Summer is a season of romance, fun, and adventure. These 14+ Atlanta summer date ideas will allow you to kick back and enjoy some quality time together – minus the stressful planning! This list will take you way beyond the typical dinner and a movie.
TL;DR – in this guide, you’ll find:
- romantic Atlanta summer date ideas
- hassle-free date ideas for parents and busy professionals
- first date ideas in Atlanta
- easy, affordable date night ideas
- Atlanta date ideas every couple will love
Take a Walking Tour – One of Our Favorite Atlanta Summer Date Ideas
Going on a walking tour is a brilliant first date idea. Led by an expert tour guide, this activity ensures you’ll always have a topic to chat about on your date.
Plus, it’s an unexpected move that feels more engaging and novel than just finding restaurants in Atlanta and choosing typical dinner dates. While these aren’t after hours event, they are the perfect day time date. (And, you could make it a full day by opting for the Starlight Drive In that evening.)
Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk
This date idea combines food and history in one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Explore Grant Park with your tour group and taste 9 Southern-inspired dishes at 3 food stops. The tour includes 1.2 miles of easy walking, including a stroll through Oakland Cemetery to remind you that love is eternal.
King Historic District Tour
Make a meaningful connection on this thought-provoking tour. You and your date will get an in-depth look at the people and locations that inspired Martin Luther King, Jr. This engaging experience was named by Conde Nast as one of the 16 best things to do in Atlanta.
Go Stargazing and Watch a Meteor Shower
There’s nothing more romantic than snuggling up together under the stars. This year, the annual Perseid Meteor Shower will shoot across the sky from August 11-13, 2022. A full moon will also light up the sky, dimming the effects of the meteor shower but making for a romantic summer backdrop.
To make the most of your meteor shower experience, consider driving to a rural area with less light pollution. Or, you could also camp out at a state park and sleep underneath the meteor shower.
Here are a few of our favorite rural stargazing spots:
Jon Wood Astronomy Field
Located in the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, GA, 50 minutes southeast of Atlanta. This spot is open to the public from 5am-10pm. For after-hours access to the gate code, join the Charlie Elliott Chapter of the Atlanta Astronomy Club.
Hard Labor Creek State Park
Cottages and campsites are available for rental at this park that spans nearly 6,000 acres, about an hour east of Atlanta.
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Georgia’s highest-elevation state park is in the northeast part of the state, nearly 2 hours from town. Cottages and campsites are available to rent, including backcountry campsites to ensure your stargazing will be undisturbed.
Take Your Date to a Concert
In 2022, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a concert safely, no matter your taste in music. Here are a few of our favorite concerts around town this summer.
Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Chastain is known for its concerts with popular artists in a scenic backdrop. For example, this summer’s outdoor concerts include Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Third Eye Blind, LANY, Yacht Rock Revue, and more.
City Winery
Enjoy an indoor show with limited capacity at this perfect date night spot. Choose from a wide variety of musical acts scheduled throughout the summer. While you’re there, try the whipped feta, fried green tomatoes, and peach cobbler from the on-site restaurant.
Candlelight Concerts
Enjoy beautiful music, surrounded by flickering, flameless candles. Performed at some of the most iconic venues in Atlanta, these candlelight concerts are sure to impress your date. Choose from R&B legends, candlelight K-pop, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, A Tribute to Taylor Swift, and more!
Plan an Outdoor Adventure
Rent a Canoe or Kayak and Create Your Own Notebook Moment
Do you remember that scene in The Notebook when Allie and Noah take a canoe out on the lake and feed swans? Well, we can’t promise that level of Hollywood romance. But, canoeing or kayaking on a lake is one of those activities that feels adventurous and romantic while actually being pretty easy to coordinate!
More than 20 Georgia state parks offer paddling options and rentals including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and aqua cycles. A few of our favorite spots are nearly 2 hours away – perfect for a longer day trip that will really allow you to get to know your date.
A few of our favorite outdoor day trip spots:
- Unicoi State Park – boating rentals are available on Fridays through Sundays to explore the park’s 53-acre lake. This park is nestled among the rolling mountains and wineries that North Georgia is known for. While you’re there, check out some of the local attractions in nearby tourist-friendly town Helen, GA.
