The Ultimate List of Date Ideas (279 Ideas!)

I get it.

Coming up with new, creative, and exciting date ideas that fit both your budget and interests can be difficult.

But, never fear! I’ve totally got you covered.

This ginormous list includes date ideas that fit every budget, interest, and weather condition to ensure you have date nights (or days) planned all year round!

This post may contain affiliate links where, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission if you use them. I only recommend products I use, trust, and adore. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Dating Challenge

Before we get to the date ideas, let’s discuss dating challenges.

A dating challenge is a simple and effective way to plan your dates an entire year in advance.

This is also a great way to save your favorite date ideas in one easy-to-reference location.

There are several dating challenge ideas you can test out. Here are two of our favorites:

The Variety Dating Challenge:

Add variety to your dating life by choosing at least one date idea from each category (out on the town, food and drink, outdoor, seasonal, new experience, etc.). Challenge yourselves to complete your list by the end of the year.

Seasonal Bucket List Dating Challenge:

Create a list of dates separated into seasonal lists, then challenge yourselves to complete the entire list by the end of the year. You can make this a bit easier by just using this great free seasonal bucket list printable…

The Ultimate List of Date Ideas

With that out of the way, let’s dive into the date ideas! Below, I’ve separated each idea into a category for easy navigation. Keep in mind that most of these dates belong in several categories, but have just been assigned to the one that fits best. Anyways, let’s get to it!

Out on the Town Date Ideas

• Visit a Museum: There are so many great museums all over the world including art, science, history, and space museums. Many museums also host different events, collections, and exhibits to ensure see something different during every visit.
• Check out an Art Gallery: You can also spend some time exploring an art gallery. This is a great way to see what local artists have been up to.
• Take a Stroll through a Local Garden: City botanical gardens are some of the most beautiful places on earth.
• Watch a New Film in Theaters: Put a twist on the traditional “dinner and a movie” date idea by visiting a quirky or fancy movie theater.
• Spend a Day at the Zoo: Some zoos even put on fun holiday events throughout the year!
• Visit a Wildlife Sanctuary: Learn more about protecting the world’s wildlife by visiting an animal sanctuary.
• Explore an Aquarium: You could even sign up for a “swimming with sharks” or similar fun aquarium programs.
• Tour a Historic Building: Like a capital building, historic home, or old school.
• Go Window Shopping Downtown: Head to the most beautiful, historic area of your town and spend the day exploring and window shopping.
• Spend a Day at the Mall: Head to the mall for a fun afternoon of shopping, eating, and more.
• Rent an Electric Scooter: This is such a fun and easy way to explore the city.
• Attend a Walking Tour: You can do this for free by using an app like GPSmyCity, or you could attend a guide-led tour.
• Walk around a Beautiful Park: Most cities have beautiful parks you can explore all year round. Be sure to turn off your phones to simply enjoy each other’s company.

Fun Date Ideas

• Go Bowling: You can go the traditional route and go to a bowling alley, or try lawn bowling. Both are super fun!
• Spend an Afternoon at the Arcade: Turn the arcade into a fun competition to see who can win the most tickets.
• Visit an Escape Room: Use your wit to uncover clues and find the secret to escaping the room. Note that most escape rooms will fill the room to capacity, so this might be more fun as a group date idea.
• Play Shuffle Board: Find a fun bar or arcade with shuffleboard and play to determine who pays for drinks.
• Race at a Go-Kart Course: Looking for a bit of a thrill? Go-kart racing might be what you’re looking for.
• Play Bumper Cars: Or, perhaps you might prefer bumper cars!
• Visit an Axe Throwing Bar: Sip drinks and toss axes at wooden targets.
• Play Billiards: You can find pool halls or bars scattered throughout many cities. This is a fun and relaxing way to spend an evening.
• Sing Karaoke: Belt out your favorite tune at a karaoke bar or on a home karaoke system.
• Visit a Casino: One idea is to start with $10 or $20 each and see who will leave with the most money within a set time frame.
• Go Skydiving or Bungee Jumping: You could even try indoor skydiving!
• Visit a Wreck Room: These are up-and-coming attractions where you can really let loose by smashing your way through a room full of items.

