Date nights can be marvelously fun and romantic for both parties. Put effort into the planning, and focus on enjoying the time spent together during the date, and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. Date nights are greatly beneficial to relationships, no matter how long the couple has been together. Dates stimulate bonding in a new relationship. They cultivate deep love and romance for couples who have been together for a long time. Do you remember one of your best dates when you were just getting to know the other person? What about a really horrendous date? How about a really steamy date?
Life gets crazy, and if you don’t prioritize spending meaningful and quality time together, then the years can just fly by, without either partner feeling fulfilled and without accomplishing your relationship goals. Be picky with your time and energy. You won’t regret this. And remember: last minute, spontaneous date night ideas can also be fun! I mean, who doesn’t love a good quickie?
We all have stories and memories of dates. Don’t you want these memories to be good? For couples, date nights are especially important. It is imperative to give your time, effort, and energy to your partner. My schedule is pretty packed these days (I’ll spare you the gruesome details). However, I still pick and choose my free time wisely, and I rely heavily on a calendar. Also, and this is important: I know how to say no when necessary. Everything that calls your name is not meant for you. Learn to pick and choose the things that will bring you and your partner happiness and fulfillment, and focus on activities that add to the ideal life you are building.
My partner and I feel most connected and well-loved when we go out, just the two of us, once a week. Ready for a shocking fact about Kyle and I? We do not take our phones on date nights. We spend time actually talking to one another. We have been together for over a decade, so we always have plenty of things to talk about. Date nights are super fun, and I love spending time with just him.
A small side note for the couples out there with children: Get the sitter and go out. Go through 28 sitter interviews if you need to, because I get it: It is hard to leave the children. Find a sitter that you love and have them over so they can connect with your partner. It is a terrible idea to abandon dating when the children come along. If you leave your partner on the backburner while raising and taking care of the kids, it is not fair to either you or your partner. What will be left of your relationship when the child raising is complete? In any article you read about divorce, it is the lack of physical intimacy that always gets mentioned near the top. There is enough love to go around for both your partner and your children, but it is important to make plans and divide time wisely. When you are discussing having children, it is also crucial to communicate with your partner what exactly their needs (and yours) may be after the children come along.
Here is a compiled list of dates, mostly from me and a few from my friends (except from my one friend, because he didn’t have time to tell me any date ideas. Only a level three salty that he didn’t find the time). I hope you enjoy this list. Also, if you have an awesome date idea that is not included here, please chat me!
My Date List
Play Pool: Friendly competition and casual flirty touching makes for a super fun evening.
Paint & Wine Night: I don’t drink and thus this option is not for me. However, this date idea comes up all the time in my circle of friends. They love it. Studies show that couples who spend time together doing creative activities enjoy greater romantic passion long-term. I’m a big fan of upping romance so it’s on the list. You can never have too much romance.
Ice Skating Night: This is a cuddled up date. Spend time holding hands and being close. Hot chocolate afterwards is a bonus. (Side note to Kyle: It’s been 11 years and counting and we still haven’t been. I’m only a little salty.)
Putt Putt Golf: I LOVE this one. This is in the top 5 for me. I am not very good, at all, but I still have tons of fun. I do have a cautionary tale however. A friend invited me to play mini-golf and have dinner. We had lots of fun, however, at the end, I realized he had thought it was a “date,” whereas I thought we were just chillin’. I don’t pick up on hints and I am not a mindreader. You must spell it out for me. So gentlemen, when you ask a lady out, make sure both parties realize it is meant to be a date.
Chocolate Tasting In-Home Date: Each person picks out 2-3 chocolates to share. Eat in the bedroom. Warm melting chocolate is the best. Chocolate is a natural aphrodisiac. While eating chocolate, the brain releases the same chemicals it releases during sex. There is a really good chocolate maker in Warrenton, VA. If you love chocolates, message me, as you must try their chocolate.
Go To The Movies: Classic date night. True, you can’t (and shouldn’t!), talk during the movie, but you can reconnect socially and talk about the movie when it is over. Personally, I am more often than not underwhelmed with seeing films in theaters vs. watching them at home. Kyle loves going to movie theaters, so if you need a friend to go with you, message him.
Read that Marriage Book: Have a bed date and read that marriage book that is sitting on your dresser. Afterwards, spend some time talking about it with your partner. I really like this date too. Bed dates are the best.
Bowling: This is another competitive date. I like this one also since lots of bowling alleys are locally owned and operated.
Neighborhood Travel: Plan a little trip around the city you live in. To travel, you don’t have to go far. I’m sure there is something fun both of you have been wanting to try close to home. For a hot date with your partner, Google your city and pick something you’ve been meaning to do.
