Top 12 lesbian date nights in Salt Lake City

Date night looms ahead. You have no idea what to plan. The usual plans of dinner and a movie, bowling or hitting the bars seem tiresome. No particular upcoming events or festivals catch your interest. Well, here are a few date ideas to wow her in Utah.

1.      Clark Planetarium

Go catch a flick in the Hansen Dome Theatre, the first “pit-less” digital dome planetarium in the country and spend some time in the 10,000 square-feet of free exhibits. After your brains are full of cool science facts, enjoy a lovely walk around Salt Lake City and discuss how awesome learning can be.

2.      Hogle Zoo/Tracy Aviary

Lions and tigers and monkeys. I heard once that you could tell if a girl is gay when she’s younger because she asks for a monkey instead of a dog. Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary are two no-fail activities where you can easily spend an entire day. The Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park has undergone a major facelift recently — definitely worth visiting.

3.      UMOCA

Formerly known as the Salt Lake Art Center, current exhibitions include Casting Jesus and The Invincibility Fable, and what I’m most looking forward to, ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ — a sidewalk exhibition from artist Luke Jerram featuring decorated upright pianos strewn about the streets of Salt Lake where the public and incognito musicians can sit and play the pianos to their hearts content. I smell an imminent flash mob opportunity here, people.

4.      Antelope Island State Park

Open yearlong, it’s an hour drive to Antelope Island. You can witness one of the largest free-roaming herds of American Bison in the United States. Other wildlife can be spotted, including bighorn sheep, waterfowl, mule deer and pronghorn. Go for the Moonlight Bike Ride on July 6, Buffalo Days in September or enjoy yourselves on the beach, campground or hiking trails.

5.      Natural History Museum Of Utah/Bonneville Shoreline Trail

A stunning new architectural gem in Salt Lake, the Natural History Museum almost seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape, intersecting with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Explore the museum at your speed, catch Science Movie Night, the NHMU Top Dinosaurs Exhibit or take one of the architecture tours to learn about the design, materials and sustainable elements within the building. Take a walk outside as the courtyard sidewalk dissolves into the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for breathtaking sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley.

6.      Red Butte Garden

Also open yearlong, Red Butte Garden boasts 18 acres of botanical gardens and miles of hiking trails among native flora. View art, sculpture and floral exhibits, attend one of the concerts at the revamped amphitheater or look into attending one of their nature classes so you can show off your tender side.

7.      Salt Lake Bees/Real Salt Lake Games

Grab a hot dog and a brewsky and enjoy America’s favorite pastime while you get your bro on with your date. Let’s be honest, bro time with your special lady is possibly the best benefit of the total gay experience.

8.      Donut Falls Trail

This is one of the easiest hikes around and it has a spectacular climax. The three-quarter-mile walk will take a half-hour each way. The trailhead is approximately nine miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The top of the hike is exactly what it sounds like — a donut-shaped hole in the mountain with a waterfall dipping down through the middle of it. National Geographic just recently named Salt Lake City as one of the best cities in the country for hiking — this is one of the reasons why.

9.      The Leonardo

The science, technology and art museum lays south of the Salt Lake City Main Library. It hosts amazing exhibits and a good amount of programming for classes, events, camps and special programs.

10.  Wheeler Historic Farm

It’s an interactive, working farm. Milk some cows, pet some animals, take a wagon ride, have a picnic and learn about the buildings, machines, technology and what life was like in the 19th century.

11.  Salt Lake City Sports Complex

I won’t condone sneaking into hotel pools this summer. And if you choose to do that, my favorite pool to frequent is at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, formerly known as Steiner Aquatic Center. Indoor and outdoor pools, a lot of sunshine to get your tan on, plus they make the kids exit the pool every hour for 10 minutes of miraculous adult swim time.

12.  Downtown Farmers Market/Art & Craft Market / Park Silly Sunday Market

Every Saturday morning during the summer take your senses on an exploratory journey with everything the Farmers Market and Arts and Crafts Market offer from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Check out Park City’s Park Silly Market on Sundays throughout the summer, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Great food, local produce, and the wildest crafts you have ever imagined. Not an exaggeration — last week we found a booth at the Arts and Crafts Market where someone makes loin cloths out of chain mail. If that alone doesn’t get you to go check it out, I’m not sure what will.