Sporting Events

• Baseball: I’m always surprised by how cheap baseball tickets can be.
• Basketball: Head indoors for an exciting basketball game.
• Hockey: Try to grab a rogue hockey puck at a professional hockey game.
• Football: Although professional football game tickets can be incredibly expensive, the energy from the crowd and excitement in the game is well worth it.
• Rugby: Add a twist to American football by watching an exciting game of rugby.
• Rodeo: Check out a professional rodeo for something a bit different.
• Soccer: Soccer can be just as exciting as football, yet often cheaper than baseball tickets!
• Lacrosse: Lacrosse is another fun sport to watch live! Plus, seat tickets are usually fairly cheap, even at championship games.
• Motorcycle, Auto, or Boat Racing: Supercross, motocross, Formula 1, NASCAR, Grand Prix,… the list goes on and on. There are so many motorized races constantly happening around the world.
• A Major Sporting Competition: Check to see if any national championships, opening games, Olympic qualifiers, or other major events are being held near you this year. For example, one year we accidentally stumbled upon the X Games!

Morning Date Ideas

• Go out for Coffee: Check out a new coffee shop or cafe you’ve been eyeing.
• Get Brunch Together: Check out a restaurant that specializes in brunch (like Snooze).
• Have Breakfast in Bed: Treat yourself to a lazy morning in bed. Tip: These trays make breakfast in bed WAY easier!
• Watch the Sunrise at a Scenic Spot: Head to a park with a nice view or go on a short hike to watch the sunrise. You can even bring breakfast in a picnic backpack (this one is so cool!) and have an early morning picnic.
• Go for a Morning Run Together: Start your day on the right foot by going on a morning run together.
• Visit a Bakery: Find a few yummy treats at your local bakery.

Active Date Day Ideas

• Indoor Rock Climbing: Head to a nearby rock gym and spend an afternoon climbing some fun routes.
• Visit a Trampoline Park: Check out your local trampoline park for both a fun activity and a great workout.
• Try a Dance Class: Dancing is such a fun activity and perfect for couples.
• Attend a Yoga Class: Help release muscle tension and ease your mind with a calming yoga class.
• Join a Martial Arts Class: Looking to better your self-defense skills? Check out a local martial arts class. Tip: You can often find great deals on Groupon.
• Run a 5K or 10K Together: Looking to get in a good workout, donate to a good cause, and spend quality time together, all in one day? Then consider participating in a fundraising race.
• Toss a Frisbee in the Park: If the weather is nice, head out to a local park and toss a frisbee for an afternoon (if you’re in need of a frisbee, here is the world standard ultimate disc). Oh, and don’t forget to bring a picnic – if you’re like me and love picnics, you’ll love this picnic backpack!
• Play a Round of Disc Golf: Snag a cheap disc golf starter set and head to a local disc golf course (most are free) for a fun and competitive activity. Here is a link to the disc golf course locator site.
• Play Tennis: Head to a community tennis court and play a round of tennis. If you don’t have rackets, you can grab this starter set for a great price.
• Go Paintballing: Looking for more action? Spend the day at your local paintball park. You can usually find super cheap tickets on Groupon.
• Go on a City Bike Ride: Grab your bikes and head to the city for a fun ride through the local parks.
• Play Laser Tag: Spend the day running around a dark and colorful room playing laser tag with your partner and some friends.
• Go Lap Swimming: Head to the local pool for some laps.
• Enjoy a Day of Rollerblading: Test your rollerblading skills at the local roller rink. You could even look into fun events and themed nights or invite some friends to make it more interesting!
• Play Croquet: Croquet is my absolute favorite yard game. It is the perfect mixture of competitiveness, complexity, and relaxation. If you’re in need, here is a cheap croquet set that is highly rated.
• Play Bocce Ball: Bocce Ball is a super cheap and fun yard game that can really be played anywhere.
• Play Corn Hole: Head to the backyard or a nearby park to play a fun round of cornhole. If you don’t have a cornhole set, here is a great one with a travel case.
• Toss some Horseshoes: Another great backyard game is horseshoes! Here is a cheap and high-quality set that can easily be installed anywhere.
• Play Spike Ball: Invite another couple over to play spike ball in the backyard. This is a super simple and easy-to-learn game.
• Play Yard Games: If none of these yard games have caught your eye, you could either spend the afternoon playing multiple yard games or check out some other fun yard game options such as ladder toss, giant dice Rollzee (yard Yahtzee!) or the giant yard tower game (yard Jenga).