- Fort Mountain State Park – located near the Cohutta Wilderness, this park was home to the Cherokee Indians for hundreds of years. Hike, boat, and explore history at this 4,000+ acre park.
- Vogel State Park – visit the second-oldest state park in Georgia. Vogel State Park is located at the base of Blood Mountain near the Appalachian Trail, in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
And, if that seems too much effort, take your sweetie to Piedmont Park, instead, and walk around the lake.
Cheer on the Home Team at a Minor League Baseball Game – One of Our Favorite Atlanta Summer Date Ideas
As much as we love the Atlanta Braves, there’s something special about the hometown feel of a Minor League baseball game. The Gwinnett Stripers offer plenty of home games through September at Coolray Field. Plus, this is a super-affordable date idea: lawn tickets start at just $8.
On Tuesday night home games, hot dogs are $2 and desserts are $1. And, on “Thirsty Thursdays,” select domestic beers are just $2 each. The Stripers also host Wet Nose Wednesdays – free admission for dogs with their owner’s ticket!
If you aren’t into watching baseball, enjoy an active night out at Skyline Park at Ponce City Market. (And, when it eventually gets colder, you can go ice skating up on the roof).
Explore Atlanta’s Arts & Culture
Mix Romance and Learning at Atlanta’s Museums & Gardens
Learning something new together can spark endorphins, your brain’s natural “feel-good” neurotransmitters. Especially if you’ve been with your partner for a while, try combining date night with a learning experience. Atlanta’s museums offer plenty of opportunities for a fun night out.
- Cocktails in the Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden. A romantic evening with little-to-no planning required! Mix and mingle outdoors at the “most beautiful cocktail party in the city.” Cocktails in the Garden is held on Tuesday-Sunday nights from 5-9pm, May through September.
- High Frequency Fridays at the High Museum of Art. The High museum offers a laid-back art experience on the first Friday of every month from 6-9pm. The event often includes DJs, dancing, performances, and refreshments for purchase.
- Fernbank After Dark at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. These days, science is sexy. So, get your learning on at Fernbank’s 21+ date night experience. You’ll enjoy outdoor explorations in WildWoods, interactive museum exhibits, live music, science demonstrations, and food and drinks for purchase.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry at the Georgia Renaissance Festival
The Georgia Renaissance Festival is open on weekends through May 30, 2022! Did you miss this year’s festival? If so, save the dates for the 2023 Georgia Renaissance Festival: weekends April 15-June 4, 2023!
The festival includes games, rides, and food and drinks for purchase. Of course, you can get a 1.5 turkey leg if you’re really trying to impress your date.
Plus, experience an artisan market with live craft demonstrations. Finally, there’s plenty of live entertainment including jousting, comedy, acrobatics, music, dancing, and even a dog-themed pirate show called The Puppies of Penzance. Huzzah!
Tips for Making Your Atlanta Date More Romantic
No matter where or how you spend time with your S.O., these romantic ideas will take your date to the next level.
Add some mystery and make it a surprise date
If your date is down for a mystery adventure, keep the activity a surprise! Be sure to tell your date whether you’ll be indoors or outdoors and give them a hint or two so they can dress comfortably. Then, surprise them with an outing you know they’ll love.
Plan a special treat or picnic
A gourmet charcuterie box from Shmore Boards is the perfect addition to your picnic, day trip, or hike. You’ll snack on artisanal cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruits, signature chocolate bark, and more.
Take your interests to the next level
If you both love cooking together, cooking classes are a great option. Or, if you get excited by cars, consider the Porsche Experience Center. If you both enjoy great drinks, a visit to Krog Street Market can be fun.
End with a relaxing touch
If your date includes spending a lot of time on your feet, consider ending the day with a relaxing foot massage. Treat Your Feet is a favorite massage spot with locations on Buford Highway and in Buckhead. Includes hot stones and a special foot creme.
Build memories together
Make your date last by revisiting your favorite memories. Take some candid photos on your date and print them out afterward. Then, surprise your date by sending the photos to them in the mail as an unexpected moment of joy.
This summer, take the time to add some romance to your life. You might just find that creating some romantic moments can help you keep that warm, happy summertime feeling going year-round!
