12 Romantic Things To Do In Youngstown, Ohio

1. Enjoy a night of culture with your partner at DeYor Performing Arts Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Recognized as one of the most beautiful performance centers in the Midwest, DeYor Performing Arts Center is definitely a wonderful date night spot where you and your significant other can enjoy world-class cultural performances. The venue’s elegant designs offer a truly romantic backdrop to amazing orchestral and theatrical entertainment.

DeYor Performing Arts Center features two main performance halls— the Edward W. Powers Auditorium and the Ford Family Recital Hall, both providing enough space to accommodate large audiences for bigger productions. The Adler Art Academy on the second level of the building is where recitals, smaller productions, workshops, and other activities happen.

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Address: 260 W Federal St, Youngstown, OH 44503, United States

Website: DeYor Performing Arts Center

2. Let the good times roll at Camelot Lanes

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Romance is not just about fancy candle-lit dinner dates and such. Most of the time it’s just as simple as sharing a fun time with your significant other while enjoying each other’s company—and Camelot Lanes offers just that, a fun date night idea in Youngstown, Ohio.

You can either go on a regular bowling time or make it more interesting by going for cosmic bowling, which happens on weekend nights. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time. You can even enjoy some tasty bites and drinks while playing some rounds or just head to the cozy lounge area after a game and cap off your date night with refreshing drinks.

Camelot Lanes

Address: 628 Boardman-Canfield Rd, Youngstown, OH 44512, United States

Website: Camelot Lanes

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 12pm - 11pm; Fri, Sat & Mon: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 12pm - 10pm

3. Frolic amid nature's splendor at Fellows Riverside Gardens

Over 40,000 multicolored bulbs of annuals, chrysanthemums, perennials, and tulips bloom each spring in across the 11 acres (4.4 hectares) of Fellows Riverside Gardens. This makes for an intensely beautiful, natural backdrop that any so romantically inclined, would love to frolic through. Visiting couples can spend hours in one another’s arms as they walk through the perennial border walk that doubles as a showcase of the Gardens’ rose collection. They can then steal away to the observation tower with stunning views of Lake Glacier. Or even take a lesson or two from the D.D. and Velma Davis Visitor & Education Center that features a comprehensive database of everything that flourishes within the Gardens as well as a museum and art gallery.

Fellows Riverside Gardens

Address: 123 McKinley Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio

Price: Free

Contact: +1 330-740-7116

Website: Fellows Riverside Gardens

4. Sample sweet delights at White House Fruit Farm

Known for its over 20 varieties of apples, the farm also produces a wide selection of fresh produce like strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, and so much more. Couples can shop for only the freshest fruits and vegetables, but there’s so much to be done and to explore. White House Fruit Farm is best known for it’s freshly baked blueberry donuts which are renowned the state over. There are other delectable treats on-offer here, including homemade fudge, freshly made apple cider, and thousands of specialty foods. All of these can be brought for relaxed consumption beside the idyllic and charming lake that is open to visitors. White House Fruit Farm also sees many seasonal activities hosted by the descendants of the original Hull family. This includes food tastings in March, a raucous and lively spring festival in April, and a unique Christmas celebration on the farm in December.

White House Fruit Farm

Address: 9249 State Rt 62, Canfield, OH

Website: White House Fruit Farm

5. Create beautiful, functional art at The Art Cafe

More artistically inclined couples should visit The Art Café, a hidden gem in the Southern Park Mall. For the price of whichever piece you want to customize and decorate, couples can create everything from matching mugs to decorative plates professing their undying love for one another. Customizable items fall into diverse categories that include kitchenware (those mugs!), home décor, sports, and even kids’ items. After you and your date (or partner) finish, the pieces will be then fired in their kiln. You can then pick up the finished piece a week later.

The Art Café

Address: Southern Park Mall, Youngstown, OH

Website: The Art Café

6. Visit Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

Called a “racino” because it has both a race track and casino, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course features a mile-long oval racetrack where thoroughbreds race. The six-furlong dash for three-year-old horses is the signature race of the track which is one of the most exciting types of races that you and a date can catch. The H Lounge located in the building hosts music and comedy acts on weekends that make for an enjoyable experience that you and your date can cap off at the famous Take 2 Grill that serves scrumptious grilled meals.