Volunteering and Giving-Back Date Ideas:

• Put Together Homeless Kits: In a plastic or reusable bag add a pair of socks, a water bottle, snacks, gloves, and other items that you feel would be useful, then spend the afternoon passing them out to those in need.
• Attend a Tree Planting Event: Help support Mother Earth by planting trees.
• Work at a Community Garden: Contributing to a community garden is a great way to learn more about gardening and score free produce.
• Volunteer as a Docent at a Wildlife Sanctuary or Zoo: Help the community and spend time with some amazing animals at the same time by volunteering to be a docent.
• Pick up Trash: You can find several events where volunteers are asked to pick up trash. Some include picking up trash at local beaches and parks.
• Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen: Soup kitchens are located all across the globe and are always in need of more hands. You can often find local soup kitchens associated with churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, schools, and shelters.
• Spend the Day at an Animal Shelter: Cuddling with furry friends is not a bad way to spend an afternoon!
• Participate in a Fundraiser for a Good Cause: There are countless organizations working hard to make this world a better place. Support your favorite cause by assisting in an upcoming fundraiser.
• Donate Blood: Help save a life by donating blood at a local blood drive.
• Participate in a Charity Walk or Run: Excercise and support a good cause at the same time. Simply search “Charity Walks Near Me.”

Educational Dating Ideas

• Attend a Painting Class: Awaken your inner artist by attending a painting class.
• Try an Art and Wine Class: Or, if you’re looking for a more fun evening adventure, attend an Art and Wine class.
• Take a Pottery Class: Make a vase or bowl and put it on display in your home.
• Try a Cooking Class: Learn how to make a new and amazing meal together.
• Attend an REI Outdoor Skill Class: These classes are great for people who love to spend time outdoors. Class options include survival, photography, outdoor cooking, navigation, and wilderness medicine.
• Try Bartending School: Learn how to make impressive drinks!
• Get Creative at a Photography Workshop: Up your photography game with an easy photography course.
• Take the Skywarn Weather Spotter Training Class: Learn more about weather and become a weather spotter for the US National Weather Service by taking their free Skywarn training. This is actually a super fun and incredibly interesting course!
• Enroll in an Evening Class at a Local College: This is a great way to learn a new language or skill in a short amount of time.

Community Events

• Attend an Art Walk: These events are usually free and filled with amazing pieces of art!
• Visit the County or State Fair: There is usually so much to see and do at local fairs, it really is a full-day experience.
• Attend a Local Festival: Another full-day experience is attending a local festival. There are so many different festivals you can find throughout the year. Just simply search “festivals near me.”
• Watch a Parade in Person: Grab some camping chairs and snacks before finding a spot on the parade route to enjoy the show.
• Participate in a Donation Drive: Spend the day cleaning out your home and shopping for items needed for a local donation drive.
• Attend a Charity Concert or Event: Help support a good cause and enjoy some amazing entertainment by attending a local charity event or concert.
• Check out a Cultural Event: These events are a great way to learn more about different cultures and try some amazing food!
• Attend a Trade Show: You can find trade shows in all areas of life: weddings, gardens, cars, food, crafts, technology, photography, toys, boats, furniture, and so much more. Many trade shows even offer free entry!
• Visit a Convention: Similarly, you can find a TON of great conventions to check out (Comic-Con, anyone?).
• Check out a Renaissance Festival: Head to the thrift store and find a fun outfit before checking out a local renaissance festival.

Food and Drink Date Ideas

• Try a New Restaurant: Mix things up by checking out a restaurant with a unique experience such as rooftop views, outdoor seating, or live music.
• Go Wine Tasting: Even better, sign up for a wine tasting tour with a paid driver.
• Visit a Brewery: Many breweries offer tours and/or beer tasting opportunities.
• Attend a Food-Related Festival: Attending a festival is a great way to try a TON of food in a small amount of time.
• Grab Ice Cream Sundaes at an Ice Cream Parlor: Enjoy a fun dessert experience at an ice cream parlor.
• Attend a Food or Drink Tour: There are so many great food and drink tours offered around the world, such as local food tours, desert tours, wine tours, etc.

