Amazing ideas for couples to do on date night
I am constantly hearing from the couples I counsel that they need more creative things to do on their dates. That they end up talking about and discussing work, kids and even their problems on dates due to not having something to do…So, I put together this list that will hopefully help them reconnect with each other.
There are some very creative ways to choose which one to do. One idea that was told to me by a client was to get two different Popsicle sticks. One color will be for dates that are at home the other for dates outside of the house. You could also do free and costs money. Then, go through the list and put the number of the date on the color of Popsicle stick that it goes with. Get a mason jar, bucket or something to hold all of these sticks. Decide which color you will choose from and then randomly pull one out. Surprise, you now have an amazing date!!!
For a printable PDF version of this, please click here.
1. Wine tasting- the other kind! Try reds before? Try whites this time! (Substitute chocolate for wine if you’re a non-drinker. Go whites, darks, milk, and salted chocolate and hit all varieties).
2. Fact or Fiction: Pick a subject you love, make up three facts and one “fiction” about it and let the other guess which one is fiction.
3. An amusement park. The thrill and adrenaline rush from the rides will make an interesting treat.
4. Go bowling.
5. The Bookstore Date ~ This Bookstore Date is perfect for any couple. This blog has planned the whole date out for you with free printables and everything. Plus, the entire evening is F-R-E-E!
6. 80s Movie night. Pick a 80’s movie neither one of you have seen before.
7. Make a really complicated dessert; one with a million ingredients. Save it for breakfast. Or eat it all in bed.
8. Plan a vacation- A really extravagant one, that you would never take or at least can’t take right now. Open up your fantasies and escape the reality of diapers and stomach viruses for a while.
9. Play cards- Set a timer or a score and see who gets there first.
10. Visit the zoo… seriously! It’s fun!
11. Go dancing, even if you both are bad at it. It’s not so bad to look like fools together.
12. Go to the drive-in theater. Grab some blankets, snacks and your honey and head to the Drive In! Yes, we do still have some in Colorado. Go to http://www.drive-ins.com/theaters/co to find a place close to you and to see what shows are playing.
13. Playground date. Slides are exciting. Monkey bars are fun. Swinging side by side is totally awesome, and you can have a contest as to who can swing higher.
14. Go to a comedy show. It always great to laugh together.
15. Go to a local musical and then out for dessert or coffee to talk about your favorite types of music or discuss what you just saw.
16. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day.
17. Explore a winery. Go here to find out where one is in Colorado. https://www.colorado.com/activities/wine-wineries
18. Go on a historical tour of your town together.
19. Take a ride on a hot air balloon!
20. Build a campfire- use a fire pit if you have to. Roast marshmallows and talk.
21. Go to a murder mystery dinner.
22. Have an extravagant brunch at 8am Get dressed up and do breakfast properly. Boutique hotels often do a brunch, but googling should set you on the right track too.
23. Go bird watching. There’s something awfully romantic about being almost alone in the woods, quiet except for the sound of a far-off mating call. See if your local park offers tours, or head into your own backyard. “Don’t worry about binoculars and equipment your first time out,” advises Bob DeCandido, PhD, who runs birding tours in New York City’s Central Park. “Just pay attention to the colors and the songs and see if you like it.” Or, merely use it as an excuse to get lost in the woods and engage in a wild make out session.
24. Play a childhood game. Order pizza, uncork a bottle of wine (or crack open a soda) and play old-school card or board games. Think Life, Battleship, Mall Maddness.
25. My old neighborhood date. Walk around the area you used to live, and tell your date about where you used to ride your bike, what happened on that one lawn, which house was best to hit up on Halloween and who the really creepy neighbors were.
26. Head on a (mini) road trip. Choose a cool or quirky destination about an hour or so away from your home and head there. It could be a new store, it could be a flea market, or it could be a restaurant, but the drive itself is an awesome way for you to discuss what’s going on in your lives. To make the trip more exciting, think about renting a great car you both would love being in.
