There is something beautiful about springtime that seems to pull couples out of the movie theaters and set them in the midst of nature. The flowers begin to bloom, the birds start to chirp and the grass becomes greener. Although springtime temperatures are subject to temperamental changes, they last long enough for picnic dates to take over the hilltops, fields and parks.
Raleigh is surprisingly friendly to passionate picnickers, offering several settings close to campus that are sure to leave the eyes pleased while also entertaining the taste buds.
First, there is the Rose Garden and Raleigh Little Theater. This spot is right off campus, between Pogue Street and Everett Avenue, and is perfect for a bike ride with that special someone. The Rose Garden offers 56 varieties of roses, according to Charles Phaneuf , executive director of the Rose Garden and Raleigh Little Theater.
The Rose Garden is a public park and is also free, unlike the Raleigh Little Theater, which charges students $16 for plays and $18 for musicals. If you do plan on going to a play, Phaneuf recommends getting there an hour or two early, having a picnic in the Rose Garden, and then enjoying the play in the amphitheater. As you can tell, it’s possible to make an entire evening out of these two locations.
Another prime picnic location is the Arboretum, which is only a mile away from campus. According to Barbara Kennedy, volunteer coordinator at the Arboretum, N.C. State professor J.C. Raulston founded the plant sanctuary in 1976. The Arboretum consists of 10.5 acres of land, teeming with a variety of both woody and flowering plants. Ornate plants with woody trunks are the Arboretum’s specialty, according to Kennedy. Since North Carolina has a similar climate to Southeast Asia, many of the plants are from that region.
The Arboretum is also free, but closes at 5 p.m. during the winter and at dusk during any other part of the year. There are benches and lots of spaces to lay down a blanket for a picnic. Kennedy also noticed that couples enjoy taking pictures of all of the flowers. Morgan Traynham , a freshman in First Year College, said this was something she enjoyed.
“A good free date is walking around the Arboretum; my boyfriend and I went there and took a lot of pictures,” Traynham said.
If you want to learn something new on your date, a picnic near the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science and the North Carolina Museum of History might be the best spot for you. You can start by going on an easy two-mile bike ride from campus. Passing through the greenway to get downtown, you can relax and lay out a blanket on the lawn of the North Carolina Capitol Building, located right next to the museums. Both museums are free, so you can keep your wallet fat and happy in this setting as well.
To enjoy some fine art while on a picnic, check out the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Museum Park, also known as the Art Walk. The park consists of 160 acres of land and features outdoor art, different environments and plenty of space to spread out a big quilt. This free location is popular among students,
“I think my perfect free date would be doing something outside, something active,” Maddie Kosman , a freshman in international studies, said. “I would like to go to the Art Walk at the North Carolina Museum of Art because it’s really close and it’s cultural.”
Finally, the hill looking over Lake Raleigh on Centennial Campus is another great picnic location. A walk or bike ride around the lake makes a great start to the date, followed by laying out a blanket on the hill. If you are feeling active, you could first kayak or canoe around the lake before eating. The Lake Raleigh location offers a pleasant picnic space that’s close to campus.
Picnics offer a spontaneity and creativity that allow couples to explore and relax. They’re low-key but special-and that’s the way casual college dates should be.
