Looking for somewhere fresh and fun to take your significant other on a date? Need some new ideas for ways to spend quality time with a child or with friends? There are many things to do on a date night or a fun day together in and near Murfreesboro.

1. Climb Your Rock
Challenge your mind and give your body a great workout climbing the high walls and boulder routes at The Ascent. For a late-night date, on the second Saturday of each month, The Ascent rock climbing gym stays open for nighttime fun. For $5 plus an additional fee for gear, climb in the dark with your headlamp beginning at 10 p.m., live music from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Regular day rates at The Ascent are $14 a person for climbing only and $20 for climbing and gear.
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2. Discovery Flights
Discovery Flights at Murfreesboro Aviation are private plane tours above the area. Starting around $100 for a half-hour flight, or about $160 for one hour, you can take a flight in one of their aircraft with a qualified flight instructor (cost depends on session and aircraft used; two or more people may require a bigger and more expensive aircraft). Just call Murfreesboro Aviation at 615-494-1900 and they’ll let you know what they can do. For those who want to fly the plane, your instructor will let you take the controls once you are at a safe altitude, and then coach you through the experience.
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3. Paints and Crafts
There are several paint-it-yourself studios in town like Painting with a Twist (The Avenue, 2615 Medical Center Pkwy. #1750), The Pottery Place (The Avenue, 2615 Medical Center Pkwy. #1765), Faithful Strokes (122 N Spring St.), or Board and Brush (Fountains at Gateway, 1500 Medical Center Pkwy. #1E). Make bath bombs at Buff City Soap (2658 New Salem Rd., Ste. A3).
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4. A Purrrfect Evening
Visit cats up for adoption and while you have coffee at Catfeine Cat Cafe, located at 1602 W. Northfield Blvd., Ste. #500. Whether you intend to bring a kitty home furever or would simply like to hang out with felines for a while, many visitors to Murfreesboro’s cat cafe report that a session at Catfeine is great therapy and puts the humans in a cheerful mood.
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5. Floating Bliss
Enjoy a couples flotation session or sauna session at Float Alchemy, located at 131 Cason Ln., Float Alchemy offers an assortment of health and wellness services including flotation therapy, infrared sauna, cryotherapy and massage therapy. Sample a variety of flavorful, health-enhancing kombuchas from the taproom, or relax at the oxygen bar. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit floatalchemy.com.
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6. Find Your Ahhhh . . .
The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe, located at 624 N. Walnut St., is an upscale boutique spa that offers couples massages, facials, body wraps and an assortment of other fine spa services and products to pamper the one you love. To view Nurture Nook’s Valentine’s Day specials or other monthly specials, to book an appointment or to learn more, visit nurturenook.com.
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7. Game Night
Have fun with bowling, bumper cars, laser tag and arcade games at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles (450 Butler Dr.), or bowl at Strike and Spare (941 NW Broad St.), and try mini-golf, go-karts and games at Go USA Fun Park (2270 Armory Dr.). Visit Flashback Arcade (258 River Rock Blvd.) and try some pinball and other classic arcade games.
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8. Get Outside
The Murfreesboro Greenway offers a lovely setting all year long to enjoy nature hikes, walking, running, bicycling or in-line skating along the 13 miles of greenway trails. There are 13 trailheads to provide access to the Greenway System. Outdoor lovers can also enjoy a hike or a game of disc golf at Barfield Crescent Park, a beautiful 430-acre park located at 697 Veterans Pkwy. Visit the Wilderness Station that houses the park’s nature center, gift shop and rental facility. For more information on these and other Murfreesboro outdoor recreation areas, visit murfreesborotn.gov/997/Parks-Greenways.
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9. Ice Is Nice
Ice skate at Ford Ice Center, located at 5264 Hickory Hollow Pkwy., Antioch. For $10.50 per adult and $9.50 per child ages 3–10, you can rent skates and enjoy the ice at sessions on Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoons. For more information, to view the schedule, or to fill out a waiver, visit nhl.com/predators/fordicecenter.