27. If the fair is in town, go for a ride on the Ferris wheel and stop for some cotton candy. The top of the Ferris wheel is the ideal place for true feelings to come out, and not only because it’s an awesomely dramatic movie shot, research has found that adrenaline-spiked activities mimic the feeling of falling in love. When you’re with your guy, those butterflies can be transferred from your feelings about the ride to your feelings about him.
28. Build a fort of blankets, sheets, and couch cushions for your kids to enjoy in the morning. Test it out yourselves that night.
29. Do a crossword puzzle together.
30. Outdoor water balloon fight- It gets hot in the Summer around here. You can also use squirt guns.
31. Read the newspaper – Another thing that’s missing from life with small kids. Spread it out. Read out loud. Find something the other would get really passionate about.
32. Sporting events are always fun. Try to go to one for every sport. That’s a bunch of dates right there.
33. Penny Jar Dates ~ You don’t have to spend any money to create a romantic atmosphere. Built a blanket fort, add some twinkly lights and blankets. And, spend the night exchanging love letters, talking and falling in love all over again.
34. Bring half an evening One person organizes the food, and the other organizes a movie, or one person organizes tickets to an amusement park, and the other plans a walking tour. Very collaborative!
35. Sign up for dance classes together. Swing, Tango, Waltz?
36. Take a brewery tour. Yes, you’ll learn something, but you’re also likely to get a token for a free beer for your troubles. Bonus: the tour aspect takes away any residual guilt about drinking during the day. Find one by calling a microbrewery in a city near you. These tours don’t require you to drink beer either. Some places offer soda instead of beer at the end.
37. Venture into the kitchen. Choose the menu and try cooking different things. Work together on this.
38. Sign up for a mud run or color run. Dirt — and lots of it — is the pervading theme at these non-competitive fun runs spouting up around the country. They often require you to work in tandem, which is an awesome way to bond. To find one in your area, log on to Active.com.
39. Trivia night. Find a place that does trivia. Have a drink together and laugh about how much (or little) you know.
40. Jump on a trampoline. You don’t have to own one either. There are lots of fun places that have trampolines for everyone to jump on.
41. Spend the night by the fireplace. Start a fire, turn off the lights, and talk with your partner until there’s only embers.
42. Head to the opera. There’s something so sexy about dressing in your absolute best as you watch a performance in a darkened theater. Bonus: If either of you are veterans, you can often get free tickets to local events. Check vettix.org to see any offered in your area.
43. Meet for drinks at a local landmark. Iconic locations lead to even more iconic moments. Toast the fact that you’re already living your happily ever after and admire the view.
44. Plan a picnic.
45. Go to the aquarium.
46. Take a pottery class.
47. Make pizza at home. It’s a comfortable place and an easy meal to prepare. Go to the store together and pick the toppings. Or, have a contest, who made the best pizza.
48. Go to an art gallery on a Saturday afternoon You’ll learn a lot about the person you’re standing next to if you go and check out art together. Plus it gives you something so much more stimulating to talk about than the last episode of The Bachelor!
49. Hit the open water. Plenty of boat tours are offered through daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial; look for a sunset one for ultimate romance potential.
50. Go to the piano bar
51. Go home camping- Put your tent up in your yard, or even your den. Spend some time in there. It’s a getaway, without going anywhere.
52. Play some putt-putt mini golf. Or if you both are good enough, go to a real golf course.
53. Over lunch in a quiet place, play cards and Truth or Dare at the same time.
54. Video game arcade date. This isn’t always a perfect match, especially when it comes to girls in high heels and those weird shoot-em-up zombie games. Or whatever. (How impressed would you be by a drop-dead gorgeous girl kicking immense zombie butt, though?) But everyone likes air hockey. Don’t they?!
