30 Date Ideas Under $30 For the Fiscally Responsible Romantic Cincinnatian

Partake in Some Friendly Competition at Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition

Free to play as long as you buy something to eat or drink
Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition is a gamer's paradise, whether you’re into vintage arcade and pinball machines or Sega Genesis. And even if you aren’t, the glowing screens and gentle ping of the machines is a perfect backdrop for a playful date night — especially if you and your beau go head to head in a digital battle to the death. Mondays are Fight Nights for serious players, and the bar hosts monthly pinball tournaments if you want to go analog. In addition to games, the bar serves craft beer, cocktails, nachos and crazy hot dog creations (even vegetarian ones). 3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Visit Everybody’s Treehouse and Walk the Trails of Mt. Airy Forest

Free admission
Everybody’s Treehouse is an otherworldly, elevated structure buried in trees and seemingly snatched out of a fantasy novel. The structure is also fully wheelchair-accessible. 1212 Trail Ridge Road, Westwood
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Root on the Cincinnati Cyclones During Dollar Beer Night

Game tickets start at $15
The Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team is known for its fun promotional nights, including regular $1 beer nights where you can get Miller High Life or Pabst Blue Ribbon for a buck each. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway, Downtown
Photo: Jesse Fox

Dine on Cheap Oysters at Eighth & English

$1 per oyster
If you’re looking for something a little libidinous for date night, head to O’Bryonville’s seafood hot spot Eighth & English — especially on a Tuesday or Friday and Saturday night. From 5 p.m.-close on Tuesdays and 8 p.m.-close at the bar on Friday and Saturday, the restaurant offers a selection of $1 oysters with associated accoutrement. If you want to go beefy, the fish takes a backseat on Thursdays for $15 Burger & Beaujolais night. 2038 Madison Road, O’Bryonville
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Take a Romantic Walk Along the River at Smale Riverfront Park and Ride Carol Ann’s Carousel

$2 per person per ride
Carol Ann’s glass-enclosed, year-round carousel is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and features 44 whimsical Cincinnati-centric creatures for you to ride. If your walk and ride works up a thirst, nearby Taste of Belgium at The Banks offers 58 beers on tap — including rare Belgian brews. West Mehring Way, Downtown
Photo: Jesse Fox

Sip, Bite and Stroll Through Findlay Market

Free to wander
While Findlay Market is free to wander, they do offer a free 30-minute guided tour bi-monthly to introduce you to special market vendors and recount tales of the market’s 160 year history. Grab a bite to eat — or groceries to make dinner later — and stop by Market Wines 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the famous wine tasting. For $7 each, you can get hefty samples of four handpicked wines. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Take a Tour Through the American Sign Museum

$15 per person
Get lost in the ads and landmarks of yesteryear. Winding pathways of colorful signage give way to a mocked-up Main Street, with faux storefronts, cobblestone paths and giant logos from Howard Johnson, McDonald’s and Marshall Field’s. From roadside nostalgia and a looming Big Boy to pharmacy signs and gas station markers, the flashing lights, buzzing electricity and rotating wonders are almost a sensory overload. Almost. Guided and self-guided tours available. 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Stuff Your Face with Cheese at The Rhined’s Raclette Night

$10 per order
The Rhined is a little slice of cheese heaven located across from Findlay Market. The artisan shop stocks a collection of the best hand-selected domestic cheeses, plus wine, beer, nuts, olives and jams to accompany the dairy of your dreams. On top of their excellent selection of cheese, which you can grab to go by weight or eat inside on a curated cheese board, they also offer a specialty sandwich of the week, adult "lunchables" and their Raclette Night, where on Wednesday nights starting at 5 p.m., they heat and scrape raclette cheese (a type of Swiss) onto a selection of goodies like potatoes, veggies and charcuterie. 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Go on a Self-Guided ArtWorks Mural Tour

Free
Each summer, ArtWorks and its apprentices put new murals up on buildings around the Greater Cincinnati area. Download a PDF of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals at artworkscincinnati.org. 20 E. Central Parkway, Downtown
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Talk a Walk Through the Jungle at the Krohn Conservatory

$7 per person
Located in historic Eden Park, the Krohn Conservatory is an aluminum-and-glass Art Deco destination (in the shape of an upside-down heart) filled with more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Permanent displays include a rare orchid house, steamy tropical room, succulent-filled desert space and a fun walk-through rainforest rock waterfall. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams
Photo: Kellie Coleman

