Here are 20 fun Detroit date ideas for $10 or less

By Metro Times editorial staff on Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 8:33 pm

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Outdoor Adventure Center — Get a little taste of “Up North” right here in Detroit with the Outdoor Adventure Center that will only cost you $5.

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Tour The Guardian Building — Take a Saturday and tour the Guardian Building with your boo free of charge. Enjoy the beauty of both The Guardian’s 1920s architecture and design as well as the artwork within the building. Pure Detroit offers tours guided by historic preservationist and urban planner Michael Boettcher. Photography is welcome.

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Baker's Keyboard Lounge — The oldest Jazz Bar still running, founded in 1933, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge offers an affordable night out on the town with a touch of history. Classics like Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Nat King Cole have performed in the historic bar.,Cover for events vary between $0 and $15 and meals start at $7 for lunch.

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Dequindre Cut — Splashes of urban artwork and graffiti decorate the way along Dequindre Cut, formerly a railroad line. Traverse it by bike or by foot—either way it is a unique place to go on a date. Take a seat along the way to soak in the atmosphere. If you don't bring your own bikes and still want to roll, you always have the option to rent on location.

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Ford-Wyoming Drive-In — If you have a full evening to spend, catch a double feature at the drive-in for the price of one movie. If you've never been to the drive-in, there really isn't a comparable experience. You get your own private audio and you don't have to worry about someone disrupting your movie-watching experience. You can bring whatever snacks you want and take other liberties you couldn't normally in a crowded theater. Just try not to fall asleep through the second movie.

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$Detroit Riverwalk  The Riverwalk is a 5 and ½ mile stretch along the Detroit River to walk with your date. The walk is a hot spot during the summer for festivals like River Days, the Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride and the annual marathon. Any time of the year though, it is open for anyone to enjoy, and there are sights to see along the way. The view of Windsor is Canadian to say the least, and the river makes a nice companion along the way.$

Detroit Riverwalk — The Riverwalk is a 5 and ½ mile stretch along the Detroit River to walk with your date. The walk is a hot spot during the summer for festivals like River Days, the Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride and the annual marathon. Any time of the year though, it is open for anyone to enjoy, and there are sights to see along the way. The view of Windsor is Canadian to say the least, and the river makes a nice companion along the way.

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The DIA – The DIA is still, thankfully, free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, and there is so much to see with your loved one that it might feel like stealing. Marvel at the lavish lifestyles presented in the Dutch Golden Age gallery, admire the beauty of nature in the American art gallery, discuss how the Rivera room depicts life and labor in the age of the automobile. Or just enjoy the art, nothing wrong with that!

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John K. King Used & Rare Bookstore - John K. King is a massive book store that is easy to get lost in, which makes it a great date destination! They have free maps in case you actually do get lost, but spend all the time you want perusing all kinds of books imaginable. Their books are not computerized so half the fun is tracking down a book you or your SO might be looking for.

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Eastern Market - It runs every week of the year no matter how bad the weather is, it's free and good luck finding such a diverse group of street vendors anywhere else in the area. You can buy snacks to share, support some local vendors, or just walk around together, and if you can't enjoy just walking around together, then maybe it's not meant to be. There is plenty of local flavor to be had at the Eastern Market.

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Tour the Fisher Building — If touring historic buildings is your thing, then Pure Detroit has you covered with a free tour of the Fisher Building. The Fisher was built in 1928 and is the home of mosaics, painted ceilings, and Art Deco chandeliers. You and your date will learn about the history of the building as well as appreciate the aesthetics of both the building and its contents.

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Detroit Historical Museum — Just a short walk from Wayne State, the Detroit Historical museum is the perfect date for those wanting to enjoy an educational experience together. Ran by volunteers, admission to the Detroit Historical Museum is free.

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New Center Park - Roll out the blanket and pack a picnic basket for some classic outdoor romance at New Center Park. If that doesn't suit your fancy, impress your loved on by bringing them back during the summer months for a wide array of performers, musicians and film screenings on the park's stage. Admission is free, and what's cheaper than that?

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Redford Theatre Take your beau to the Redford Theater for an evening with the classics. Featuring films like Mary Poppins and The Trouble With Harry and Revenge of the Nerds, The Redford allows visitors to enjoy older cinema in the historic theater without breaking the bank. Owned by the Motor City Organ Society, the theater is open weekends, with $5 admissions for most films.

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Check out a cheap show at El Club or Marble Bar Spend a late night at the bar with your date and enjoy some live music. Both the El Club, in Mexican Town, and the Marble Bar in Downtown Detroit, offer a variety of shows starting at $10 a cover.

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Have a picnic in Palmer Park - Once the weather becomes a little bit more tolerable to bare, having a picnic in the gorgeous Palmer Park is pretty damn romantic, but also a great way to save some extra dollars on food and drinks.

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Visit MOCAD — If the DIA is a little too classy for you, then check out the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit for some modern art and even a cocktail. The exhibitions are always thought-provoking, and it’s a nice way to show your intellectual side to you date.

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Watch a Detroit City FC game — You will have the most fun watching the Detroit City FC soccer team play when they are in season. The crowds are always rowdy and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than going to a Lions of Tigers game.

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The Belt — The Belt is an alley in Downtown Detroit adorned in street art from several artists. For no costs you can admire work from several artists with your special someone.

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Ice Skating in Campus Martius — When the weather outside is frightful, ice skating in Campus Martius is the perfect solution. It’s only $8 to spend an afternoon pretending you’re a Red Wing or Olympic figure skater.

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Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum – Listed as one of the most unusual museums in the US by the World Almanac, Marvin's has a unique collection of old devices, pinball machines, an electric chair (defunct) and other oddities. This eccentric and cluttered location will surely leave an impression on whoever you bring with you and will keep you amused for hours.

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