Date Night in Benton? Get Creative!

So, you have a big date planned. The cliché dinner and a movie are not what you want and you are left wondering where to go and what to do. In a smaller town, like Benton, Arkansas, your choices might seem limited. But, you just have to get creative. There are some very interesting options, if you just look. Here are my top 3 choices.

Live Theatre. Unfortunately, The Royal Players in Benton seem to be a well-kept secret. With at least five regular productions a year, and a few special productions thrown in, chances are there will be a production on your date night. And, there is something for everybody. Past performances include The Sound of Music, The Mouse Trap, A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, Hello Dolly!, We All Hear Voices, and Nunsense. Performances are held in the historic Royal Theatre in downtown Benton. For more information on The Royal Players and upcoming shows, visit www.theroyalplayers.com.

Visit Mexico. Not literally. But, La Hacienda in Benton is about as close as you can get. La Hacienda has to be my favorite restaurant in the world. Seriously. The food is fantastic, fresh, and fast. Authentic Mexican food, served steaming hot (and won't break your budget). The service cannot be beat. And, every Friday, there is a live Mariachi band playing. They play everything from traditional Mariachi to Jimmy Buffet and Johnny Cash. Love it! And, it is one of the restaurants in this dry county who have a license as a private club and can serve beer and mixed drinks. Margaritas by the pitcher! There are times when you can close your eyes, smell the food and hear the band, and swear you are in Mexico. Check out their menu at www.bentonlahacienda.com.

Movie Tour. If you are a movie buff, take your date on a tour of movie sites. There have been a lot of interesting movies filmed in Benton. Go visit some of their landmarks. Sling Blade, White Lightening, and End of the Line were all filmed in Benton. Watch one of those flicks on DVD, and then take a drive to scout out some of the locations. Recently, The Last Ride, a film about Hank Williams, was filming in the city and I hear they are set to come back to finish some shots. Maybe you and your date could catch them filming. You might even end up as extras on set!