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The Adventure Challenge offers a new date-in-a-box each month, delivered right to your door. But is this date night subscription worth the splurge?
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We all like having fun, but nobody likes planning. That’s why most date nights fall into the standard dinner, drinks and dessert routine. While it’s fun to have a night out on the town, the same routine every time gets old. If you and your sweetie fall into that trap, we found something that shakes things up a little—no scheduling or tipping required. Our secret? A date night subscription box.
There are many subscription boxes that also work well as date boxes, such as baking boxes, charcuterie boxes or wine subscriptions. But—as difficult as it is for me to believe as a food editor—not everyone wants to focus their “us time” to focus on food. A date night subscription box is specifically tailored to romance, offering bonding activities for couples.
After doing our research, we discovered The Adventure Box Subscription from Adventure Challenge. This monthly “date in a box” service has your date night agenda covered, so all you have to do is show up with your boo. To test the service, we tapped tester Marisa Hillman to try it out for two months with her husband.
The Adventure Challenge Date Night Box
What is the Adventure Challenge?
The Adventure Challenge is a service that offers scratch-off adventure books and other guided activities that help couples and families connect. When it comes to their signature scratch-off books, there are lots of options to choose from: a Couple’s Edition filled with date night ideas, a Family Edition containing family-friendly activities, a Travel Edition for folks with wanderlust and a Friends Edition for strengthening platonic connections. Plus, there are plenty of solo challenges to complete if you need some serious “me” time.
Each book guides the participants through several mystery adventures, from foodie nights to self-taught crafting classes. Each challenge is outlined on a scratch-off block, keeping it a complete secret until it’s time to head out. That said, there are a few hints as to what to expect, including a projected price point, the time it takes and the best time of year. There are also indicators for different types of activities, such as the location where they take place and any other preparations needed.
However, the brand’s date night subscription box works a little differently. Instead of including scratch-off ideas, each box comes with a “date night kit” that offers a new bonding activity for couples to complete together. You can either use the boxes as directed in the Couple’s Edition, or opt to skip the scratch-off book entirely.
How We Tested the Date Night Subscription Box
Each month’s kit arrives in a sturdy white box. Once opened, there’s a cheeky welcome message. In order to see what kind of kit you got, you have to pull a tab to open the top layer—no peeking allowed! Kits span several crafts that can also be purchased a la carte. Enjoy a pottery night, painting kit or an at-home cocktail class, among several other options. While the kits typically retail for $50, subscribing to the Date Night Box offers a $10 discount.
Month One
The first date night subscription box Marisa received was “Penny for Your Thoughts,” a journal making kit. Yes, a journal making kit! She was immediately excited. Not only is it an unexpected crafting project she would otherwise never try, but the resulting craft is something her and her husband will get a ton of use out of.
Inside the kit is a booklet listing the contents, as well as step-by-step instructions. This kit includes two leather journals, a stamping letter set, mini mallet, practice leather, rubber block, two glue sticks and two pairs of scissors. Also included are two Adventure Challenge magazines to clip images from for collages. Fun!
“Leather stamping a journal isn’t something we ever would have thought to do on our own,” says Marisa. “However, it actually made us think about what we would do with said journals and how we can use them together. We spent an hour and a half creating our journals, talking and laughing about the stories we could write down. It also helped that the instruction booklet includes a week’s worth of prompts to help you get started. This led to another hilarious conversation about spirit animals and unusual foods. We haven’t laughed that hard on a date night in a long time!”
Month Two
The second date night subscription box was called “Candle Works”. Marisa and her husband made their own candles together, which was a fun bonding and learning activity to share. The kit included everything they needed to make four candles: wax, a melting pot, wicks, glue dots, four candle tins, six essential oils, stir sticks and two wick holders. It also came with a booklet containing guided step-by-step instructions.
When it was time to end the subscription, we found the cancellation process pretty simple. Just navigate to your account information, then hop over to the “manage subscription” page. From there, you can pause, stop or restart your subscription anytime before the next billing date.
Pros
- Fun, offbeat date night ideas
- Learn new skills while you bond
- High-quality items included
- Comes with everything required for each activity
- Offers prompts to help use the creations
- Can be used with or without the scratch-off book
Cons
- Only nine different boxes available—we’d love to see more!
- Couples Edition Book is not included
- All sales are final
Adventure Challenge Date Night Subscription Box vs. DateBox Club
Apart from The Adventure Challenge, there are a few other date night subscriptions we found during our research. The next most popular option is DateBox Club, which similarly claims to include everything you need for an unforgettable date night. While the services are similar, there are a few key differences:
- Both boxes offer fun date night activities that maximize bonding time
- The Adventure Challenge focuses on creative activities like candle making, while DateBox Club primarily offers couple-focused games
- DateBox Clubs includes a snack and curated playlist alongside the activity, though the “snack” is usually candy
- Both services let you skip, pause or cancel anytime
- The Adventure Challenge offers a companion scratch-off book separately with more ideas, prompts for reflection, and space to save date night photos
- DateBox Club offers “digital dates” for last-minute romantics
- The Adventure Challenge costs $39 per month with a subscription, while DateBox Club comes in at $54.95 per month (or $45.95 if you prepay for 12 months)
Final Verdict
When asked if she would subscribe again, Marisa gives an enthusiastic “yes!” Not only did she and her husband enjoy some seriously sweet bonding time, but they also picked up a few new skills and hobbies they’d never have tried otherwise. Plus, at $40 for a two-person craft, it’s much less expensive than their typical nights out.
“A typical date night for us usually involves dinner and drinks at a local restaurant,” she says. “After paying the tab and our babysitter, we’ve dropped upwards of $200 for two to three hours; more if we do something in addition to dinner. With the adventure box, we ordered dessert to go from one of our favorite spots and opened a bottle of wine. It was one of the cheapest date nights we’ve had and also one of the most interesting.”
Where to Buy
The Adventure Challenge Date Night Box
For couples who enjoy staying in or parents who can’t get out for regular date nights, the Adventure Challenge is a fun, offbeat option that offers new ways to connect. Folks wanting to try the date night subscription can sign up on the Adventure Challenge website. Subscriptions start at $40 per month, and the brand offers more than nice boxes to enjoy together. You can even repurchase any favorites a la carte!
FAQ
What is a date night subscription box?
A date night subscription box (also called a “date box”) is a monthly service that sends out a new date activity or couple’s game each month. Sometimes these “date in a box” services also come with snacks, journals and other extras to make nights in feel as special as a night on the town.
What is the most popular subscription box service?
Here at Taste of Home, Book of the Month Club remains one of our readers’ favorite subscriptions.
Are subscription boxes still a thing?
Yes! In fact, subscription boxes are now more popular than ever, especially with sites like CrateJoy offering a central hub with hundreds of options.
Why Trust Us
As a writer, Marisa Hillman finds joy in sharing her tips, tricks and finds via tried-and-tested product reviews, product roundups and gift guides for every occasion. She became a full-time staff writer at Taste of Home in 2025 and is thrilled to have joined a team of talented writers and kitchen experts. Throughout her career, Marisa has been a freelance writer for multiple publications, including WeTV and U.S. News & World Report. Emily Way is a shopping editor at Taste of Home and has multiple years of experience testing and reviewing products for the home, including subscription boxes and gift boxes.