Or, go roller skating at SkateCenter West, located at 849 W. College St. in Murfreesboro. Cost depends on session. For more information, call 615-895-1403.
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10. Throwing Bullseyes
Who knew that hurling a hatchet at a wooden target and hoping it sticks would be a “sport”? Axe throwing is spreading around the nation as a thrilling recreational activity and Murfreesboro Axe brings this exciting pastime to Middle Tennessee at its 855 W. College St. location. To book a lane costs $20 per hour and includes a throwing coach who helps you get started throwing bullseyes right away. For more info, call 615-274-8210 or visit murfreesboroaxe.com.

At nearby Jack Split Axe Throwing, for $22 per person, each axe thrower gets 60 minutes of play. This will work well for double dates because four axe throwers can book a single lane (fewer than four throwers may be paired with other throwers). The best plan is to call ahead to book a lane, though walk-ins are also welcome. Jack Split is located at 163 Mall Circle Dr. For more information, visit jacksplit.com, or call 615-900-4440.
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11. Ninja Training
Try Fortified Fitness, located at 203 Southpoint Ct., for hanging, swinging, climbing, jumping and much more. This can be Ninja Warrior Training for your next competition, or just a fun workout together during open gym hours. To learn more or to schedule a session, visit iamfortified.com.
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12. A Scenic Splurge
Go on a hot air balloon ride with Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures in Franklin. A flight shared with other passengers is $250 per passenger. A special Dawn Patrol Adventure, available only at sunrise, launches about 45 minutes before sunrise and continues as the sun rises over Middle Tennessee. A private adventure is $800 for two passengers and $175 for each additional passenger. For more information, call 615-584-6236 or visit tnballoon.com.
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13. Shake Your Groove Thing
From waltz and cha-cha to swing and salsa, Dance Murfreesboro, located at 730-A Middle Tennessee Blvd., offers options for anyone who loves dancing or wishes to learn. Private classes are available, or weekly group classes every Wednesday night are $10 per person followed by social dancing. For more information call 615-278-9022, or visit dancemurfreesboro.com.
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14. Learn to Shoot
Photography Connect Murfreesboro is a group that aims to bring together the many talented photographers in Middle Tennessee. All photographers and photo enthusiasts are welcome, professionals and hobbyists, whether you have been shooting for 50 years or 5 minutes. This group is a tool to connect, learn, exchange resources and most importantly, promote photography. Each meeting has a dedicated photo topic or guest speaker and a critique session. To submit photos for critique or see topics in advance visit facebook.com/groups/photographyconnectmboro. Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at the Technology Engagement Center, located at 306 Minerva Dr. Free and open to the public. For more information contact photographyconnectmboro@gmail.com.
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15. Cook Together, Eat Together
The Curious Kitchen, located at 327 E. State St, Murfreesboro, hosts cooking classes year-round that include lessons in international cooking and other deliciousness for adults, kids and the whole family. There’s something for everyone—classes range from Baking 101 to Sushi Rolling and Fresh Pasta Making to Date Night Cooking. There’s even a Beginner Series, for the novice. They also host summer cooking camps for kids ages 6–15. For more information, visit thecuriouskitchen.net.
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16. Volunteer Together
One way to do good is to learn to build homes together with Rutherford Habitat for Humanity. As a volunteer for Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, there is always a place to bring your unique talents and skills. Experience is not necessary. Staff will provide all the training needed. Partner families work alongside many volunteers while they are earning sweat equity, so it’s a great way to meet future Habitat homeowners. To learn more about Habitat’s volunteer process, visit rchfh.org/volunteer.
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17. Sports Fans Unite
Enjoy a college basketball game at MTSU’s Murphy Center and show your support for the Blue Raiders. Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com.