Performances

• See a Musical: Get dressed up and head out to see a fun new musical.
• Attend the Opera: I’ve heard that you either absolutely love or hate opera, but you must attend in person to find out.
• Go to a Concert: Lose your voice and dance the night away at a fun concert in the city.
• Check out the Ballet: Put on your nicest clothing and spend a fun, high-end evening at the local ballet.
• See a Jazz or Classical Concert: Sit back, relax, and enjoy the music at a jazz or classical concert hall.
• Attend a Poetry Slam: Watch poets perform spoken word poetry for an evening.
• See a Comedy Show: Oh my goodness; these are so much fun!
• Visit the Circus: Spend an evening in constant amazement at a circus performance.
• See a Magic Show: Watch a magician defy science in a stunning magic show.
• Attend a Music Festival: Spend an entire weekend listening to good music, eating junk food, and losing your voice at a fun music festival.
• Watch the Filming of a Live TV Show: Some talk shows, sitcoms, and other television shows allow live audiences. Who knows, you might even get to be on TV!
• Watch a Podcast Live Performance: Check out a live performance of your favorite podcast.

Tip: Score free concert tickets by volunteering at the event for a few hours. This isn’t offered at all concerts, but worth looking into!

Outdoor Dating Activities

• Play a Round of Golf: Spend the morning playing a relaxing round of golf.
• Go Mini-Golfing: Looking for something a little different and quirky? Head to a mini-golf course instead.
• Try Top Golf: Top Golf has turned the traditional driving range into an epic game.
• Spend a Day Whale Watching: Relax with a day on the water with the whales.
• Go Rock Climbing: Head to your local crag for a day full of sport climbing and/or bouldering. Tip: If you’ve never gone outdoor rock climbing before, ask your rock climbing friends if you can tag along or opt for a guide-led adventure.
• Go on a Hike: Spend the day hiking a beautiful trail. Not sure where to hike? Use the AllTrails website for an endless supply of trails in your area.
• Try Mountain Biking: Find a top local mountain bike trail using Alltrails and spend the day exploring the outdoors on two wheels.
• Go on a Scenic Drive: A simple internet search will help you find the best scenic drives in your area.
• Spend a Day Kayaking or Canoeing: Grab a kayak or canoe and spend the day on the water. Here is a highly-rated inflatable kayak that is surprisingly cheap.
• Go Paddleboarding: Paddleboarding is becoming more and more popular. A paddleboard is a board similar to a surfboard (though thicker and inflatable) that you stand (or sit) on and paddle.
• Try Pedal Boating: You know, those small boats that move when you use foot pedals? This is what they did on 10 Things I Hate About You.
• Rent a Jet Ski: Rend a jet ski for an afternoon of motorized fun.
• Go Surfing: Hit the beach for a day catching waves.
• Spend the Day Fishing: Slow down and relax near the water with a chill day of fishing.
• Try Archery: Head to an archery range and learn how to properly use a bow and arrow. You can find both indoor and outdoor ranges, many have instructors to help you learn the basics.
• Go Clam Digging or Crabbing: Head out during a local clam tide or head out on the water for a fun day of shellfishing. Don’t forget to get your shellfish license! Once you’re done, head home, clean your shellfish, and make a yummy meal!
• Try Rockhounding: Rockhounding is the activity of legally finding and collecting cool, rare, and/or valuable rocks. You can check your local library for a rockhounding book or do a simple internet search to see what type of rockhounding opportunities are in the area.
• Go Geocaching: This is the adult version of a treasure hunt, but on a worldwide scale! Check out the official Geocaching website for more deets.
• Go Treasure Hunting for Real: This is a bit more difficult but far more rewarding. Spend an afternoon learning about real treasure hunting (Treasures in America has some great resources on this) and plan out a fun treasure hunting adventure. This can be as small as using a metal detector at a beach (this inexpensive metal detector has great reviews) to as large as an epic mountain adventure to find a lost mine.
• Spend a Day Boating or Sailing: Grab your swimsuit, a picnic lunch, and sunscreen (this face sunscreen is an absolute life changer, you’re welcome) and spend the day on the water.
• Go River Rafting: Sign up for a river rafting adventure for a more thrilling day on the water.
• Spend the Weekend Camping: Find a beautiful campground near you (Campendium is a fabulous campground finder – you can even find free campgrounds on it) and head out for a weekend in nature.
• Go Zip-Lining: Zip-lining is the perfect mix between thrilling and outdoorsy. So much fun!
• Learn how to Scuba Dive: Become a certified scuba diver and go on some exciting underwater adventures.
• Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride: Watch the sun rise or set in the most unique way possible: a hot air balloon ride.
• Go Horseback Riding: Head out to a nearby stable for a day of horseback riding.

