Are you looking for new and creative date ideas? There are some experiences that will help strengthen your bond as a couple. These dates will get your heart thumping or stimulate your mind — or both. And most importantly, you’ll have fun experiencing them with the right person.
Here are 45 dates every couple should try at least once.
1. Head to a Local Fair or Carnival
A local fair or carnival can make for a fun date night. Ride the Ferris wheel, eat some cotton candy, sip on some lemonade, and play some games. Your significant other just might win you an oversized teddy bear to remember the occasion forever.
2. Try New Cuisine
Going on a restaurant date can get old after a while. You can make dinner a new experience by trying new cuisine together. If you’ve both never tried Indian food or hibachi, for example, there’s no better time than now to try it together. You’ll always remember that you shared this new experience with your significant other.
3. Go Dancing
You might consider going to a local bar or club to dance with each other. Or you might turn it up a notch and take a ballroom dancing class together. What better way to let your physical chemistry shine?
4. Try Your Hand at Art
Consider trying a pottery painting or taking a sip and paint class together. It can be fun to step outside of your comfort zone and create something together.
5. Go Hiking
Hiking can be another inexpensive date together. You can take in some new gorgeous views together for the first time when you hit up some trails you’ve both never been to.
6. Head to an Arcade
There’s a reason Dave and Buster’s is a popular first date spot. There’s nothing more nostalgic than bringing out your inner child and heading to an arcade together. There’s nothing like getting into a heated game of ping pong with your date!
7. Head to a Local Festival
Festivals can make for fun experiences as couples. Be sure to see what types of options are available in your area. From Greek festivals and OktoberFest to food truck festivals, there’s something for everyone.
8. Go Rock Climbing
Head to your local rock climbing gym together to try this new experience together. You might be great at it or you might not be, but either way? You’ll have fun trying it out together.
9. See a Drive-In Movie
Drive-in movie theaters still exist. Watching a movie either from your car or in lounge chairs under the stars can make for a very romantic night!
10. Go Horseback Riding
You can take in some scenic views while riding horses together. It can make you feel like Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone — and isn’t that enough to make anyone swoon?
11. Celebrate Taco Tuesday
Head to a Mexican restaurant for taco tuesday! Enjoy some tacos and margaritas — and some laughs!
12. Hit the Local Bowling Alley
Bowling is such an old-school date that many of us never do anymore. It can be a great way to get some exercise together as a couple. You might consider inviting some friends and making this a double (or even triple) date.
13. Head to a Local Dive Bar
Dive bars have a certain charm. You might love ’em or hate ’em, but you should definitely check at least one of them out together.
14. Take a Dinner Cruise
Dinner cruises can make for a romantic date night. A candlelit dinner with scenic views as the sun sets? Yes, please!
15. Ride a Hot Air Balloon
Riding a hot air balloon can be a very thrilling experience. If one of you isn’t brave enough to try it, you can still head to a local balloon festival.
16. Go to a Concert
There’s nothing quite like seeing a live band or musician you both love. It can make for a very romantic date night.
17. Check Out a Museum
Whether you go to a big museum for a popular exhibit or check out a local hole in the wall museum, getting a taste of history together can make for a really fun date.
18. Go to the Zoo
A zoo date needs to be on every couple’s to-do list. There’s nothing more fun than spending the day watching the giraffes or feeding the baby goats together.
19. Go to a Sporting Event
If you both enjoy watching sports, why not head to a local sporting event? It doesn’t matter how big or small the event is, either. You can eat hot dogs together at a New York Yankees game or cheer for a local high school’s football team.
20. Visit a Dog Park
If you have a dog, head to the local dog park. Even if you don’t, it can still be fun to watch other people’s pooches play.
21. Take Part in a Trivia Night
Whether you attend a bar or restaurant’s trivia night or have an at-home trivia night and invite your friends, this can be a fun and mentally stimulating date for you and your significant other. You can show each other just how knowledgeable you are.
22. Visit a Library or Bookstore
We could all read more. Visiting a local library or bookstore can be a great way to integrate more books into your life — and you just might find out your significant other is a little nerdier than you thought!