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18. See a Play
Center for the Arts, Murfreesboro’s premiere destination for community theatre and fine art, proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Located at 110 W. College St., the CFA Art Gallery is free and open to the public, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To view the monthly lineup or to purchase tickets to an upcoming performance, visit boroarts.org.
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19. An Evening With the Symphony
Murfreesboro’s local symphony orchestra, the Tennessee Philharmonic, presents several shows throughout the year. Tickets range from $15 to $40. Upcoming performances include Having the Time of Your Life on Feb. 13, featuring jazz old and new, and The Green Tie Affair and Casino Night on March 14, an annual fundraiser event for the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, an evening of food, games, music and more. For tickets or more information, visit tnphil.org.
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20. An Overnight Stay
Feel like you are taking a romantic vacation while you stay in town at one of Murfreesboro’s bed-and-breakfasts.

Childress House, located at 225 N. Academy St., Murfreesboro, is an 1847 home in downtown with a garden, veranda, house patio, a side porch and option of a private porch and a parlor with a wood-burning fireplace. For more info or to book a stay, visit childresstn.com.

The Manor at Twin Oaks, located three miles south of Murfreesboro at 663 Coleman Rd., has spacious bedrooms, a library, veranda, back porch and walking trails along its 100 acres. For more information visit themanorattwinoaks.com.
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21. Wine and Dine
Big Creek Winery Tasting Room, located at 7027 Main St., Christiana, has an outside courtyard where you can sample and purchase an assortment of orchard and vineyard wines produced by Big Creek Winery in Pulaski. Enjoy a delicious dinner just across the street at Miller’s Grocery. Tasting Room hours are Wednesday 11–4, Thursday 11–4, Friday 11–8, Saturday 11–8 and Sunday 11–4. For more information, call 615-785-2124

Avian Glen Winery, located at 3545 Almaville Rd., Smyrna, has free wine tastings daily and live music on the weekends. For hours or more information, visit avianglenwinery.com.

Arrington Vineyards, located at 6211 Patton Rd., in Arrington, offers a spacious lawn with beautiful views in the hills of Middle Tennessee where you can throw down a blanket to enjoy a bottle of their wine with your picnic lunch, or relax on their deck, at a picnic table or at the pavilion. There is often live music. For operating hours and more information, visit arringtonvineyards.com.
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22. Beer Park
Enjoy live music and an assortment of beers at Hop Springs Beer Park, just off John Bragg Highway. The venue offers live music including Americana Sundays, brewery tours, disc golf course, and walking trail and a dog park. Bring your own picnic or order from the food menu. In addition to numerous craft beers, customers can purchase root beer, chocolate milk and other beverages. Learn more at hopspringstn.com.
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23. Explore History
Visit Stones River National Battlefield and National Cemetery, located at 3501 Old Nashville Hwy. This 570-acre park along the Stones River in Rutherford County is a part of the historic U.S. National Parks Service. The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union. Tour the grounds on your own or register ahead for guided tours that take place throughout the year. Learn more at nps.gov/stri, or call 615-893-9501.

Oaklands Mansion, located at 901 N. Maney Ave., is a historic plantation home in Murfreesboro built by the Maney family in 1815. Visitors can tour inside the home for $15 for adults. Military and senior discounts available. Explore the historic grounds outdoors and nearby Maney Spring, and enjoy the picnic shelter, playground and Oaklands Park free of charge. Wedding Dresses Through the Decades, an exhibit of vintage gowns from the past 100 years, is on display in Maney Hall through March 1. Tickets are $10. Learn more at oaklandsmansion.org, or call 615-893-0022.

Tour the Historic Sam Davis Home & Plantation, located at 1399 Sam Davis Rd., Smyrna. Visitors will see the home much as it was when Sam, a local Civil War hero, lived there. The home, built around 1810 and renovated in 1850 by the Davis family, contains over 100 original family pieces. The floors, doors, and most of the woodwork are also original. It is located on a 168-acre farm where crops are still grown. Admission is $15 for adults. Learn more at samdavishome.org.
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