Make Date Night the Best Night of the Week

By Daniella DiRienzo

Your honeymoon may have ended long ago, but that doesn’t mean that you have to say goodbye to fun dates with your significant other. In fact, you shouldn’t. Countless studies have found that date nights are detrimental to a successful marriage, including one published by Psychology Today in 2017, which referred to the concept as “not a luxury, but a necessity.” With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to test out the idea of date night with your significant other. And lucky for you, we did a little research and found some great local spots for you to bond with your spouse.

Become Fluent in the Language of Love

Known as the language of love, dancing is the perfect date night activity. Not so sure about your skills on the dance floor? No problem; Salsa Mississippi, a dance studio in Jackson, has got you covered. Don’t let the name fool you, though. While the dance studio does offer salsa classes, it also has a variety of other classes, including ballroom and hip hop. The best part is that a visit won’t cost you a thing. Just stop by on Saturday night at 9 p.m. for the free beginners’ salsa lesson. And don’t worry about your skill level. According to the studio, “If you can walk, you can salsa!” For more information, call 601-213-6355. Visit Salsa Mississippi at 605 Duling Avenue in Jackson.

Soak Up Some Art

If you and your significant other have a love for art, the Mississippi Museum of Art is a must-visit. The largest art museum in the state, it has a great mix of contemporary and classic art, along with several interactive exhibits. “My wife and I have now paid our third visit to this museum, said past visitor JR Smith. He went on, “Their paintings are magnificent and we were very impressed.” Not only is the artwork impressive, but the museum’s dim lighting creates an undeniably romantic setting. Oh, and did we mention there’s no cost for admission? For more information, call 601-960-1515. Visit the museum at 380 S Lamar Street in Jackson.

Relax in Mississippi’s First Salt Cave

We may not have natural caves here in Mississippi, but we do have a salt cave, and you’ll find it in Flowood at Soul Synergy Center. Basically a room made of Himalayan sea salt, sitting in the salt cave is not only relaxing, but it offers a variety of health benefits – from reducing stress and increasing lung capacity to improving conditions, like snoring and allergies. A popular amenity, customers rave about the salt cave, reiterating Leland Davis, who said, “This establishment deserves far more than 5 stars! I went for a session in the salt cave and had a phenomenal experience.” Salt cave sessions, which begin on the hour every hour, are 45 minutes long and cost $33 per person. The relaxing fun doesn’t have to end when the salt cave session does, though. Soul Synergy Center offers an array of spa services, including massages, reflexology, and more. For more information, call 601-992-7721. Visit Soul Synergy Center at 5490 Castlewoods Court in Flowood.

Experience the Taste of the City

Dining out may be an obvious choice for date night, but you know what they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, you can always spice up the classic date night choice by trying a new restaurant. Jackson has got a slew of great eateries. In fact, the website Food & Wine highlighted Jackson a couple of years ago, stating “its growing food and drink scene is increasingly difficult to ignore.” Among the city’s can’t miss spots is Saltine, which was ranked by Southern Living as one of the South’s best restaurants. There’s also Sakura Bana, which has won countless “best sushi” awards. (This one’s a great choice for date night since raw fish is an aphrodisiac.) Of course, you can always skip the meal and go out for a few drinks. Apothecary, a speakeasy-type bar at Brent’s Drugs that serves up great cocktails in a setting to match. Saltine is located at 622 Duling Avenue in Jackson; Sakura Bana is located at 4800, I-55 in Jackson; Apothecary is located at 655 Duling Avenue in Jackson.

Though there are plenty of local spots perfect for spending a night out with your love, where you go and what you do isn’t really important. The most important thing is that you enjoy the quality time you’re spending with one another.

Daniella DiRienzo is a self-proclaimed southerner who graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011 and has been working as a freelance writer ever since.