Winter has well and truly settled in, and the temptation for many couples can be to settle into a couch-bound date night routine.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.  In fact, in a moment of weakness earlier this month, I caved in to us getting Foxtel after six years of holding firm – practically guaranteeing the next month shall be spent on the couch.  Apparently it was the most romantic thing I could have done for my husband.  I am yet to be convinced.

So for those who are bored of spending cold Friday or Saturday nights on the couch, here are five fun ideas for “date night”.

Bowl ’em over!

Strap on those cute little shoes, grab the lightest ball your fingers will fit into and bowl the night away.  And, while I’m never going to advocate the food on sale at most bowling places, I’ll admit some sneaky beers and a hot dog can add to the fun of it all.

The downside is on Friday and Saturday nights there are a lot of kids’ parties.  So if you are averse to screaming children and One Direction on repeat over the stereo, it pays to plan ahead and book a lane or a time away from the chaos.

Oh and, it’s not cheap, so look for coupons that will save you money. Bowl ’em over at AMF Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

A Night under the Stars

Throughout the coming months, Scope Mount Stromlo are holding Star Gazing Friday Nights.  You can book a table for dinner at one of two sitting times and then use the Mt Stromlo telescopes to look at the stars.  Now THAT sounds romantic.  More information and booking details can be found here.

Or, if you can’t get rid of the kidlets, line the family up for some extragalactic fun this Saturday 29 June with Under the Milky Way. Be at the Crace memorial on the top of the Hilltop Reserve Park on Langtree Crescent between 6.30pm and 8.30pm for hot food, hot drinks, hot music and some really cool views of our solar system thanks to the Canberra Astronomical Society and their high-powered telescopes.

Skate in the City

For those who want to embrace winter with open arms, Skate in the City is a great opportunity to have some arctic fun.  If you are anything like me, you have a romantic image of you and your other half gliding along the ice, hand in hand.  And if you have a partner with coordination anything like mine, that will not be the reality.

Amanda’s piece earlier in the month had some great tips on how to stay upright, and keep some degree of dignity intact.  If all else fails, they do have penguins to lean on. 

Dinner with a Difference

With so many great restaurants around town, it can be hard to pick a date-night dinner venue.  So, why not pick a few and have a progressive dinner?

A progressive dinner involves having each course at a different venue – think cocktails and tapas to start, a gorgeous main meal, and dessert anywhere of your choosing.  The key would either be to book ahead, or make sure you go to a location with many restaurant choices (Dickson? Civic? Braddon? Kingston?), so that you aren’t left waiting in the cold for a table between courses.

If you’re heading out on a Wednesay, Thursday or Friday night, why not tey Two Before Ten’s brand spanking new 10 YARDS Regional Produce Dinners and Wine Bar? You could have something amazing, like this ‘Snowy River’ samphire and beach banana, captured by Vanisha.)

Games Night

A night in during winter is a very tempting proposition, so why not settle in for a night of board game fun.  A nice little twist to add is that the winner of each round of whatever game you are playing gets control of the stereo/CD player/iPod.  Makes for a bit more competition and some great ambience (provided your other half doesn’t have horrendous musical taste!)

Now, where is that Foxtel remote?

What’s your favourite winter date?