Travel Ideas

• Visit a New Town or City: Create a list of towns and cities you hope to explore one day. Then, make plans to slowly check each one off.
• Go on a Road Trip: Hit the road for an epic road trip adventure. Looking for some inspiration? Check out our road trip itineraries through Utah, Yellowstone, and New Mexico and our ultimate road trip packing list.
• Ride the Train: The train is such an underrated form of transportation. It is so relaxing and allows you to view beautiful scenery along your journey. In addition, there are countless train rides specifically designed with scenery-viewing in mind!
• Go on a Helicopter Ride: For a more high-end date idea, book a helicopter ride! Pricey, but oh-so worth it (not that I would know, but it looks fun!).
• Go on a Long Boat Ride: Some historic boats, fancy yachts, and beautiful sailboats offer longer, multi-day boat ride adventures.
• Take a Cruise: Or, for an even longer journey with planned stops, consider taking a cruise.
• Visit an Amusement Park: Looking for a more exhilarating experience? Consider visiting an amusement park.
• Check out a Quirky Roadside Attraction: There is a LONG list of roadside attractions to choose from on the internet. Pick a few of your favorites (or some at random) for a day full of quirky adventure.
• Spend a Day at a State Park: Choose a local state park and spend the day exploring it. Itinerary idea: Upon arrival, head straight to the most popular hike. Once finished, explore the visitor center then eat a picnic lunch at a scenic overlook. Walk a few nature trails, drive through the entire park, and check out any other major destinations. Tip: Some libraries offer free state park day passes!
• Go Camping in a National Park: Plan a trip to a National Park you’ve never been to, and be sure to spend a few days exploring it! Don’t forget your 10 outdoor essentials!
• Check out a Historic Site: Spend a day immersing yourself in history by exploring a preserved historic site.
• Create a Couple’s Travel Bucket List: Sit down together and create a list of destinations and activities you hope to experience together. Then, make plans to complete at least three of them within the year.

Related: An Ultimate Guide to Creating the Perfect Bucket List

Creative Date Night Ideas

• Roll the Dice Date: Spend your day in the car with a six-sided die. At every 5th intersection, roll your die. If you roll a 1 or 2 turn right, 3 or 4 go straight, and 5 or 6 turn left. Everytime you reach a fun destination (like a park, museum, or shopping center), get out and explore! Tip: The further you hope to travel, the less frequently you should roll the die.
• Free Day Challenge: Spend the morning on the internet looking for freebie coupons, deals, free furniture ads, and free events. Create your day’s itinerary based on these great finds! We were able to snag a free burger, 4 free medium fries, a free coffee, a free washing machine, and free zoo tickets the last time we tried this! We found the best deals using our local library website, Craigslist, and the Krazy Coupon Lady website.
• Visit an Open House: Put on your best clothes and head out to visit one (or multiple) open houses.
• Public Transportation Challenge: Spend a few minutes looking up each of the public transportation options in your area (buses, light rail, ferries, trains, etc.) and purchase the cheapest tickets you can find. Then, challenge yourself to ride each mode of transportation and see where you end up! This is a great way to learn more about public transportation in your area and explore your town from a different perspective.
• Groupon Roulette: Use the Deal of the Day feature on Groupon to find crazy-good deals on fun activities for your next date night. For an additional twist, you can use a random number generator to help you choose which activity to try!
• Airplane Ticket Roulette: Another fun Deal of the Day to check out is through various airlines and travel websites. This is a great idea if you’re looking for a longer-date adventure.
• Local Destination Roulette: If you’re looking for more local travel but not sure where to go, try what I call the Local Destination Roulette Challenge. Simply pull up your favorite maps app and zoom out a reasonable distance. Then, measure the screen using a ruler and use a random number generator to choose the horizontal and vertical cross-section lines. The closest town or attraction to this intersection is your random destination!
• Try a Chopped! Challenge: Head to the kitchen and begin pulling out random ingredients. Then, set a timer and see who can create the best dish! Tip: This is a great way to use up any food that is about to expire.
• Re-Create Your First Date: Reminisce and enjoy your first date together.
• Three-Course Multi-Restaurant Meal: Choose three different restaurants. Eat an appetizer at the first, the main meal at the second, and dessert at the third.

