Distinct Dates: Go Ape!

Look MA! No hands!!

**Read to the end to get your discount!!**
Dates are important for relationship well-being. But there's a trick to doing them REALLY well and getting the most out of your precious time. 

In a previous post I discussed in detail the value of doing things together as a couple that you've both never done before. Dates like these can refresh and reset relationships and balance out all the stressful mutually exclusive experiences you share only with your partner. But I've found that most people have a REALLY hard time coming up with ideas for these types of dates so I've decided to regularly post ideas and reviews for unique date experiences that go way beyond dinner and a movie. 

Have you ever heard of Go Ape! ? The people of Go Ape! describe the experience as a "zip line and treetop adventure". I describe it as a Tarzan meets Ninja Warrior plus a lot of carabiners adventure. 

Neither my husband or myself had ever zip-lined or done a ropes course before today. [...]

---

I learned my husband doesn't like heights. NOPE...he's not AFRAID of heights...he just doesn't "like them very much." I had no idea! Is this why I'm the drape hanger in our house? It's all making more sense now. I'm not sure when I last learned something new about my husband. Score 1 for Go Ape!

Throughout the 2,624 ft course there are 39 ways to get from tree to tree including 2 Tarzan swings (yes, I did the yell) and 5 zip lines. We're both pretty athletic, but found the course more physically challenging than we had anticipated. I counted it as my workout! BONUS. 

IS THIS SAFE?? We've both done indoor rock climbing and were familiar with the harness and carabiner systems used for safety. Our instructor, Courtney, was well-spoken and did a fabulous job getting our group ready for the course. Instructors fit harnesses to each guest and walk them through the procedures making sure to reiterate the "always attached" rule. Throughout the course there are cables and zip lines to attach yourself to with 1 of 2 carabiners attached to your harness and an extra safety clip. Most of the time you're double-clipped and sometimes even triple-clipped. When transitioning to another obstacle you remove and reclip one self-latching carabiner at a time ensuring you're always attached. 

If you're not attached...you're not safe. We caught up to a family of 4 with an 11-year-old girl. Mom and daughter were standing on a small tree-top platform 30-40 feet off the ground and we were with dad on the platform behind them. An obstacle was between us. My husband noticed the daughter wasn't clipped to ANYTHING. He let the Dad know. She'd unclipped herself and mom wasn't paying attention. I'm pretty sure I held my breath until she was clipped again. 

Before the experience we were bummed kids had to be 10 years old to partake because we thought our 6-year-old would love it. But, it was more adventurous and complicated than we had anticipated. We were pleasantly surprised, but we'll wait many years to bring our kids.

did they know I was coming??

The date had other firsts. It was the first time I said, "I think there's MULCH in my underwear!" It turns out you have little control over which way you land while zip-lining and the first time I slid into the bed of mulch backwards I learned quickly the importance of keeping your butt off the ground. On the last, and longest, and coolest zip line I was backwards again. I held on to my ropes and pushed my feet against the ground to keep my butt high. The mulch was, in my opinion, WAY TO HIGH in this last landing bed (or the ropes too low?) and I have the bloody scratches on my back to show for it. Here's a tip: don't wear a tank top. 

It's not the cheapest date at $118 for 2 people. BUT, Go Ape! in Missouri is located within gorgeous Creve Coeur Park and you could totally make up for the cost by packing a romantic picnic to eat by the lake afterwards where you can rehash the experience and laugh at yourself and/or your partner's "dislike" of heights. If you pick a day like today you'll have some pretty great views including sailboats and stand-up paddle boarders (future post?). 

Besides the scratches, I had a great time and would totally do it again. Eric agrees. 

*The people at Go Ape! were REALLY generous and waived the fees for our adventure to be included in this series about great dates. AND, when you sign up for your adventure use the discount code MIKA10 to get a 10% discount for yourself!! Tell your friends :) Unleash your inner Tarzan by going to www.GoApe.com. If you go I would LOVE to hear about your experiences! And if you have any Distinct Date ideas please email them to me :)

Follow www.facebook.com/GetYourHappyBack for more date inspiration and other ways to get your happy back. Many thanks!

**Help me in my goal of changing people's minds about therapy by clicking the buttons below to share with your friends on Twitter or Facebook. 

---