15 Cheap And Fun Date Ideas Near University of Nebraska Lincoln
Planning the perfect date night is much harder than you think when you are a broke college student. You want something inexpensive, yet something that your date can be impressed by. I’ve got 15 cheap and fun date ideas near University of Nebraska Lincoln, just for you!
A Day at the Zoo
When people in Nebraska want to go to the zoo, many people don’t know that Lincoln has its very own zoo! Located only 1.5 miles from campus, you can enjoy the Lincoln Children’s Zoo year for a small entry fee of $8.95 per person.
The Haymarket Farmer’s Market
For six months out of the year, the Haymarket holds a weekly farmer’s market every Saturday from 8am to 12pm! It begins the first Saturday in May and runs through mid-October. The best part about this date idea is that it is free to go around to see what they have to offer and it’s only walking distance from the UNL and located near 8th Street and Canopy.
A Night Downtown
No one can pass up concerts at the Bourbon! It is located at the heart of O Street downtown and only a 10-minute walk from campus. Prices will very for every performer but you can always count on a great time. Since you will be downtown you will be surrounded by plenty of restaurants before or after the show!
A Night With the Stars
Lincoln is known for many things and one of them is sports! Besides the common Husker games, Lincoln has great hockey team known as the Lincoln Stars! It is located only 1 mile from campus near the Devaney Center and tickets start at $16.50.
A Day at the Pumpkin Patch
Every girl’s goal in the fall is to go to as many pumpkin patches or haunted houses and lucky for us, Lincoln has Roca Berry Farm. From mid-September through Halloween, they are open every day of the week with rates starting at $8.50 weekdays and $11.50 on weekends for the pumpkin patch and additional costs for the haunted houses. They are located 10 minutes outside of Lincoln but it’s worth the drive for those AMAZING caramel apples.
Experience Zero Gravity
Everyone has that inner child in them that needs to be shown every once in a while. The perfect place to do that is at Zero Gravity. For those of you that have never heard of Zero Gravity, it is a large building full of trampolines filled with many different courses! It is located 3.5 miles from campus with rates starting at $8.99 per person.
Exploring the Gardens
I strongly urge everyone to experience the Sunken Gardens at least once in there life. The 1.5 acre Garden is located across the street from the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, only 1.5 miles from campus. The Garden is filled with beautifully maintained flowers and bushes and with no fee to you, it is the perfect place for a photo op!
Sing Your Heart Out
Karaoke Night at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has to be one of the most fun date nights out there, as long as you don’t get easily embarrassed! Karaoke Night is offered Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. located in downtown Lincoln. There is no fee to you which means more money spent on their amazing tacos and margaritas!
Skate Your Way Into Their Hearts
The best part about winter time in Lincoln, Nebraska, is The Ice Rink that opens at the Railyard located in the Haymarket near Hiro 88 and Mellow Mushroom. From December to March, The Ice Rink is a perfect setting for date night as well as group dates. Admission is free but there is a small fee of $12 for ice skate rentals.
A Walk in the Park
For the more outdoorsy kind of people I recommend checking out Wilderness Park! They have many walking and bike trails as well as 13.5-mile riding trail to go horseback riding. Wilderness Park is located 5 miles from the UNL campus and it’s completely free!
The Perfect Breakfast Date
If you’re like me, breakfast food is great at any time of the day. Surprisingly enough there are many breakfast food options besides the usual I-HOP or Village Inn! Some places I recommend are Bread & Cup in the Haymarket, Cultivia located both downtown and on East Campus, the Green Gateau on 10th Street and The Hub also located in the Haymarket. Breakfast dates are usually pretty cheap and don’t be afraid to splurge on a mimosa while you’re at it!
Date Night Under the Stars
One of the cheapest and probably most cliché date nights ever is one spent under the stars. Lucky for you we live in Nebraska and you don’t have to drive too far to get out of the city and find a dirt road to park your car. Besides gas it is absolutely free and you get to spend some quality time with your special someone!
The Rock Climbing Adventure
For the adventure-seekers I recommend going rock climbing at the Outdoor Adventure Center located between HSS and the Rec. The Outdoor Adventure Center is open till 10 p.m. on Fridays and 8 p.m. on the weekends. Since you are UNL student you can get your first climb there for free!
The Great Escape
For all you risk takers out there you need to check out the Escape Room. They offer 4 different courses to choose from and test your survival skills! It is located 3 miles from campus and they are open till 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights! The cost for a group of two is $28 or you can make it a group date to lower the cost! If you decide to go Monday through Thursday they will give you an additional 10% off as well!
Living the Country Lifestyle
Since you currently live in Nebraska that must mean you have a little country living in you. Every Sunday night at Pla Mor Ballroom they have country night from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. It is located 6 miles down O Street with a $5 fee for UNL students!