55. Celestial seasonings tour
56. Play strangers in your own town. Sspending an afternoon exploring a nearby city (having lunch at a cool bistro you’ve never been to because it’s full of tourists, taking a walking tour of a local cemetery, or having your picture taken together by a town landmark) is a great way to see your world — and each other — in a whole new light.
57. Fondue night. Gather your favorite cheeses, chocolates and whatever else you may want to eat.
58. Spend the night creating your couple bucket list. Think of things you would want to do together.
59. Fulfill your bucket list. In one day, see how many things you can get crossed off your list. You could also make each one of these a date. Be creative and have fun. Taking the time to do the things you’ve always wanted to with each other helps further anchor your relationship and commitment to each other.
60. See a musical.
61. Stargaze. It’s so classic that it’s almost a cliché, but spending the night outside is so romantic I couldn’t resist including it. The best way to stargaze is to actually know what you’re seeing, so download The Night Sky app. That way, you can actually be confident you’re looking at the Big Dipper before you abandon all pretenses and just make out.
62. Take a cooking class together. Many of the most popular cookware chain stores, such as Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma, offer these two-three hour classes in the evenings. Sur La Table even has special Date Night classes, with names like: “Tuscany for Two,” “Spicy Latin America,” “Parisian Romance.” Just Google “cooking classes.”
63. Indoor picnic. It is what you make it.
64. Laser tag.
65. Strip scrabble!!!- Yeah, I said that. I bet you expected it for cards, huh? Double Word Score- other player loses two items, triple word score? Game Over.
66. Game tournament- Yhatzee, wars, whichever! Keep a year-long journal of the winner.
67. Learn to play Guitar! (Check out yard sales and grandmas attic.) Learn and practice some chords. Make up songs together if you can’t play real ones.
68. Go to a museum and take the full tour.
69. The really long one-way walk. No rules except that you just have to walk for a really long time in one direction and not turn around. When you’re really exhausted, it’s time to go back. Catch a taxi or a bus or something to ease the pain.
70. Karaoke! I love karaoke. I love karaoke. I love karaoke. Again, it’s a great way to get to know someone — you’ll instantly know how outgoing they are, how much they like a challenge and what their music taste is like. Plus, usually in my experience.
71. Sneak into a rooftop pool They often have them at hotels, but they are usually only open to guests, so you might have to use your best sweet-talking skills, but it will be totally worth it if you can swing it. My suggestion? Just act as if you’re supposed to be there, and them questioning you is really just a waste of your time. Be charming but efficient.
72. Ice cream tour.
73. Take a DJ class. Plenty of DJ academies are springing up around the country, so run a Google search for one in your area and schedule a lesson for you and your guy. Your iTunes will never be the same.
74. Brew your own beer. You could drive to the supermarket for a six-pack, but what’s the challenge in that? Brewing beer at home has gotten really popular in the past few years, with ready-to-go kits available online at Williams-Sonoma and on Amazon.
75. Head to the local nursery. More and more greenhouses are opening up cafes and gift shops, which make the destination more than just a place to buy mulch. Not only that, but walking around brightly colored flowers — especially when it’s still freezing outside — can help influence your moods.
76. Head to the spa. Even a metrosexual dude with a shelf full of grooming products can get intimidated by the idea of the spa, but done right, a visit can be an awesome way to unwind. Ask for side-by-side facials, body treatments, or massages, To make the most of the day, look for a facility with complimentary amenities like a dry sauna or a mineral pool. And don’t be afraid to ask for a day pass, which means you’ll be allowed to hang out and spend the day chilling after your service. Ahh-some.
77. Horseback riding.
78. Indoor (or outdoor) skydiving.
79. Take a hike- and bring your date along!
80. Meet for breakfast instead of dinner- then you have the whole day to plan together.
81. Fake anniversary- Buy a gift, wrap and share it. Who says you can’t have two?
82. Go skating, even if you aren’t good at it. It’s a great way to remember your junior high school days and laugh if you both fall.