Stay-at-Home Date Ideas

• Put Together a Puzzle: Pull out your favorite pizzle (this one is mine!) and spend the day putting it together. You can even pop some popcorn and put in a movie for some added entertainment.
• Play a Board Game: If you’re looking for a bit more competition, try playing a board game. Here are some board games we just can’t get enough of: 7 Wonders Duel, Trekking the National Parks, Scythe, Azul, and Viticulture.
• Bake a Treat Together: Spend an afternoon making a sweet treat together. As an added twist, one person could put a blindfold on while the other instructs! Be careful of the oven though…
• Make Homemade Pizza: Make some easy homemade pizza dough (YUM) and whip together a custom pizza.
• Put Together a Scrapbook: Get crafty and put together a scrapbook full of your favorite memories together. Here is my foolproof method of scrapbooking, it is quick, easy, and fun!
• Take a Walk around your Neighborhood: Enjoy some fresh air with a long, relaxing stroll around your neighborhood.
• Blind-Folded Taste Testing: Each of you collect about 5 different food items and feeds them to the other while blindfolded.
• Try an at-Home Escape Room Experience: These are SO MUCH FUN. Grab an at-home escape room kit (we are obsessed with the EXIT Games) for hours of mystery and problem-solving.
• Play Video Games: Or, you could turn on some fun music and play an interactive video game.
• Enjoy a Movie Marathon: Run to the library and pick up a stack of the newest releases (yes, you can borrow them for free, usually for 7 full days too!). Head home and binge-watch the entire stack! For a movie-theater-level experience, put blankets over the windows and make some popcorn (we love using this air popper).
• Put Together a Scavenger Hunt for Each Other: Head to the store and collect a few treats and fun items you know the other will enjoy. Then head home and put together a fun scavenger hunt for each other!
• Take the Love Language Quiz: Strengthen your connection by learning each other’s love language. This is the quiz we used, it’s free!
• Tie-Dye Old Clothes: Grab a cheap tie-dye kit and spend an afternoon spicing up some old clothing items.
• Build a Fort: Grab a stack of blankets, pillows, towels, sheets, and old curtains and build the ultimate fort in your living room. Then, spend the day enjoying movies, video games, or reading books inside your cozy cave.
• Plan your Dream Vacation: Discuss your dream vacation destinations and choose your favorite. Then, spend some time mapping out your dream itinerary, lodging options, and more. You could even make a budget for the trip and start a savings challenge to turn this dream into reality! Here is a really cute travel fund savings box, perfect for visually tracking your savings.
• Create a Rainy-Day Bucket List: Spend an afternoon creating the ultimate Rainy-Day Bucket List. This is a list of ideas to turn to when your plans change and you’re stuck at home with nothing to do. It truly is the ultimate list of at-home date ideas! Here are 105 ideas to get you started.
• Try DIY Wine Tasting or Beer Tasting: Collect a range of different wines and/or beers to test out at home. Tip: Try to find the smallest bottles and cans possible to ensure variety.

Related: 105 Exciting At-Home Activities for a Rainy Day

Themed-Day Date Ideas

One of our new favorite activities is to choose a theme and base our entire day or weekend around it. These themes could be based on movies, holidays, places, books, or even songs. Here are a few examples to consider, but the sky is really the limit for themed dates!

• Pirates Themed-Day: Eat seafood, watch Pirates of the Caribbean, and visit the beach.
• Disney Themed-Day: Make food using a Disney Parks Inspired Cookbook, watch Disney movies, visit a theme park or go mini-golfing.
• Lord of the Rings Themed-Day: Make Lord of the Rings-inspired food, eat breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, etc., watch Lord of the Rings, and go on a long hike.
• Dinosaur Themed-Day: Watch Jurassic Park, visit a museum, and go on a geologic hike.
• Marvel Themed-Day: Have a Marvel movie marathon and take a martial arts class.
• Space Themed-Day: Watch space-themed movies, visit a space museum, and go star-gazing.
• Underwater Themed-Day: Eat seafood, watch Finding Nemo, and visit an aquarium.
• Century Themed-Day: Theme your day based on your favorite century. For example, you could base your day on the 1980s by eating popular 80s-style foods, watching the greatest 80s movies, and wearing colorful outfits.

Tip: This is a great way to celebrate quirky holidays like National Dinosaur Day (June 1) or Star Wars Day (May 4th).

Cheap Date Ideas

• Attend a Factory Tour: A simple internet search will help you find local factories that host tours (all of the ones I’ve been on have been free or less than $5). Our favorites have been candy and tea factory tours… so many free samples!
• Go Thrift Shopping: You could either find some hidden treasures or pick out an outfit for each other and wear it for the rest of the day.
• Spend a Day Exploring Garage and Yard Sales: Similar to thrift shopping, you can really find some great treasures at a yard sale.
• Explore Your Local Flea Market: Some of my favorite dates have been to our local seasonal Swap Meet. Great deals, amazing food, and fun entertainment… what more do you need?!