Beach Overnight: This one also makes my top five. I love the beach. Kyle and I do overnights every so often at the beach that is closest to us. We love finding quality restaurants and walking together on the beach.
At-Home Movie Night: Put the lights on the lowest dimmer settings. Light candles (or turn on the LED candles), grab your favorite blanket, and your favorite partner. This is not a date Kyle and I pick, as we don’t have a home movie system. However, this is a nice snuggly date idea for those who like watching movies.
Scavenger Hunt Date: Create the hunt before the date. Hide the prizes in the house or outside your home. Lots of apps have scavenger hunts already spelled out, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel if you don’t want to. If you are creative, then create away.
Adventure Park: Go race go-karts, climb the rock wall, or do something else adventurous in the park. These exciting parks are located near major cities. Look one up and plan it.
Roller Coaster Parks: Make sure both people like this before committing to this date. Mostly this is an all-day date. This is a great pick if you both love rollercoasters.
Coffee and Dessert Date: Grab coffee at a local coffee shop that has homemade desserts. I like this date also, especially if it is warm outside and the outside seating is nice. I don’t drink coffee, but I love tea. I’m picky about my tea though, I’m not trying to slurp down a Lipton. I also love honey with my tea. I’m picky about this also. It’s better to have raw honey straight from the beekeeper. If you need a honey source, email me immediately. Mine is a lovely person, and her bees have the best honey.
Furniture Date: Build a piece of furniture together. I don’t put together furniture with Kyle because we are trying to maintain our happy relationship. My friends, however, plan these types of dates and it is a great bonding experience for the right couple.
Cooking Date: This is one of my favorites. Look up a recipe together for an appetizer, dinner, and dessert. Buy good quality ingredients and cook together. (Or have one cook and one talk.) Eat the meal by candlelight together.
Pedicures: Ok, I swear this one is fun. I have never taken a guy to get a pedicure who didn’t like it. (Admittedly, one time a brand new nail lady did cut the guy’s foot. She was super new and, to be honest, the guy probably needed to be brought back down to Earth a little bit. Kidding, he was and still is perfect.) This date is relaxing for everyone. Well, ok, 99% of the time this one is a winner.
Board Game Night: Play each other’s favorite board games together.
Rent a Limo: Rent a fancy car or a limo and take a trip to the city. I wonder what love feels like in a limo…note this one down Kyle.
Hiking Together: Alright, first a story. One time a guy took me hiking. He brought no water and no snacks. I almost died. I am not a fan of this date, but I’m sure others would love it. Make sure to bring lots of water (more than you think you need) and a picnic lunch.
Camping Date: Again, not my fav. Kyle loves camping. It’s so much work to sleep outside. Only pick this date if both people like camping, nature, and the outdoorsy stuff.
Concerts: If you two both have a favorite artist, look up their tour dates and plan this date.
Double Date with Friends: Ok, I do have an opinion on this one. If you invite me to a double date, you will hear about it. I don’t like them except if one of three expectations are met. Kyle, on the other hand, loves them. Many other couples also love double dating. So maybe this one is for you. If so, pick one of the dates on this article and have fun!
Fishing Date: This could be a fun date, if you like fishing. I went fishing once (not a date) and got the line stuck in my hair and we almost turned the canoe over trying to get the slimy thing out. Fishing is meant to be a quiet activity, and I am not a fan of quiet. I love talking. I will talk just to fill the silence. (If I am not talking, Kyle will ask if I am okay.)
Bake Cookies: Find an awesome recipe and bake cookies together. A house smelling of freshly baked cookies is top tier. I love cookies and will eat any kind of cookie anyone feeds me. Yum.
Wine Tasting: Most vineyards are beautiful, and they host tours. The employees are super lovely as well. I went to a birthday party once at a vineyard and the food was amazing. Kyle loved the wine. The atmosphere was lowkey and calming.
Photo Date: This is a fun date, I love this one. Kyle and I will take photos of each other when we take weekend trips. We laugh and laugh. We will find poses and try to do them ourselves. We set the timer on the phone and have about 10 seconds to get set up. One time I had to sit on top of him, while he was sitting backwards on the bed. Let me tell you, I almost missed the bed, he grabbed me too early, and it was just a mess. We laughed and laughed. The best ones are the missed ones where we are still laughing as the camera clicks.
Gun Range: Practice your shooting skills on the gun range with your partner. Some sage advice though: invest in high quality ear plugs.
Hot Tub or Swimming Pool Date: I love cuddling up in a pool, while Kyle swims around with me. We did this a ton before the children came along. We try to fit this in when we take weekend trips here and there.
