by Sandy Rosenblatt

[Note from Pete:  Hey gang -- welcome to the first AskRomeo.com website post by Sandy Rosenblatt, our newest AskRomeo instructor.  In addition to being sexy and cool,  Sandy is full of dating tips and wisdom.  You might have seen her recent series on "Date Ideas That Will Make Them Say 'Wow!' " on the AskRomeo Facebook page... but if not, here it is on the website. 

Obviously, the places discussed below are specific to the Washington, D.C. area... But if you're an AskRoman from one of the 70 other countries and 44 other states from which poeple visit our website, don't dispair -- there are probably many similar venues and great-date locations in your area.  Feel free to comment on the below, and let us know the places you like that are close by you.] 

Great Date Ideas

Now We’re Cookin’…

Trying to channel your inner Julie Child or Gordon Ramsey? Friday nights at Cookology Cooking School in the Dulles Town Center is “date night”. There you and your date will be literally asked to put on your chefs’ hats and aprons along with 10-12 other couples as you learn to make a three-course meal with dessert. You are taught to chop, dice, sear, bake, etc…The class is three hours and ends with a sit -down dinner accompanied with wine. Classes fill quickly so make your reservations early at http://www.cookologyonline.com/classes/.

Fly Through the Air with the Greatest of Ease…

Have you ever thought about joining the circus? Take a drive down to the Navy Yard on the Capitol Riverfront and you and your date can experience what it would be like to fly on a trapeze. They have classes for all fitness levels. Experience the thrill of letting go of your own trapeze to be caught be one of their instructors on another. Classes are both indoors and out and are approximately 2 hours long.

To schedule your class online go to http://washingtondc.trapezeschool.com/.

Get Artsy

If you feel like traveling up to Baltimore and your date is a little more artistic do I have a date for you! First take them to The American Visionary Arts Museum (AVAM) in which you can take in art by self-taught artists who use everything from paint to matchsticks! Not to be missed is the school bus covered in tiny mirrors. Tour the museum as well as the barn and grounds before you head out for a nice lunch at The Papermoon Diner located only minutes away.

The Papermoon Diner is the only one of its kind in the United States. It is a toy diner. The walls, ceiling, and floor have toys from every generation. Did you collect Pez dispensers? They have quite the collection. Feeling nostalgic for your old red wagon? There are plenty there? Not only are there the toys to enjoy but the food is also amazing.

For information on both of these locations to have fun on a playful date, go to http://www.avam.org/ and http://www.papermoondiner24.com/.

Go Ape!

Maybe you have always wanted to embrace your inner Tarzan and Jane… Well you can do that in Rockville, Maryland at Go Ape! It’s an elaborate zip line and ropes course in which you go on and outdoor adventure through Rock Creek Park. See what it feels like to fly through the trees of the park at top speed and wind rushing through your hair. The entire course takes between 2-3 hours.

To book a class online go to http://www.goape.com/.

Your Mission, Should You Decide to Accept It…

Have you and your date always enjoyed playing detective like Sherlock Holmes? Have you ever thought about being in the CIA? Why not go to the International Spy Museum? They offer missions like Operation Sly Fox in which you and your date can go on. You will go on this mission with the help of GPS, clues, and codes to solve. See how well you and your date work together solving your mission as well as seeing the great city of Washington, DC. When you are through take a tour of the museum and see what happens behind the scenes of places like the CIA.

To read more about the Spy Missions offered go to http://www.spymuseum.org/.

A Walk (and Dance) in the Park

Perhaps you are looking to take your date on something a little more quiet. How about a picnic for two in Glen Echo Park?  The park is located in Glen Echo, Maryland right by the C&O Canal. There you can set up a picnic blanket and basket and dine in the park.  You can walk around and check out the trestle train or the signs such as The Cuddle Up Candy Corner which are straight out of the 1920s. If you are feeling nostalgic the two of you can take a ride on the Dentzel Carousel which was built in 1921.

For directions go to http://www.glenechopark.org/.

In addition, you might want to stay for a dance in the historic Spanish Ballroom! Swing dances most Saturday nights, contra dances on Fridays and Sundays, and other types of dance as well. It’s one of the best places to dance in the DC area — if not the entire East Coast.

You can read more about Glen Echo Park here.

Let Us Know How It Went!

As the pictures show, we’ve thoroughly tested these date ideas ourselves… But we’d still love to get your inputs.  After you go on one of these dates, post a comment below, or on our Facebook page.  And feel free to tweet about it as well… We’re now on Twitter as @AskRomeoAcademy.

Until next time,

Sandy