to learn a specific style of swing dancing to use on the floor. Don't worry about parking, because once you sign in you can pick up a ticket with a passcode on it that will allow you to park for free in the garage that the Swing Syndicate uses! It's such a fun way to have fun and get active in a great environment.
15. Dance Across Texas
Vibe: Western
Cost: Pocket Change to Medium
Dance Across Texas is a newly renovated Midnight Rodeo! Now open in South Austin, it's a great environment to two-step with your date and make some memories on the dance floor. If you're nervous about going as a pair, grab some friends and turn it into a group date. College night is every Thursday, which means it's half the cost to get into the hall. Enjoy some classic Texas and be able to make a little bit of fun of yourself if you've got two left feet!
The San Marcos/New Braunfels/Austin/San Antonio area is chock full of things to do any time of the week for any price range, which is part of what makes Texas State's location so great! Don't be afraid to go outside of these and try new places as well! Whether it's your first date or you've been dating someone for a while, you're sure to make some great new memories and bring back great stories for your friends.