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

Address: 655 North Canfield Niles Road, Youngstown, OH

Website: Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

7. Indulge in authentic pioneer history at Lanterman’s Mill

In the earliest days, grinding corn and wheat were all done manually, in massive stone buildings designed just for that purpose. You and a date can experience what it was like in the old days; they even sell off much of what they produce in the mill, the old fashioned way. The aptly named Mill Creek nearby also features the award-winning Gorge Trail that takes you through some of the most stunning vistas around Lanterman’s. It’s perfect for you and your date to slip away too for a sweet, quiet walk amid the beautiful flora and fauna that form the area’s geologic history. Make sure to download the recipe book for the stone ground flour that you can get from the Mill.

Lanterman’s Mill

Address: 1001 Canfield Rd, Youngstown, OH

Website: Lanterman’s Mill

8. Watch a movie at Elm Road Drive-In Theatre

Elm Road Drive-In Theatre brings back the simple, sweet joy of that experience and that era. Now one of less than 400 still standing drive-ins, the Theatre offers a unique romantic escape. This cheats slightly as it’s a short drive out of Youngstown, but it’s worth putting on the list because it’s something most people don’t normally think of, as a date spot. As with all classic drive-ins, Elm Road is located somewhat out of the way and is surrounded by the muted splendor or rural Ohio. While it operates on a seasonal schedule (every Spring!), it’s definitely worth checking out at least once and transports you and your date, way back in American history.

Elm Road Drive-In Theatre

Address: 1895 Elm Rd NE, Warren, OH

Website: Elm Road Drive-In Theatre

9. Enjoy a candlelit dinner at Nicolinni’s Ristorante

In your quest for a romantic night out, you can’t discount a good ol’ classic; dinner for two. You can’t go wrong with Nicolinni’s Ristorante in Youngstown. This Italian restaurant sports a romantic ambiance in their vineyard themed design. Their lacquered hardwood tables and chairs lend to the classic romantic dinner for two, the kind of image that people conjure up when they think of a first date. What Nicolinni’s is best known for is their artistically presented desserts. These sweet and tasty treats are so varied that you’re spoiled for choice and really need to keep coming back to try them all. All of these you can cap off with an equally diverse range of drinks on the menu.

Nicolinnis Ristorante

Address: 1247 Boardman Poland Rd, Youngstown, OH

Social Media: Nicolinnis Ristorante

10. Tour the Butler Institute of American Art

Sometimes, romantic can be as simple as a quiet environment to stroll around admiring some of the best examples of American art. The Butler Institute of American Art aggregates works of art in all mediums made by Americans. The cool clean exhibit halls provide amazingly serene ambiance for any happy couple to spend hours in the presence of a constantly rotating exhibit from the impressionist to the abstract and the modern. There’s just so much to see, experience and share with a partner. There are occasional stunning artistic performances and high-definition film showings at the Museum’s Zona Auditorium. It’s an experience for the artsy and ordinary alike.

The Butler Institute of American Art

Address: 524 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH

Website: The Butler Institute of American Art

11. Toast to the good times at V2 Wine Bar and Trattoria by Vernon

V2 Wine Bar and Trattoria by Vernon is one of the most popular eateries in downtown Youngstown. Don’t let the classy brick setup fool you, they offer quite a lot of tasty treats from salads to paninis to burgers and everything in between. Their specialty is their delicious handcrafted pizza baked in their 800-degree stone hearth oven. This classy eatery screams upscale and upstanding and it offers a venue to enjoy a more laid back date. As you sit, chat, and toast, there’s no noise to disturb a couple looking for a private moment together.

V2 Wine Bar and Trattoria by Vernon

Address: 100 W Federal St, Youngstown, OH

Website: V2 Wine Bar and Trattoria by Vernon

12. Journey to the stars in Ward Beecher Planetarium

The Ward Beecher Planetarium is one of the top Youngstown, Ohio, attractions that offers you and your date the opportunity to do just that- kind of. It does offer free full-dome video tours of the heavens and the stars. It does this through the GOTO Chronos machinery installed in 2006. Cosmic Castaways is their most popular show and it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful and awe-inspiring; truly an experience to share with someone you love. A planetarium isn’t your common date spot, but that’s exactly what works in its favor.

Ward Beecher Planetarium

Address: 100 Lincoln Ave, Youngstown, OH

Website: Ward Beecher Planetarium

There's much to discover in Youngstown

A small city with a big heart, Youngstown has much to offer couples looking for a range of experiences. These are suited to new couples caught in the hot fires of young love all the way to aged couples enjoying the warmth of years well-spent together. We’ve covered the widest range of activities and destinations. Find and try the ones that are closest to your heart, and then explore those you haven’t tried before.