Quicky Hotel Date: Rent a hotel room for a lunch or dinner date. One time Kyle happened to be off work while my sitter was scheduled to come to our home to play with our children. He asked me the night before what I wanted to do and I said: “we are going to a hotel.” When we left the next day, he asked: “what’s the address?” I guess he thought I was kidding (as an aside, I don’t joke a lot. Some people find my dry humor and sarcasm really funny. But I am not the “funny ha-ha” type). Anyway, we rented a hotel room for bedroom love. Checked in and then checked out 2 hours later. It was lovely. Definitely give this one a try.
Couple’s Massage Date: If you like massages, then this date could help you unwind and let go. Personally, I’m weird about who I let touch me. Kyle loves massages, however, and goes whenever he finds the time. If we go for this date, I like to book a place that has a hot tub or sauna for me while Kyle gets a massage.
Sunrise/Sunset Date: You can do this at home or away on travel. Kyle and I are both “look at the sky” people. We love sunset dates at the beach. Don’t sleep on sunrises either (pun intended).
Romantic Restaurant: Pick a restaurant with top tier ambience and go cuddle up with your partner and eat some delicious food together. I really like trying new restaurants. Kyle and I normally share a meal because the portion sizes have gotten out of control. We almost always get dessert because, well, I love desserts.
Buy A New Vehicle: “Buy a large new SUV and consummate it in the back with all the rows down.” My friend sent this one to me. She wants a fourth child, and her husband is most likely going to give in with this offer on the table. Personally, I don’t care for car shopping and would rather stab myself in the eye. Also, she is much more fun than me, and in better shape, because it has been a long time since I had car sex and am unsure if I pull off those acrobatics these days.
Wine and Cheese Date: Each partner picks out some different cheeses and a few different wines to try. Place everything on a nice plate and in nice glasses. For dates like these, presentation is everything.
Comedy Show: Go to a comedy show venue and laugh the night away together. I remember Kyle and I did this date a while ago on a cruise boat and it was super fun. He would get coffee (back when he drank coffee) and I would get tea, and everyone else at the show had alcohol. We drank tea and coffee to stay awake since the show was at 10pm. The shows were always so funny. I loved that Kyle went, because he would remember the jokes and tell them back to me later.
Dancing: Pick your favorite club and go out dancing with your partner. This one got me married up. I had gone on a blind double date (Yes, I’m still shocked.) with my cousin. We went to the movies and then out dancing. Kyle took my contact lenses out for me and I was like my soul loves him. Don’t do this date unless you are ready for a serious relationship.
All About Him/Her Date: This one is important and should always be somewhere in the rotation. Pick a night and put it on the calendar. It can be a spur-of-the-moment date, but I have found it is better planned out. Do all the things the one partner likes, and make it all about them. For example, I like taking a shower with Kyle and washing his hair, then giving him a massage that is not rushed (I especially love when it starts waving hello to me), and then we do some other things he likes. Kyle, if you are reading this and wondering why the f*ck we haven’t done this in a while, PUT IT ON THE DAMN CALENDAR. All jokes aside, it is important to make time and give energy to your partner. “All about” dates are top five for me. I absolutely love them.
Cavern Date: Plan to visit the caverns. We have them right down the road and it is super fascinating to explore them.
Driving Around: I don’t like to drive and would prefer a planned out date. However, my friends recommend this one, so I’m including it.
Bike Rides Together: This one is a blast, either around your neighborhood or on a beach trip.
Visit the Dog Park with Your Pup: Everyone loves dogs. I will say hi to a dog before I talk to a human. My kids are the same. We all adore dogs. We dog-watch at the beach when we travel. If someone even glimpses a dog they will yell: “Look at the cute dog!” Then we will all run to the window. (Yes, we are easily entertained here.)
Go to the Gym Together: I have worked out with my guyfriends in the past. One guy I was seeing was really into football. He had me running daily, like real running. I didn’t die, but I also did not like it. Thus, I do not work out with Kyle. I do, however, like gym dates that meet up at the hot tub afterwards. I also had another guy that I did work out with. We use to stop and get cookies from McDonald’s afterwards. I always thought that was pretty cool. I come every time I pass that McDonald’s or that gym. Strangely, he doesn’t. A little weird, right?
Shopping or Window Shopping Together: I used to love this date idea. It is just okay now for me. However, lots of my friends love shopping together. Kyle will ask me do you want me to be all over you or get lost when we are shopping? I appreciate it, since sometimes I like to hold hands with him while shopping, and other times I like to take my time and focus on what I am shopping for.
I hope you enjoyed my date suggestions list. Let me know if you have ever been on a date that is not included in this list. Well wishes to you and your partner for many fun and exciting dates! Picture below of Kyle and I on a beach date. I’m not all about a fancy “in conclusion” paragraph. Just stop reading.
With Love,
Heidi
