Date idea 01See Who Has Better Aim at Lumber Jill’s

A little competition can make a date much more interesting.

Lumber Jill’s Axe Throwing Lounge on Ladson Road gives you the chance to throw axes, talk a little trash and find out which one of you handles losing gracefully.

The Summerville venue features multiple axe-throwing lanes, and beginners don’t need to arrive knowing what they’re doing — that’s part of the experience.

Date idea 02Paint Something Together at PepperJack Pottery

You don’t have to consider yourself artistic to have fun making something.

PepperJack Pottery on Old Trolley Road is a paint-your-own pottery studio where you can choose a ceramic piece, paint it together — or separately if you’re feeling competitive again — and have it glazed and fired afterward.

It also gives you something most dates don’t: a souvenir from the night that you actually made yourselves.

And yes, years from now one of you may still be defending whatever questionable artistic decisions were made that evening.

Date idea 03Go Treasure Hunting Together

Here’s an underrated date: walk into an antique store with absolutely no intention of buying anything and see what you find.

Summerville happens to be pretty good for that.

Antiques & Artisans offers antiques, vintage pieces, furniture, locally made goods, décor and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed until five minutes ago.

Downtown, Vintage Vibes on Main Street gives you multiple rooms of vintage finds to wander through.

And if you want an even bigger antique hunt, there’s Summerville Antique Gallery on North Main Street.

Date idea 04Skip Dinner and Go Straight to Dessert

There is absolutely no rule saying dessert has to come after dinner.

Swank Desserts in Downtown Summerville makes an easy stop when you want something sweet and still want to be able to wander downtown afterward.

Or change things up with milk tea or fruit tea at Boba Fusion, with plenty of combinations to turn ordering itself into part of the experience.

Another option is The Crepe Lab on Old Trolley Road, where sweet crêpes and specialty coffee drinks can make dessert the entire plan.

Sometimes “Want to go get something sweet?” is all the date planning you need.

Date idea 05Make It a Coffee Date

Not every date needs to happen after dark.

Grab a coffee and actually sit and talk for a while.

Coastal Coffee Roasters roasts its own coffee right here in Summerville and makes an easy stop for a relaxed coffee date.

Over in Nexton, Summit Coffee gives you another option for a casual coffee date before wandering around the area.

Coffee dates are especially good when you don’t want an elaborate plan. Meet for a drink, and if you’re having a good time, figure out what comes next.

Date idea 06Go Bowling — With Bragging Rights on the Line

Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason.

Stars and Strikes on Ladson Road gives you bowling, an arcade, laser tag and other activities under one roof.

That means the date doesn’t necessarily end when the bowling does.

And if you’re both terrible bowlers?

Even better.

Date idea 07Wander Downtown With No Real Plan

This might be one of the easiest dates on the list.

Park near Hutchinson Square and just start walking.

Browse shops. Sit in the square. Find something you’ve never noticed before. Grab coffee. Split a dessert. Walk through Azalea Park. See where the afternoon takes you.

You don’t necessarily need an itinerary in Downtown Summerville because several little stops can become the itinerary.

And if you’re interested in the history around you, Hutchinson Square itself has been at the center of Summerville since the town’s earliest days.

Date idea 08Turn the Farmers Market Into a Saturday Morning Date

Date night doesn’t actually have to happen at night.

Grab coffee and spend Saturday morning wandering the Summerville Farmers Market together.

You can browse local produce, baked goods, handmade items, flowers and other finds while discovering local makers and small businesses.

Or just buy something delicious and eat it immediately. We’re not judging.

Date idea 09Make Third Thursday Your Date Night

If your schedules line up with the third Thursday of the month, Downtown Summerville has already done much of the planning for you.

Third Thursday gives you an excuse to walk downtown, browse businesses, catch whatever activities or entertainment are happening that month and make several stops along the way.

Instead of deciding on one destination, downtown becomes the date.

And since each month’s event changes, it’s an easy one to repeat without having exactly the same night twice.

Date idea 10Have a Drink Somewhere You Can Actually Talk

Dinner isn’t required just because you’re going out in the evening.

Accent On Wine & More near Hutchinson Square offers wine, beer and charcuterie in a relaxed downtown setting that works particularly well when the point of the date is simply spending time together.

Or head over to The Azalea Bar & Garden on Cedar Street for cocktails and a garden-style atmosphere.

Grab a drink, find a comfortable spot and don’t worry about building the rest of the evening around a meal.

Date idea 11Make Up Your Own Downtown Date Challenge

Here’s one you can steal directly from us.

Each person gets to choose one stop without telling the other person beforehand.

It could be a shop, dessert, coffee, a park, a drink, an activity — whatever you want.

The only requirement is that neither stop can be dinner.

Congratulations. You just planned a date without actually planning a date.