Free Date Ideas

Many of the date ideas I’ve already mentioned are free (like hiking, walking around the park, and most of the at-home date ideas). However, here are some additional free date ideas you might want to consider!

• Visit the Zoo during Free-Entry Day: Many zoos offer free entry throughout the year (like the Denver Zoo). Note that some zoos require you to register for free tickets online before visiting.
• Attend a Museum Free-Entry Day: Many museums will offer free admissions throughout the year.
• Visit a Local Free Museum: In addition, many museums are absolutely free all year round. These tend to be smaller museums, but they are still fun to explore nonetheless.
• Visit a Botanical Garden during Free-Entry Day: I think you can see a pattern here. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of amazing attractions that offer free-entry days.
• Attend a Free Concert: Many community concerts and outdoor venues offer free entry.
• Check out a Movie in the Park: Some large parks play free movies during the spring and summer months.
• Attend a Free Local Festival: Many local festivals offer free entry to their guests to encourage attendance. In particular, it is very common to have city-ran holiday festivals offer free attendance – like St. Patrick’s Day events, Fourth of July festivals and fireworks, Thanksgiving parades, etc.
• Local Library Date Day: Spend the day visiting as many local libraries as you can, and learn more about their amazing community programs (see my amazing library tip at the bottom of this post!).
• Garage Sale Date: Host a garage sale or sell your unwanted items on an online marketplace to fully fund any date that costs money.

Winter Date Ideas

• Celebrate New Year’s Day Together: Kiss at midnight, drink a bubbly drink, watch the fireworks, or even attend a New Year’s bash together.
• Enjoy a Valentine’s Day Special Event: Many attractions and restaurants offer Valentine’s Day special events. For example, some of our local Valentine’s Day events this year included a Cooking with Cupid class, Heart Throb 5k, Beer-and-Chocolate tasting, and three-course meal specials.
• Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Event: Check out a pub crawl, watch a parade, or start a new holiday tradition together.
• Watch a Winter-Themed Movie: Here are 35 of the top movies that take place in wintertime.
• Go Skiing or Snowboarding: Hit the slopes for a thrilling winter adventure.
• Try Snow Tubing: If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, check out a snow tubing slope. Many of them have systems to pull you back up the slope!
• Go Sledding: Grab a set of snow sleds (these are great) and race each other down the hill.
• Go Snowshoeing: Have the itch to go on a hike but the weather is keeping you indoors? Try snowshoeing! Use Alltrails to search for snowshoeing trails near you, and be sure to wear a good pair of snowshoes (here is a great lightweight pair).
• Build a Snowman: Compete to see who can make the best snowman.
• Make Snow Angels: Can you make a snow angel without leaving a hand print? It’s harder than you think!
• Go Ice Skating: Test your balance at the ice skating rink. This is such a romantic date idea!
• Build an Igloo or Quinzee: Spend an afternoon building a beautiful ice fort together.
• Visit an Ice Sculpture Competition: Grab some hot beverages and take a stroll through an ice sculpture competition.
• Go on a Mountain Getaway: Rent a mountain cabin for the weekend.
• Create Your Own Winter Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of your favorite winter activities (plus some additional activities you hope to try). Be sure to save this list to reference later for some go-to date night ideas.

Related: 50 Wonderful Winter Activity Ideas

Spring Dating Ideas

• Celebrate Easter: Dye Easter eggs, put together an Easter egg hunt for each other, or start a new tradition together.
• Volunteer at an Earth Day Event: Give mother nature a little love by volunteering at a meaningful Earth Day event.
• Plant a Tree on Arbor Day: Attend an Arbor Day tree planting event or plant your own tree in a pot. For a fun twist, try planting a tree from the fruit you have in your kitchen. We planted our lemon seeds a while ago and now our tree is almost 7 feet tall!
• Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Attend a Cinco de Mayo event and eat some amazing food, listen to some good music, and even watch some fun entertainment.
• Go on a Picnic in the Park: Fill a basket full of treats and head to the park for a chill afternoon.
• Visit a Flower Field: Frolick through a flower field and purchase a beautiful bouquet of flowers to take home with you.
• Go Backpacking: Spring is a great time to go backpacking, just after the snow melts and before the heat begins to take over.
• Watch a Springtime Film: Get into the spring spirit by watching a fun spring-themed film. Here are 18 ideas to help you choose.
• Hike to a Waterfall: Spring is the best time to check out waterfalls.
• Plant a Garden Together: Spend an afternoon planning out a garden (even a small indoor herb garden or patio garden) and begin germinating seeds. These indoor AeroGarden herb kits are fantastic.
• Create Your Own Spring Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of every spring activity idea you hope to try this year.

