7 Summertime Date Ideas

Whether you’re planning a first date, celebrating an anniversary, or like me, and looking for an excuse to spend quality time together, Brown County offers plenty of ways to slow down and enjoy your partners company and everything Brown County has to offer!

If you’re looking for a fun day trip or a romantic weekend getaway, here are seven date ideas to add to your Brown County bucket list. Let’s dive right in!

1. Book a Weekend Stay at Cozy Oaks Cabin

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My two favorite things. Connecting with nature and connecting with my partner. Get away from the business of the city and book a weekend stay at a cabin in Brown County! There are so many cabins and Inns in Brown County for the perfect weekend getaway! My partner and I stayed at the Cozy Oaks Cabin – It’s the perfect combination of comfort, shutting out the world, connecting with nature and each other.

I love going into town and grabbing some fun snacks for us to enjoy at the cabin. Think unique popcorn from the Nashville Fudge Kitchen (roasted marshmallow popcorn for me, cheesecake popcorn for him), specially curated teas from Sweetea’s Tea & Coffee Shop and volants from the Olde Bartley House for in the morning.

Getting out and into nature brings about a peaceful space to connect with each other and be reminded of all the things to be grateful for and reflect on our relationship. If your love language is quality time like mine, this should be at the top of your list!

2. Spend a Sunday at the Nashville Farmers Market

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I live-laugh-love a farmers market. And we love going together! Spending the afternoon walking around with my partner, finding inspiration for our home from local artists, enjoying live music, grabbing plants for the garden, fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner later, and maybe even a sweet treat from a homebased baker! I say maybe a sweet treat, but that’s typically where we are headed first. That, or a coffee to sip on as we walk around. After exploring the market, we like to take a few extra minutes to walk around the grounds of the Brown County Inn. The gardens behind the Brown County Inn is the perfect place to cap a wonderful afternoon at the Nashville, IN Farmers Market. It’s gorgeous. Trust me.

3. Discover the Brown County Art Gallery

Slow down and wander through the Brown County Art Gallery together. Compare your favorite pieces, discover local artists, and see Brown County through a different lens. Looking at art together helps us to learn more about each other, and how one another interprets each piece. Another way to slow down and be intentional with each other!

4. Grab Ice Cream at The Chocolate Moose

I fully advocate for ice cream no matter the season, whatever the weather, but it definitely hits differently in the summertime! I don’t think any summer date list would be complete without dipping into a nice ice cream spot. A stop at The Chocolate Moose is practically a Brown County tradition.

Whether you’ve been out spending the day exploring Nashville, or just simply stopping in, this is the perfect spot to grab a cone, cup, or milkshake and enjoy a sweet treat together. Our go-to orders? The “Bacon?!” sundae for me – homemade coffee ice cream topped with hot caramel, bacon, and whipped cream. For him? The “Strawberry Cheesecake” sundae – homemade cheesecake ice cream with cheesecake pieces, strawberry topping, whipped cream, and graham crackers. Writing this portion has me craving their sundaes as I’m typing! We can’t wait to go back, and I hope you add The Chocolate Moose to your rotation on summertime date ideas! Or any weather, as I stated before. 😉

The Chocolate Moose is located right on the main road in Nashville, Van Buren Street. The perfect location to grab a scoop, sundae, or shake and sit for a while, or enjoy your ice cream while enjoying a walk in downtown Nashville.

5. Visit Brown County State Park

Brown County State Park is known as Indiana’s largest state park and is one of the most beautiful places to explore during the summer. We love Brown County State Park because every time you go there’s a new spot to explore.

Next time you’re spending quality time with your partner try one of these:

1. Select items from local shoppes and have a picnic on one of Brown County State Parks many lookouts, picnic tables, or shelters.

2. Pack hiking supplies and choose a trail at random, this’ll add an element of spontaneity, which I’m all about!

3. Catch the sunset/sunrise together (romantic, right?!) Getting out here encourages us to cut out the distractions and the noise and be able to focus on each other.

Coming in from the North gate has always been the go-to, and the fastest way to get to one of the best lookouts, with the best views!

6. Spend an Afternoon Exploring the Shops in Downtown Nashville

Part of the fun of visiting Brown County with each other is simply wandering through downtown Nashville and seeing what fun things we can find. Downtown Nashville is filled with locally owned shops, galleries, boutiques, and unique finds…

One of my favorite date ideas is to spend an afternoon browsing together without a specific agenda. No pressure to be anywhere but where we are. He’s into leather, so Moonshine Leather Company is a must stop, and for me, I love stopping into the fun shops with little trinkets and unique finds like White’s Mercantile. There are so many great spots!

Lastly, I know it’s a toy shop, don’t judge! We love the Toy Chest for a few games to play with each other. We never turn down the opportunity to play some cards!

7. Start the Day with Coffee at Brown County Sugar Shack

I love being able to start our days together, and honestly, some of the best dates happen before lunch time. Instead of waiting until dinner, start your day with a morning coffee date at Brown County Sugar Shack.

Grab your favorite drink, find a nice place to sit, and enjoy a slower start to the day. We both love that the Brown County Sugar Shack uses locally sourced maple syrup! We both like to order the maple lattes (highly recommend). He gets his hot, I get mine iced. Something about opposites attracting, right?

We love this low-key date idea because it’s simple. No line, no wait. No extravagant planning. It’s very affordable. All while still being intentional, and that’s what matters most. And to be honest, it’s a great way for us to connect even on the busier weeks when we’ve both been running at a bajillion miles per hour and just need to sit with each other, even just for a coffee.

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