Catch Free Live Music at MOTR Pub

Cheap drinks, free music
MOTR Pub does two things really well: rocks your face off with loud music and sweaty crowds and serves up one hell of a burger. The bar hosts some of the best live shows in the city, highlighting local and touring Indie, Rock and Folk acts — all without a cover. Find larger acts across the street at sister establishment and venue the Woodward Theater, also helmed by the same team of longtime area music promoters. Along with excellent live music, MOTR is home to a lively sketch comedy and stand-up scene, late-night eats (including veggie and vegan options) and weekend brunch. 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

See the Latest Exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center

Free admission
The CAC is open late — until 9 p.m. — Wednesday-Sunday for pre- or post-dinner artful exploration. Check the calendar for CAC@21c guided tours, during which docents take guests on a half-hour tour of both the museum and neighboring boutique hotel/museum galleries for free. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Double Down at Cancun and Western Bowl

$3.95-$4.75 per game; shoe rental extra
It’s a two-for-one at Cancun Restaurante & Cantina and Western Bowl Strike & Spare — the establishments are connected by a doorway, making it easy to go from classic strip-mall tacos and tequila to classic bowling and beer. Since 1958, the glowing Western Bowl sign has been beckoning amateurs and pros alike to play on its 68 automatic lanes. With a Big Lebowski-esque atmosphere, the rates are reasonable (less than $5 a game), the snacks are cheap and the bar is fully stocked. Grab a pitcher of beer for $9 and get ready to bowl. 6383 Glenway Ave., Western Hills
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Catch a Show (for Free) During the Wednesday Welcome Experiment at Know Theatre

Free Wednesday night mainstage performances
Know is known for putting on cutting-edge and avant-garde productions in its black box theater (true to type, it also produces the city’s annual Fringe Festival). The Wednesday Welcome Experiment makes shows accessible to all with totally free admission, so you can spend the ticket money you saved at the venue’s Underground Bar — a cocktail and cabaret space with drinks and programming that complements the goings-on upstairs. 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo: Dan R. Winters

Watch the Sun Set Over the City at Devou Park

Free
Devou Park is the largest park in Covington, covering 700 acres of land. Bike, hike, golf or catch a beautiful view of the city at the park's overlook. 790 Park Lane, Covington
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Sip on Local Beer and Play Cornhole at Rhinegeist

Free admission; pay for beer
Local brewery Rhinegeist is a gigantic drinking destination in the heart of OTR (conveniently located on the streetcar line). Head inside for the latest draft brews, play a game of cornhole and, if you're feeling fancy, stop by the first-floor French-ish brasserie Sartre OTR — or order food directly to the taproom delivered via pneumatic tube. 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Photo: Provided

Look at (or Upgrade to Pet) Some Wolves at the Wolf Creek Habitat & Rescue

Free admission for observation deck, $50 to interact with wolves
When the wild calls, answer it at Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue. The owners share their home with a pack of more than two-dozen wolves, all of whom were either surrendered to the sanctuary or rescued from the wild. Guests are able to go inside the animals’ enclosures and interact with them (alongside a center volunteer). Warning: The wolves have been known to give kisses and request belly rubs. 14099 Wolf Creek Road, Brookville, Ind.
Photo via Facebook.com/WolfCreekHabitat

Sip Some Vino During Oakley Wines’ Friday Night Wine Tasting

$10 per tasting
Nothing says "date night" quit like a belly full of beaujolais. Visit this Oakley wine bar Friday nights for their super popular weekend wine tastings. From 5-8 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, you can sample five wines for $10. In addition to wine, the bar features a full drink list, upscale snacks and even s'mores. 4011 Allston St., Oakley
Photo: Provided

Share Some Laughs at Go Bananas Comedy Club

Prices range from $5-$14
While Go Bananas hosts national touring comics, they also have a soft spot for Cincy’s local comic scene. Every Wednesday night is Pro-Am night while newbies, club regulars and special touring guests take the stage to work out new material. Tickets are only $5 per person, so you still have cash to burn on a bucket of domestic beer (just $20). 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery
Photo: Facebook.com/GoBananasComedyClub

Make Thursday Night Burger Night at Dutch's

Prices vary
Venturing to Hyde Park on a Thursday evening means Burger Night at Dutch’s. The artisan larder/bar/eatery doesn’t hold back on their one-night-only specialties — these ain’t no American-cheese-and-mayonnaise-topped meat patties. Dutch’s burgers start out with a base of mouthwatering beef cuts, like 30-day dry-age prime ribeye, an all-natural grass-fed strip or a shoulder from a local butcher. After being seasoned with just good ol’ salt and pepper, the burgers are thrown on the grill and brought out promptly at 6 p.m. Get them while you can, because the 70-or-so burgers they prepare each Thursday sell out quickly. 3378 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Photo: Jesse Fox