By Lisa Sokolowski, founder/blogger, DrugstoreDivas.net
Love is in the air… all year round in the Old 96 District. So no matter what the season, it’s the season of love. And if you’re looking for someone to go on a date, there are a ton of options in the area.
We’re not just talking about romantic dates. Yes, there are places for you and your spouse to go. But there are also options for friends dates and family dates. So grab your gal pals or your kids for a great night out.
Fancy Feasts
As they say, “we have food at home.” But, for those date nights when you don’t feel like eating at home, the Old 96 has a ton of options.
JP’s Food & Spirits at the Belmont Inn (Abbeville)
JP’s is otherworldly … partially because the hotel is haunted but also because the restaurant is really good.
You can grab a bite to eat and a cocktail. Then, finish your night with ice cream. There’s an exclusive Brown Sugar Maple Cinnamon ice cream, part of a collab with the new REFUEL in Abbeville, that’s served in a frozen martini glass and can be topped with Kahlua.
Christine’s Farm To Fork (Edgefield)
Farm to table is such a buzz phrase meaning that food comes from a local farm into the restaurant. Christine’s Farm To Fork kicks that up a notch and needs to add the word “our” as in our farm to our table. Ingredients come from the family’s farm in Johnston and are served in the family’s restaurant in Edgefield.
It’s a great place for a cozy date. But if you want a little bit of a louder night, go between Master’s week and October when there’s music out the patio every weekend.
Cambridge Chophouse at Inn On The Square (Greenwood)
If you want to put on your fanciest pants for dinner, make plans to go to Cambridge Chophouse, the newest steakhouse in Greenwood. It’s tucked inside the Inn On The Square, which itself is a gorgeous backdrop for a date.
Steaks, crab cakes, wedge salads, and more await you. Maybe make sure your fancy pants have a stretchy waist.
Other great date night restaurants:
- Flynn’s on Maxwell (Greenwood)
- Indigenous Underground (Abbeville)
- Montague’s (Greenwood)
- Old Edgefield Grill (Edgefield)
- Roma’s Italian Restaurant (Laurens)
- The River Grille at Tara Clubhouse (McCormick)
- The Pasture (Clinton)
Sweet Sips
If you’re looking for a date night with a little bubbly in your hand, these spots are for you.
The Lumberyard (Clinton)
If you want to grab a quick drink, The Lumberyard is a great spot. The taproom has rotating taps, plus wine by the glass or bottle.
Check the events calendar before you plan your date because there’s live music often. Food trucks are there often, if you decide you want to grab a bite to eat.
Other great date night sips:
- Good Times Brewery (Greenwood)
- Sled Dawg Brewery (Greenwood)
- South Bend Winery (Greenwood)
- Three Star Vineyard (Johnston)
Family Fun
25 Drive In (Greenwood)
Everyone is so used to sitting at home, streaming a movie while simultaneously scrolling on their phones. The act of going to a movie and watching it is lost.
So bring it back for family date night and go to 25 Drive In … which yes, is an actual drive in movie theater complete with concessions.
Archery at Hickory Knob State Resort Park (Lake Strom Thurmond near McCormick)
If you’re okay at pre-planning your family dates, archery at Hickory Knob State Resort Park is a great idea. I say pre-planning because you have to reserve your spot 24 hours in advance.
You get 30 minutes with a ranger and use of all the park’s equipment, which means all you need to bring is your family. And, if your family is a little bit older, you can reserve some time for axe throwing too (that’s for ages 13+; archery is ages 7+).
J&A Stables (Donald)
Horseback riding is such a fun family activity, and you can do that at J&A Stables. The stables offer trail riding in addition to lessons.
You can make a full weekend out of it too. There’s a vacation rental on premises with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Other family fun date activities:
- Abbeville Opera House (Abbeville)
- Greenwood Community Theater (Greenwood)
- Greenwood Railroad Historical Center (Greenwood)
- Maxwell Axe Co. (Greenwood)
- Palmetto Shooting Complex, Edgefield
- The Range At Cold Springs (Abbeville)
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Lisa Sokolowski has done a bunch of these date nights ideas while visiting the Old 96 District, from eating in Abbeville to seeing a play in Greenwood. You can sometimes find her exploring the area, and you can always find her writing about frugal travel, food, crafts and more at Drugstore Divas.
