A fabulous and frugal daytime date in Atlanta starts with a mindset spin. Instead of worrying about all that nightlife happening while you're asleep or at work, be grateful that you're able to woo your love or spend time with a new interest during the daylight hours. Many of the best – and cheapest – dating activities only happen before nightfall and you're almost guaranteed to skip the cover charge.
» RELATED: This is the best first date spot according to the AJC's Best of Atlanta poll
If "I work nights" has been your anti-social excuse, here's how you can rejoin the dating world and bring your significant other with you. Skeptical? See what late-night daters are missing with these seven daytime dates in metro Atlanta that cost $20 or less.
Hike and see waterfalls at Yellow River Park Trail
3232 Juhan Road, Stone Mountain. 770-978-5271.
Gwinnett County's Yellow River Park will make you happy that you're able to date during the day. It's one of the numerous Atlanta trails that involves waterfalls. Along with a simple, 1-mile paved trail, the park features a 3.2-mile jaunt that takes you right past a series of tiny waterfalls. You don't have to pay for parking, even. If you're super fit, start the date with some trail running. If you're more casual, the multiple flat surfaces let you converse while you walk. The sandy river banks, birds and fellow hikers with their dogs might even make this a date place to have a heartfelt, future-focused talk. Or you can just skip rocks and hit the playground.
Breakfast all day at Hop's Chicken
Price: two chicken biscuits, $8; order of waffles to split, $3.75; two Dancing Goats coffees, $2; fried blueberry pie to split, $4.
Total date tab: $17.75.
Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-355-3762.
Whether you're both early birds or one of you must socialize before leaving to work second shift, Hop's has you covered. First of all, they serve fried chicken and scratch-made biscuits worthy of the snazziest restaurant date or your own grandmother's Sunday dinner. Secondly, their prices are so affordable you can make it a date-day tradition. (You can also use it as a frugal first date option). And maybe best of all, it's in low-pressure Ponce City Market, so you can stroll and hang out without worrying you'll have to spend more money after you eat. Plus, trying to figure out what they mean by frim-fram sauce is a great conversation starter. And did you notice the coffee is $1?
Zoo Atlanta excursion using your library card
Free.
800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-624-9453.
A daytime date to watch sweet and ferocious animals is classic and so romantic. But you'll have to be practical and plan ahead if you want that zero-dollar date tab. Here's how it works: Once a year, you can head to the library with your card in hand. You'll check out a Zoo Atlanta Library Pass DVD, view it, and return it. At that point, the library will issue you a receipt valid for zoo admission that's good for the following 14 days. The receipt covers admission for four guests any one day of the week, so consider a double daytime date if you like. That's it!
Eat dessert first at Frozen Cow Creamery
Price: $5-$9 per each ice cream, depending on mix-ins and size.
Total date tab: $10-$18.
2870 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw. 678-324-7459.
1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 380, Woodstock. 770-675-9169.
Who says you have to have a shirt with a collar and reservations to have an Atlanta foodie experience? Frozen Cow Creamery operates out of a converted house and mixes wonderful frozen concoctions right before your eyes. Some are lactose- or sugar-free. Just a few of the flavors include peanut butter pretzel chip or red velvet cake. Frozen Cow Creamery is also proudly family-owned. Either location works for a day-time date, but the Kennesaw store opens at 2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, while Woodstock doesn't open until 4 p.m. those days. Both are closed Mondays. If it's cold, hang out inside with your ice cream. If it's a nice day, walk and slurp and enjoy each other's company. Remember, no one on their deathbed ever says, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office and eaten less ice cream..."
Watch a first-run movie on Tuesday at AMC Theatres
Price: $5 each for tickets; $5 each for "cameo" popcorn-drink combo.
Total date tab: $20.
While there's a Regal Unlimited Pass that costs about $20 for movies all month at a couple of Regal theaters in the Atlanta area, no one beats AMC Theaters for a daytime price. They offer Discount Tuesdays, where you can take in a first-run movie, even a blockbuster, for $5 each. The fine print isn't a drag on this daytime treat either. You do need to sign up as an AMC Stubs member, but that's free. Special events are excluded, but not many of them are daytime events anyhow. And you can even have your frugal daytime date and popcorn: There's a $5 "cameo" popcorn and drink deal, too.
Credit: Contributed by Cultured South
Credit: Contributed by Cultured South
Enjoy kombucha treats at Cultured South
Price: Split a flight board of five kombucha varieties on tap, $9.99, plus Kraut-chi or Honey Sea Salt popcorn, $8.50.
Total date tab: $18.49.
1038 White Street Southwest, Atlanta. 404-549-8314.
Maybe all the community-minded kombucha brewers like to be at home with their super healthy families in the evenings? Whatever the explanation, daytime is the superior time for a date to one of the Southeast's only kombucha taprooms, Cultured South, since it's only open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. If the two of you are both into tasty probiotics, this is an affordable way to share the experience and maybe a snack. The Atlanta kombucha taproom is also on the Beltline's Westside Trail, so a nice walk can precede or follow your fermentation experience.
Credit: Contributed by Chad Lamothe
Credit: Contributed by Chad Lamothe
Caffeine and Octane once-a-month car show
Free.
8-11 a.m., the first Sunday morning of each month.
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody.
This is not a spontaneous "let's hang out!" daytime date choice. But the "all makes and models" car show is something a dating couple should try at least once and, hey, it's free. It's huge, drawing at least 15,000 fans and 2,000 cars. The faithful start arriving before sunrise to watch the parade of cars arrive, and you should be among them just once. If you have a lot of fun, or just want an excuse to keep hanging out, the car show is filmed live and old episodes air pretty often. Season Four of the Caffeine & Octane television series premiered on NBC Sports Sept. 10, 2019. Maybe your friends who don't have the privilege of daytime dates might want to watch it with you, but they'll probably be pretty envious that you saw it in person first.
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