23. Go on a Road Trip
There’s nothing more fun than discovering some new places together. Take a road trip to the beach or a town you’ve both never been to. You might check out some flea markets or go antique shopping for a fun new experience.
24. Check Out a Themed Diner
Head to a themed diner where the waitresses wear roller skates. Enjoy an old-school milkshake and some French fries together. Don’t forget to play one of your favorite songs on the jukebox!
25. Go on a Picnic
If you’re looking for an inexpensive date and the weather is nice, pack up some food and a blanket. Head to a local park and enjoy the day together. You might consider bringing a frisbee or choose a spot that offers a nice walking spot to get in some physical activity together afterwards.
26. Go Roller Skating
Break out your inner kid again with your partner and hit up the local roller skating rink! You can hold hands as you skate around the rink (and catch each other if you fall).
27. Check Out a Brewery or Winery
If you enjoy drinking beer or wine, head to a local brewery or winery. You can take the tour to see how the beer or wine is made, or you can just have some drinks.
28. Host a Dinner Party
Invite your friends or family over for a dinner party. You and your significant other can try cooking a new recipe together.
29. Head to a Pool Hall
A good game of billiards can take us back in time. Find a local pool hall and challenge each other to a game.
30. Visit an Aquarium
Aquariums can make for fun dates. You might even take part in a hands-on exhibit, such as swimming with the dolphins.
31. Sing at Karaoke Night
Visit a bar or restaurant that’s hosting karaoke night. You can sing a duet together or serenade each other with love songs.
32. Go Out for Brunch
You’ve probably had many dinner dates, but how many brunch dates have you had? Start your day off with mimosas, pancakes or avocado toast, and each other!
33. Take a Cooking Class
A cooking class can be a hands-on learning date for the two of you. Whether you need to strengthen your cooking skills or want to learn some new recipes, this can be a lot of fun.
34. See a Play or Musical
Whether you go to a Broadway play or head to see a local high school production, seeing a play is one thing every couple should experience. Consider choosing a classic or something the two of you have always wanted to see.
35. Head to a Local Cafe or Coffee Shop
When’s the last time you went to a local cafe or coffee shop? Head to a local spot in your area for some coffee, tea or hot cocoa and learn more about each other.
36. Go to a Comedy Show
Laughter is good for any relationship. Go see one of your favorite comedians.
37. Go Mini Golfing
A mini golfing date can be a lot of fun! If the weather’s nice, play outdoor mini golf. If it’s rainy or for an extra unique experience, consider playing indoor glow minigolf.
38. Take a Train Ride
Consider going for a scenic train ride. During the holidays, you might also find train ride attractions, such as party train rides for couples.
39. Visit an Amusement Park or Water Park
Spend the day at a local amusement park or water park. You can learn so much about your partner when you go on roller coasters or water park rides together.
40. Try Sailing or Boating
Head to a local lake, rent a boat, and spend your day on the water!
41. Check Out a Casino
As long as neither of you is a gambling addict, consider checking out a casino. Aim to play with only a small amount of cash, and see who has the most luck with the slot machines.
42. Visit a New City
If there’s a nearby city neither of you has ever visited, why not plan to head there for the day? Pick out a few things to do and go have fun playing the role of tourists!
43. Check Out a New Movie Theater
Check out a locally owned movie theater for a unique date night experience. Whether you choose a fancy theater or a quirky one, this can give movies a whole new meaning.
44. Visit a New Mall
Find a mall you’ve never been to and go explore it together. Whether you do some shopping or window shop, you’ll get to experience a new place together.
45. Go Camping
There’s nothing quite like cuddling up in front of a camp fire, sharing s’mores, and sleeping under the stars with your significant other. You can go fishing, bike riding, and check out the trails at a local camping spot — or head to a national park for an even more unique camping experience.
These are just 45 dates every couple should try at least once. These dates will not only give you some fun things to do together, but they can strengthen your bond as a couple.
Feel free to share in the comments below. What was your favorite date of all-time?
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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