Mini golf + ice cream date

Over the holiday weekend for Fourth of July, my husband and I decided to go out for a date. We went to play some mini golf and get some ice cream. I was so impressed with Copper Creek Mini Golf, which was located in Oakdale, Connecticut.

Copper Creek sign.

Copper Creek is a part of Nature’s Art Village, a compound including Dinosaur Place and several shops. The irony part is I drove by this place to my old job, daily for one whole year! I always thought it was a place for families with young kids. While that may be the targeted audience, it’s also fun for couples.

Oakdale is only half hour from Mystic area, so it was perfect destination for an afternoon date. The mini golf was beautifully maintained and had an Old West mining theme. The 18 holes also varied from easy, medium and hard levels. It was a fun challenge at some holes!

Nature’s Art Village had a lot of shops with a variety from beads, minerals, jewelry, toys, fossils to gift shop. I was excited to check out the huge antiques shop - The PAST Antiques Marketplace. I had to look up online to see how big it was which is 14,000 square feet. We definitely had fun poking around antiques and collectibles for a good hour! This was the unexpected part of the date, so it was a nice surprise. I’ve been to many antiques shops, and I was impressed with how well organized this store was.

After we left Nature’s Art Village, we drove less than 10 minutes to the highly raved ice cream spot - Salem Valley Farms. Located in Salem, Connecticut - they offer 80+ flavors of handcrafted ice cream. My husband had to stay with the Fourth theme which he got Stars & Stripes (vanilla ice cream with blueberries and strawberries). I was SO excited to see the Salem Valley Farms offered gluten free sugar cones (that I haven’t had in 2 years since my diagnosis!) and even offered more than just chocolate and/or vanilla flavors which I picked peach flavor. It was so delicious! Salem Valley Farms also offers pup cups. We definitely will have to come back with our pup sometimes! Their ice cream is so popular that there are some packed pints that you can purchase to take home. Look at their website for stores that sells them or you can purchase right at Salem Valley Farms. While we were there waiting in the line to order, a man took home 6 pints of ice cream! Note: Salem Valley Farms only accept cash and checks.

*My husband’s Stars and Stripes ice cream.*

I enjoyed this mini date so much that I definitely recommend you to have this date or spend the day with a friend/family if you’re local to Mystic County!