Picture this: You finally convinced that smokin’ hot girl from your Spanish class to go on a date with you. You promised her that it is going to be a date she’ll never forget. However, there’s only one problem: You have no idea where to take her.

Most people have gone the traditional dinner or movie route before, perhaps even adding a romantic walk in the mix to change things up. But while these ho-hum choices are acceptable, they most likely won’t sweep your date off his or her feet.

Some dates are obvious Sacramento activities: the Sacramento Zoo, a Kings Game, or the IMAX theater downtown. But you may not be aware of the many other date destinations around town.

If you’re seeking some real adventure, Cheers Over California is a hot air balloon company based out of Sacramento. The balloon “pilot” will take you and your date on a scenic trip over Placer County. Plus, a bottle of champagne can be brought aboard to make things even more romantic. While it might be a little awkward to share a moment with the pilot looking on, a hot air balloon ride is nonetheless an unforgettable date.

Looking for adventure but don’t have the cash for extravagance? Sacramento State students get a discount at the Sac State Aquatic Center in Gold River by Lake Natoma. Couples can rent double kayaks, canoes, or paddleboats for $10 an hour. After exploring the enormous waterway, daters can paddle over to the beach areas for a picnic at sunset.

Requiring even more energy, but still a bargain, is a jump-fest at Sky High. Located in Sacramento, the enormous gymnasium has walls, ceilings, and floors made up of trampolines. It only costs $9 per hour to jump to your heart’s content and is definitely a way to break the uncomfortable ice that goes along with dating. Just try not too sweat too much; that could be a deal breaker.

As winter approaches, a somewhat cliché but still really cool (pun intended) date is ice-skating. A bonus of this activity is that holding hands is almost imperative to keep balance on the wobbly blades. At Iceland Ice Skating Rink in Sacramento on Del Paso Road, skaters can receive lessons for $15. Also, the staff gives free tours of one of the oldest ice plants in California. If you’re looking for an excuse to cuddle up for warmth, the outdoor ice-skating rink on K Street is open for winter. Afterward, freezing skaters can pop into the nearby Starbucks for hot chocolate to warm up.

“One of the best dates a guy has taken me on was ice skating downtown. It was cute that he thought of that instead of just going to dinner like every other guy does,” said international business major Luba Kalinina.

If you’re not quite ready for bumps and bruises that go along with skating, play it safe at Monster Mini-Golf in Sacramento. Traditional golf gets a makeover with the glow-in-the dark course. The course’s golf clubs, balls and walls are covered in fluorescent paint and black lights set everything aglow. Randomly throughout the course, glow-in-the dark monsters pop out at golfers. Also, the course sometimes has its own disc jockey to make the game even more exciting.

Continuing with the glow-in-the dark theme, Strikes bowling alley in Rocklin turns off the lights and has glow bowling every Thursday and Friday. A couple can spend hours having a blast listening to live music at Coach’s, the in-house bar. There is also an arcade, rock climbing and laser tag so that if your date isn’t a big fan of the chic bowling shoes, you can choose another activity without leaving the venue.

If gas money isn’t an issue and you want to venture out a little bit further, there are a lot of fun places to visit that will satisfy any date.

“I took a girl up to Squaw Valley Ski Resort one day and taught her to snowboard. After a long day on the slopes, we drove back and I took her to dinner at Scott’s Seafood on the River. It was a long date with a little bit of travel but she loved it,” business accounting major Nate Udy said.

A little closer to Sac, Apple Hill is one of the best places to visit during the fall months. Visitors can stay busy at over 50 ranches and go wine tasting, cider tasting, or sample pies. A whole day could easily be spent walking the grounds and enjoying the autumn scenery.

If alternatives to dinner dates really aren’t your style, at least add a twist to the tried-and-true. Sactown has a few fun places that make eating more than just that. L Wine Bar on L Street has over 30 wines by the glass and 80 by the bottle. You can impress your date with your wine knowledge or learn together. For a weekday date, the lounge has “WoW” (Wine on Wednesdays) themed wine tasting, with a different winery every week.

The Melting Pot on 15th Street makes eating interactive with its fondue menu. Meats and veggies are brought out raw and the sauce or cheese of your choice is cooked right on the table’s burners. For dessert, a sampler of cakes and fruit is brought out for dipping in melted chocolate.

If you have a sweet tooth but aren’t up to preparing your own dessert, Rick’s Dessert Diner on K Street will gladly do the work. Its menu has more than 280 types of desserts including pies, tarts, cakes, and cheesecakes. Order a glass of milk to go with the dessert diner’s handmade eateries and snuggle into one of the its cozy booths. The diner stays open to 1 a.m. on the weekends, so Rick’s makes a perfect ending destination on a date.

You’ve only got one chance to make a good impression on your date. Don’t forgo your chance at round two by choosing a lame spot.

Casey Kirk can be reached at [email protected].