Josh and I have been together for seven years now and we still have trouble finding good date ideas. Especially in a small town like Maryville, sometimes you have to get a little creative. So, this is a list of our favorite date ideas from the last few years that we've been at Maryville College. I hope it helps next time date night arises.

1. Coffee dates

• Vienna - This is an obvious one, but they have good coffee and a pleasant atmosphere. The only drawbacks are the fairly early closing time most nights and that the place is almost always crowded.
• The Capitol - A fancier coffee option that's only a short walk from campus. It's a beautiful old theater with classic movie themed coffee. My favorite is the Emerald City and Josh likes the Gentleman Prefer Blondes. They'll also let you drink your coffee in their amazing ballroom if there are no events going on. They often have half off specials if you check their Facebook page.
• Southland Books - A cute little bookstore with a great cafe and amazing coffee. This place makes for a perfect date for any book lover.
• The Bookmark Cafe- Located inside the Blount County Library, this little coffee bar packs a lot of character. I get a coffee every time I head to the library. The coffee is best enjoyed sitting in the quiet annex or on a study date. Plus, the baristas are a fun group of people who always have the best stories to tell.

2. Food-related

• Hot Rods Diner- This place has a very interesting vintage vibe, great food and the best float selection that I've ever seen. Josh and I are on a mission to try them all.
• Barleys- Another obvious choice, but it's one of the best places to eat in Maryville. Josh and I have a Standing Tuesday night date at Barley's at least biweekly to try our hand at a few rounds of Singo.
• Richy Kreme Donuts- The best donuts in the world and always a good date idea. Josh and I have had meals comprised solely of donuts, so this could count as a dinner date for us.
• Waffle House- This is perfect for an emergency late night date. Sometimes you and your significant other have an urgent need for waffles and chocolate milk at 2:45 a.m. and this is the place to get it.

3. Outdoorsy Dates

• The Greenway- There are lots of places on the greenway to walk around and have a picnic if you are so inclined. It's a nice place for an evening date, plus there are always lots of friendly dogs trotting around.
• The College Woods- If you've never dragged your S/O around the college woods and come out behind a nursing home near sonic, you've not been on a proper adventure date.
• Cade's Cove- Too many places to explore to count. A beautiful and free date that Josh and I love. The tourists that stop to look at the white tailed deer get annoying, but it's worth it to get to hike/explore the cove.
• The Alcoa Duck Pond - A quick date where you can feed ridiculously friendly ducks. A childhood favorite for many, making it a nice nostalgic date.

4. Other fun places

• The Drive In- You get to watch two movies for a low price and it's a classic date; you can't go wrong.
• Walmart $5 movie date- This is a favorite for me and Josh. We go to Wal Mart's $5 movie bin and look for a movie that seems interesting, usually one that neither of us has seen, then we buy it and some candy and have a nice night in.
• Bobs Burgers date- simply put, we either load up on chocolate or fast food and we watch Bob’s Burgers together; it's the perfect way to turn any type of unpleasant day into a good one.
• On campus events- SPB, SGA, and RHA are always hosting fantastic events that are almost always free to students. The movie night is always fun and we look forward to the dances every year.