An Axe-citing Date Night!

Last weekend, the hubs and I along with Helena and her husband, Nick and one other close couple we’ve known for years, Jessie and Trevor all went axe throwing to celebrate my husband's 41st birthday. Where else do you bring three dudes all with beards?

We headed to Stillwater, MN to The Lumberjack. None of us have ever been axe throwing before, so we really did not know what to expect and let me tell you it did not disappoint one bit!

The Lumberjack is in a beautiful location in downtown Stillwater, close to the river and tons of bars, restaurants and nightlife. We arrived around 4:45p (I know, I know, we’re total night owls) and the place was already filled with energy and decorated beautifully; it was rustic-industrial all in one. If you’ve even visited Stillwater, they are known for their old brick buildings with tons of character.

We (meaning everyone but me) grabbed an adult beverage, while I enjoyed an ice-cold lemonade before it was our turn to throw. Before we knew it, we were up! Our designated coach explained the rules and gave us a lesson on how to throw an axe, because let's face it, throwing an axe at a chunk of wood on the wall, isn't a natural instinct for many of us.

If you’ve ever seen the video of the chick throwing an axe and it flying back at her and just missing her face, that's what I was most afraid of. But our coach reassured us that wouldn't happen because that was plywood behind her target, and at The Lumberjack, they had some rubber mats that would absorb the force of the axe.

So after a few minutes of instruction, we got a few practice rounds before it was game on. We played three rounds (couple vs. couple, couples mixed up and then girls vs. guys). And just for the record, the girls beat the guys in the final round by one point.

It’s easier said than done. We all made some great shots and missed some great shots, and a couple shots may have hit the floor and made a few sparks (ahem...Nick…). We had so much fun axe throwing, and it was quite enjoyable being able to do an activity, while still being able to have conversations and share laughs with friends.

Our coach was great, our waitress was awesome, the atmosphere was electric. Side note, if you are a chips, salsa and guac kind of person, order the Ole, my husband wouldn’t stop raving about the salsa. They also had other small plates of food too!

After axe throwing, we hung around a bit and played some hammerschlagen before heading to dinner. Never playing hammerschlagen before, Jessie schooled everyone before the game even got started...apparently hitting a nail with the small end of a hammer is her jam!

They also have board games you can play as well, but be cautious the the connect four board, is very delicate. By no means do you need to have an axe throwing appointment to be there, you can just grab some drinks and enjoy watching people embarrass themselves while they completely miss the target. That may or may not have happened with our group.

BTW...Helena and I made the guys matching shirts that said "Stop staring at my axe"and I think they were a little embarrassed so they covered them up with their flannels until we made them show the shirts off..such good sports!

If you are looking to spice up your date night, I highly recommend going to The Lumberjack in Stillwater and throwing some axes, it's fun and a great stress reliever!

Dinner was a bit of chaos, to be honest. I had a place in mind just two blocks away, but by the time we arrived at 6pm, it was a two hour wait and they don’t take reservations on the weekend. After narrowing our choices down (because of some poor customer service over the phone...to the one who we dubbed the name ‘Reservation Rita’), we hopped in the car and made our way to my husband's choice of eating at The Old Log Cabin in Forest Lake, MN. This place is a hidden gem off of Hwy 97 that never disappoints and is every pregnant woman's dream.

It was fun to have some adult time away, as between the three of us couples, we have 9.5 children. And to think of it, I don't think we ever mentioned the kiddos - minus the part where the husbands were having a side conversation about vasectomies. It was nice to be able to eat a hot meal, without having to chase screaming kids around a restaurant. It was great catching up on life since everyone is so busy.

It’s times like this, I am reminded how important it is to not only have date nights with my hubs, but it’s also important to have date nights with friends. I’m so blessed to have this group of friends in my life. Can’t wait for our next night out!

{ Tressa }

Disclaimer: All of these opinions are 100% my own, in which I am not being paid.