SEATTLE — With it’s gorgeous setting in the heart of the Pacific Northwest to it’s vibrant culinary and cultural scene, Seattle has no shortage of fun, affordable date ideas. Whether you’re into exploring the outdoors or brushing up on your contemporary art knowledge, here are a handful of fun, affordable Seattle date ideas come rain or shine.

1. Check out the Olympic Sculpture Park – Get in touch with your artsy side and take your date for a stroll through Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park, a 9 acre former industrial space turned green space. Here you’ll find contemporary sculpture pieces by world renowned artists such as Richard Serra, Alexander Calder and Mark Di Suvero. The park is set against the spectacular background of Puget Sound and the Cascade Range mountains. There’s a 2,200 foot pedestrian path that leads down the beach – making it the perfect place for a casual yet romantic date. Even better: it’s completely free to visit and enjoy. World class art and gorgeous scenery = a total win/win.

2. Visit the Seattle Art Museum – Should it happen to be raining (as it often does in the Pacific Northwest), there are plenty of art adventures to be had indoors. If you’re looking for the ultimate cheap date, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) offers a free night on the first Thursday of every month. The SAM’s sleek and sexy ultra modern venue houses an impressive collection that includes everything from Native American, African, Asian, and Australian indigenous art, to modernist and contemporary works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Kehinde Wiley. Awkward silences can easily be broken by asking your date, “So, how do you feel about this Jackson Pollock.”

3. Explore Pike Place Market – It’s hard to write about Seattle without mentioning the local treasure that is Pike Place Market. Filled to the brim with food stands, eateries, speciality shops and some great people watching – you can never be bored at Pike Place. Bear the lineup of tourists at the first ever Starbucks (conveniently located across the street) and enjoy walking around. A word of warning: the main drag of the market can get pretty crowded – especially on the weekends. However, there are also lots of quieter nooks and crannies within the market that are fun to explore. However, just make sure that if you decide to steal a kiss you don’t do it by the famous “gum wall” in Post Alley.

4. Hit up some local farmers or craft markets – If you’re trying to avoid the tourist crowd but want to cater to you and your date’s foodie sensibilities, Seattle has a number of great farmer’s markets to check out. Located just beyond the city limits, the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market is rumoured to be one of the best places to go for locally grown food, plants and flowers.

However, if you are looking for more than just foodstuff, we suggest spending an afternoon scouring for funky flea market finds at the Fremont Sunday Market which features over 100 vendors from around the region selling fresh flowers, produce, crafts, and world imports.

Hoping to stay in the downtown core? Take your date over to I Heart Rummage, an alternative craft fair held the first Sunday of most months at Belltown’s Crocodile Café. Their selection of quirky, edgy crafts are sure to make for some interesting conversation (you could even play a game of “Etsy or Regretsy – you be the judge.”)

5. Go for an Ice Cream Cruise – A boat cruise around Seattle’s lakes that includes ice cream – what’s not to like?! The Sunday Ice Cream Cruise is offered every Sunday at 11am or 5pm and costs $11 per person. Not only will you and your date have a chance to enjoy gorgeous local scenery while enjoying a delicious treat and tagging your Instagram photos #ImOnABoat, the hour long tour also takes you by the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat, Dave Chihuly’s glass blowing studio and Gas Works Park. This is the perfect date if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary that isn’t overly time consuming – that is, if your date isn’t lactose intolerant.

6. Enjoy a romantic picnic dinner at Gasworks Park – Gas Works Park is a 19.1 acres public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant, located on the north shore of Lake Union. Set the mood for romance by packing a picnic and grabbing a bottle of wine to enjoy on the hill at Gas Works park. The views at sunset are absolutely breathtaking, making it a great date idea for the summer months. Technically, the wine is illegal, but the fine is only $27 – half of what you’d pay if your dog was caught pooping in public – and well worth it in our books.

7. Take a walk around Green Lake – Looking for a laid back, outdoor date? Grab a couple of lattes and head for a walk around Green Lake – a picturesque freshwater lake located in North Central Seattle which acts as an urban oasis. The newly constructed 2.8 mile walking path that goes around the whole lake takes approximately an hour to walk – just enough time to see if you and your date click. If you’re still talking up a storm by mile 2.7, it might just be love. If not, you’ve had a chance to enjoy a bit of nature without even leaving the city.

8. Indulge in an unconventional night at the movies – In need of a unique summer date idea? Take advantage of the warmer temperatures and watch a movie at The Fremont Almost Free Outdoor Cinema. For over 20 years, adventurous people of all ages come to this outdoor movie venue armed with lawn chairs, rubber boats, sofas, costumes and fun attire to join in this zany Fremont pastime.

If you’d like to stay indoors, head over to Central Cinema. Toted as “Seattle’s Most Fun Movie Theatre” this quirky repertory theatre features 1980’s favourites and classic cult movies served up with a side of cocktails & food. Admission is only $6, however if you’re looking to wine and dine on a budget, we suggest hitting the Central Cinema for their daily happy hour when you can score drinks and bites for $4-$6.

9. Go on a beverage tour – If you’re hoping to imbibe but want to save on cash, many local Seattle vineyards and breweries offer tasting tours at little to no cost. Our suggestion: take  the 35-minute ferry trip across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, a family-run operation that’s the only Seattle-area winery to grow all its own grapes on location. Sundays at 2 p.m., a free guided tour explores the picturesque vineyard. Alternatively, if you have a vehicle, fifteen miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Seattle, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s  offers wine tours that conclude with sampling, free of charge.