Top date spots just off CSU’s campus

It’s that time of year again. People are hitting it off with others in their classes, and love is in the air. For anyone looking to take a date not too far from their residence hall, here are the top five spots to go off campus.

Joe Wolf | Flickr.com

1. A stroll around Old Town
   Did you know that Old Town was one of the inspirations for the Main Street of Disneyland? There’s just something romantic about grabbing some coffee, ice cream or a popsicle and walking around the shops and square. Especially in the winter, when lights hang across the streets at night, and horse-drawn carriages will give you a ride up and down College Avenue.
2. A picnic at City Park
   It’s hard to go wrong with a romantic picnic at Fort Collins’ City Park. Grab a blanket, a basket — steal one from King Soopers if you really want to feel like a college kid — and some snacks to really set the mood next to the lake. A personal favorite of mine for autumn is to grab some apple cider and doughnuts and go sit under the colorful trees.
3. Check out a film at the Lyric
   The Lyric Cinema Cafe in old town offers showings of indie and foreign films, and even lets you get cereal and watch cartoons in the mornings. Impress your date with your knowledge of filmmakers, and even if you can’t understand what’s going on in the movie, it’s a classic theater for a make-out session.
4. Go Bowling
   Chipper’s Lanes is a local favorite, offering that classic ’80s bowling vibe. One of the perks of going bowling on a first date is that conversation lulls can be interrupted by taking your turn, and it’s a great place to go on a double or group date. However, if you’re a competitive person, you might want to tone that down a bit, or risk not getting a second date.
5. Check out one of the many restaurants just off campus
   Fort Collins has one of the highest amount of restaurants per capita of anywhere in the U.S. Many of these restaurants are both nice to visit, and also well within a student budget, and there’s also options for when you want to splurge a bit. A couple of my favorites are Restaurant 415, Austin’s and Petra Grill. Plus, it’s always worth a visit to the Chocolate Cafe for some after-dinner sweets.