83. The Case Of The Mystery Band. Grab a copy of your local newspaper or magazine, close your eyes, run your finger over the “live music” section & choose a band neither of you have ever heard of to go & see. It could be amazing; it could be completely hellish — you won’t know until you go! But even if it’s shocking, it’s definitely a bonding experience, and maybe even something to tell the children, eh?
84. Take a trendy workout class. Even if he’s a treadhead and you’re a die-hard spinner, there are plenty of classes that allow you to meet in the middle. For example, Crunch gyms nationwide offer a class called SurfSet, where workouts are done on surfboard-like contraptions on springs, while the super popular — and hardcore — CrossFit phenomenon has drop-in rates for people who want to try the workout without committing to a gym.
85. Go to a play.
86. D-Bar Desserts 1475 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO. Does your sweetie have a sweet tooth? This upscale dessert and wine bar, owned by Keegan Gerhard, one of the nation’s top pastry chefs, is just the ticket, with a menu filled with sinful treats like Cake and Shake (3-layer chocolate cake, manjari frosting, and a vanilla or chocolate milk shake or malt) or a Chocolate & Hazelnut Sitting in a Tree (chocolate souffle, chocolate sauce, Nutella beignets, and praline ice cream). Need we say more?
87. Go and listen to jazz .Aka, pretend to be sophisticated. Or actually be sophisticated, depending…
88. Have a contest on who can make the best candy gram. Go to www.thedatingdivas.com for more information.
CANDY GRAM POEM MATERIALS:
Candy Bars (I found a BUNCH of my candy at the dollar store.)
Poster Board (at Michael’s or ANY Craft Store)
Heavy-Duty tape or glue (to attach the candy to the poster)
Permanent Marker
Download (Yep – you pretty much LOVE us, huh!)
More Info: SO – running around trying to find all the right candy bars probably took the LONGEST out of everything I planned! I would definitely try the Dollar Stores FIRST. I purchased a lot of my candy bars 2 for $1. Also – we typed up two different versions of the candy gram poems, one is catered more towards my own husband and I (included in the download to give you inspiration) and the other one is JUST as cute but more generic, so it could fit any couple. Click on the “download” above to print off those poems for an example.
89. A relaxing Bubble Bath together! Make sure you SET THE MOOD first! Relaxing music, candles, magazines, and DON’T forget to sprinkle rose petals on top of the bubbles! More Info {AKA Tips}: One thing I recently read regarding bubble baths was… DRUMROLL please… that if you put Coconut Milk in it, your skin will be silky smooth when you get out! You can buy it at your local grocery store and I am DEFINITELY trying it!
About the Rose Petals, I think it’s SUPER dreamy to have them EVERYWHERE and when I called the flower shop inside Albertson’s, I found out that you can order an entire bag of rose petals for $4.99 (petals off of a dozen roses). The florist informed me that the closer it gets to V-Day, the higher the price gets. The bags will go up to $6-$7.
90. THE LOVE HUNT!! It’s basically a treasure hunt but in order to get each clue, there is a TASK your spouse will have to complete, such as:
Dance with you for an ENTIRE romantic song.
Kiss you like you’ve NEVER been kissed before.
Feed each other chocolate-dipped strawberries.
The first clue is given to your sweetie – no strings attached… and then when they find the second clue, things start to get FUN! The rest of the clues come with a price! They are inside envelopes… and on the OUTSIDE of the envelopes are tasks that have to be completed before reading the clue inside. These clues should work for the majority of households and we even have blank clues/task cards in case you want to make up your own. The last clue will lead to the bedroom… however; we also came up with an optional last clue that leads to the laundry room where you can leave a fun surprise or present.
LOVE HUNT MATERIALS: Go to www.thedatingdivas.com for more information.
Clue – BLANK (In case you want to make up your OWN clues!)
Clues – FILLED OUT (They may be a little cheesy… you’ve been warned!)
Task Download – BLANK (In case you come up with even MORE creative tasks.)
Task Download – FILLED OUT(Yes – KISSING is involved!)
