20 Cheap (And Good) Summer Date Ideas for the Broke San Antonian

Visit Blue Star Contemporary at the Blue Star Arts Complex
1414 S Alamo St., (210) 354-3775, https://bluestarartscomplex.com/
Blue Star Contemporary is the first and longest-running venue showcasing contemporary art in San Antonio. Imagine viewing beautiful art with a beautiful person. It doesn’t get much more romantic than that.
Photo via 4x5photofest

Stroll Through the Japanese Tea Garden
414 Alpine, (210) 559-3148, sanantonio.gov
Take a romantic walk through San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden while admiring lively koi fish, beautiful plant life and a tall, man-made waterfall.
Photo via nastasify_photography

Check out the McNay Art Museum
6000 N New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org
Enjoy free admission to the McNay on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. as you take your date into the museum to explore the artwork and make lasting memories.
Photo by Alisa Pierce

Get Spooked at the Ghost Tracks
2902 Shane Rd., legendsofamerica.com
While this date option is free, be warned that it’s not for the faint of heart. According to legend, a school bus carrying children stalled on the Shane Road train tracks, leading to a horrible tragedy. Some say that if you dust your bumper with baby powder late at night and take a drive across these tracks, you’ll find children’s handprints placed where the dust settled. Scary right? Although the legend has been debunked as not even taking place in San Antonio, this is a good time to find out if your date has nerves of steel, or if they scream at the lightest bump in the road.
Photo via rulypondio4life

Brunch in the San Antonio Botanical Gardens
555 Funston Pl, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org
Pack a picnic basket with your favorite snacks and head over to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens where you and your date can enjoy the beauty of lush landscapes bursting with color. The gardens’ grassy hills are the perfect spot to relax while spending some quality time with your significant other and guess what? Tickets are only $12.
Photo via alexlqueen

Support Local Theatre at the Overtime
5409 Bandera Rd Ste 205, (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org
Check out a name-your-own-price showing at the Overtime Theatre for a low-price, fun-filled evening.
Photo via overtimetheatre

Snack on Pan Dulce at Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery
205 E Guenther St., (210) 227-1061guentherhouse.com
This well-known restaurant sells freshly-baked pan de huevo, orejas and many other tasty pastries for reasonable prices. The aesthetics and decorations of the location are pretty enough by themselves, and adding a tasty treat to the mix will make a date night to remember.
Photo via lindsey.t.irish

Listen to Slam Poetry at Jandros
2623 N St Mary’s St., (210) 725-8983, facebook.com
Take your date to Jandros on Monday nights to experience the best of San Antonio’s spoken word scene.
Photo via dom.pucci

Dive into San Pedro Springs Park Pool
2200 N Flores, (210) 732-5992, sanantonio.gov
Take a break from the summer heat in the giant San Pedro Springs Park Pool as you and your date get to know each other without breaking the bank.
Photo via andrewmcburney

Go thrift shopping at Boysville Auxiliary Thrift Store
307 W Olmos Dr., (210) 826-2195, boysvilletexas.org
Not only will you and bae be able to score cheap, but quality items, you'll also be giving back in the process. This thrift spot gives back to children/youth in crisis (emotional, physical, or sexual abuse) by providing food, shelter, medical services and clothing.
Photo via boysvillethriftstore

Go on a paleta date at SA Pops
3420 N. St Mary’s St., (210) 736-2526, facebook.com/sapops75
Nothing is as refreshing on a hot Texas day as a chocolate dipped paleta, especially for cheap.
Photo via bestfoodsanantonio

Catch a Free Outdoor Movie at Slab Cinema
Multiple locations, (210) 212-9373, slabcinema.com
Slab Cinema shows popular flicks at multiple San Antonio locations such as Hemisfair Park and the McNay, while offering free outdoor screenings for anyone looking for cheap and romantic options for a date night.
Photo via slabcinema

Shop at the Pearl’s Farmers Market
312 Pearl Pkwy, (210) 212-7260, atpearl.com
Support your local farmers by taking your date to the Pearl’s Farmers Market, where you can spend the morning leisurely strolling through a variety of booths selling meats, chocolates and lots of other tasty, home-grown products. Who knows? Maybe for your second date you can cook your freshly-bought groceries together.
Photo via thedancingphysiologist

Explore Latino Culture at Museo Alameda
101 S Santa Rosa Ave., (210) 206-2787, getcreativesanantonio.com
Learn about Latino culture for free in what was once the largest Latino museum in the United States.
Photo via elainemaxx

Workout Together at McAllister Park
13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd., (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov
Go for a morning jog together or take your dogs out to the park as you enjoy the outdoors and the company of your favorite companion.
Photo via lapaletarun

Cozy up at Candlelight Coffeehouse
3011 N St Mary’s St., (210) 738-0099, candlelightsatx.com
Candlelight offers a wide variety of teas and coffees that you can sip on while relaxing on comfy sofas and playing fun board game with your date. The coffeehouse has a homey vibe that will make you feel at ease will getting to know the person sitting next to you.
Photo via ikemtz

Skate at The Rollercade
223 Recoleta Rd., (210) 826-6361, therollercade.com
Rollercade offers a special adult night on Wednesdays for those 18 and up. Admission is $7 while skate rentals are $3, which makes the skating rink one of the least expensive and most fun places to take your date.
Photo via uhurdoinitwrong

Explore Government Canyon State Natural Area
12861 Galm Rd., (210) 688-9055, tpwd.texas.gov
Walk in the footsteps of the dinosaurs while hiking Government Canyon. Your date will appreciate the beauty and history of the area while you both get to save some money.
Photo via governmentcanyon

Sample the waffles at The Guenther House
205 E Guenther St., (210) 227-1061, guentherhouse.com
Waking up early? Nothing beats waffles for breakfast, especially for under $10.
Photo via fwx

Explore the 2-1-0 through the Mission Reach
From downtown to Southtown, thesanantonioriverwalk.com
Suit up and choose whether you’d like to walk, run or bike your way down the Mission Reach with your lovely by your side. This 8-mile stretch offers an absolutely beautiful and historic view of the Alamo City, largely with four of the World Heritage Missions on the trail. There’s also plenty of gorgeous sights throughout, so make sure to bring your camera.
Photo via Instagram / ryanibarra24