Sparkling Cider & 2 Wine Glasses (Ya know, to go with your pasta dish!)
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries (Um…yeah…seriously SO romantic!)
Love Mix CD or ipod playlist (Ideally you would want Love Songs on there that MEAN something to you two.)
More Info: You may want to hide the clues before beginning the entire evening, one less thing to worry about once you’ve started the evening. Make sure you have the CD already in the cd player OR your ipod plugged into the speaker beforehand… and ready to go. I’d also suggest preparing the strawberries ahead of time, maybe even the night before. They should keep OK in the fridge overnight. One tip for melting the chocolate, make sure you use a double-boiler so you don’t burn the chocolate and if you don’t have one, then you can make one by filling a medium saucepan 3/4 full with water. Then rest a saucepan or a heat-proof bowl inside of it and fill it with your chocolate chips. Turn the stove on low heat and stir occasionally.
91. Go camping and enjoy the solitude of nature and each other’s company.
92. Do something neither of you have done before. Pottery class? Swing dancing lessons? Hiring a moped & driving out into the country? Who knows, but it’s nice to share an experience that is new to both of you!
93. Visit an art gallery event and dress up for the event, which will also impress your date on how well you clean up.
94. Find a secluded place with lots of sidewalk and concrete and color it in with chalk art.
95. Have your caricatures drawn by a street artist. What better way to see how cute you two are together?
96. Build a time machine box and burry it in the backyard. Decide how long you want to wait until you unbury it. What will you put in there?
97. Take cameras and explore an abandoned place An excellent opportunity to be artsy-fartsy, or if you like to be on the other side of the camera.
98. Have a five-course dinner… at different places Have an appetizer at one place, soup somewhere else, a main here, a dessert there, and coffee at your favorite café
99. Ride a bicycle built for two.
100. Fly kites.
101. Go boating.
102. Go to a concert.
103. Volunteer together. Pick a place that you would like to do some service at.
104. Geocaching. Geocaching is the real-world treasure hunt that’s happening right now, all around you. There are 2,351,947 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide. Go to http://www.geocaching.com to find out more.
105. The Ten Dollar Gift Date Night Challenge. You each get 30 minutes to buy each other a gift with a ten-dollar bill. Whoever gets the most creative gift is the winner!”
106. Attend a painting class.
107. Go strawberry picking or visit an apple orchard.
108. Paint ball.
109. Collaborative art date. Get a canvas or even just a big piece of paper, some paint, pencils or pastels, & go nuts.
110. Take a train ride.
111. Go to the airport and get the soonest, cheapest flight and go on a day or weekend trip.
112. Go to a convention of a like-minded hobby or interest.
113. Go to the beach/reservoir/lake for some relaxing time in the sun together. Rent some jet skis or boats for more fun.
And for extra fun with friends, a few group date ideas…
1. Couple’s Minute to Win It Games ~ Who says Valentine’s day romance has to mean candle light and dinner for two. Invite your favorite couples to play fun couples minute to win it games and see what loving couple will come out the victor. Laughter can be romantic too.
2. Amazing Race – Valentine Addition {group date} ~ Some friends and I put together this crazy group date for our husbands for Valentine’s Day, one year, after they had sent us on a crazy video scavenger hunt the year before (so they could cook us dinner). I’m going to just give you the details of our date. I’m sure you can come up with clever ways to adapt it for your circumstances, if you and your Valentine like a little adventure with your romance!
3. Creative Bowling: Go bowling, but take a list of conditions that people have to draw out of a hat each time they are up. For example, they may have to bowl backwards, in high heels, without separating their knees, while kneeling, without walking, doing a tap dance, on their tip toes, etc. – you could even make it so they have to pull two or three conditions!)
4. Funky town date. Go to this website to get all the cool details. http://www.thedatingdivas.com/tara/the-funky-town-date/
WOW! I love these ideas! SO many great resources! I will keep this on my list.