Related: The Ultimate Spring Bucket List (50 Fun Activity Ideas)

Summer Date Night Ideas

• Celebrate Independence Day: Attend a Fourth of July event, eat amazing BBQ, and watch the fireworks.
• Go Water Skiing, Water Boarding, or Knee Boarding: Spend the day on the water and test your water skiing/boarding skills. You could even make it a competition to see who can say up the longest.
• Go Water Tubing: For an easier (yet, arguably more fun) boating experience, try tubing behind a boat!
• Visit the Beach: Grab your swimsuit, a picnic, sunscreen (you’ll want this sunscreen, trust me), and a giant quick-dry beach towel for a relaxing day at the beach.
• Go Snorkeling: Purchase some snorkeling gear (this setup is game-changing) and spend your day exploring the water.
• Spend a day at the Pool: Kick back and relax next to a beautiful outdoor pool.
• Watch a Blockbuster Summer Film: Here are 31 summertime movies you don’t want to miss.
• Hang Out at a Lake: Spend the day exploring a local lake by hiking some trails, walking along the shoreline, playing yard games on the beach, or just sitting back and having a chill picnic together.
• Hike a Trail with Blooming Wildflowers: Use the “Attractions” filter on AllTrails and select “Wildflowers” to find the best wildflower hikes near you. Be sure to check the most recent reviews and photos to ensure the flowers are in full bloom.
• Go White-Water Kayaking: Sign up for a guide-led white-water kayaking adventure for a thrilling ride down the river.
• Float the River in Tubes: Or, for a more relaxing day, invite a few friends, grab some tubes and float down a slow local river. Be sure to grab sturdy tubes like these so you don’t have to worry about them getting punctured on your journey (they even have cup holders!). These double tubes with a built-in cooler are also super popular.
• Shop at the Local Farmers’ Market: Grab some fresh produce and check out some great local vendors at a nearby weekend farmers’ market.
• Make Homemade Ice Cream: Grab a pack of these customized ice cream containers to make your own homemade ice cream. Get creative with candies, food coloring, and other fun ingredients!
• Visit a Waterpark: Head to a nearby waterpark for an exciting day filled with water slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and more.
• Watch the Sunset: Slow down and watch nature paint the skies in beautiful colors.
• Visit a Winery or Go on a Wine Tour: Become a connoisseur of wine at a local winery.
• Go Berry Picking: Head to a local farm for a full day of picking berries. Don’t forget to bring them home and bake a yummy treat and freeze the rest for later!
• Watch a Movie at the Drive-In: Just before sunset, head to your local drive-in to watch a double-feature from the comfort of your own vehicle. Make it more fun by bringing a ton of blankets, pillows, these cozy car twinkle lights, and snacks.
• Go Star-Gazing: Drive about a half-an-hour out of town to a park or picnic site for an evening of stargazing. This super comprehensive guide will help you learn more about the stars in your area.
• Create Your Own Summer Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of your favorite summer activities (plus some additional activities you hope to try). Here are 50 summer activity ideas to get you started.

Related: The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Couples

Fall Date Ideas

• Go Apple Picking: Spend the morning at a local farm picking apples then bring them home to make some tasty apple recipes.
• Hike a Trail with Colorful Leaves: Search for “Best Fall Hikes Near [insert your town name]” and head out for a beautiful day in nature.
• Go on a Drive to See the Fall Colors: Similarly, you can search for “Best Fall Drives Near [insert your town name].”
• Fall-Food Taste Testing: Head to your favorite grocery store and collect all the fall-themed foods you can find. Return home and spend the evening tasting each one to choose your favorite.
• Watch a Cozy Fall Movie: Get into the fall spirit by watching some cozy autumn films (here are my 17 favorites).
• Visit a Fall Festival: You might be surprised by just how many fun fall festivals you can find around you. Choose one and head out for a day filled with fun entertainment and food.
• Pick Out a Pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch: Walk around your local pumpkin patch and find that perfect pumpkin.
• Get Lost in a Corn Maze: Challenge yourselves to navigate through a corn maze in as little time as possible.
• Attend a Football Tailgate Party: This is the perfect group date idea!
• Create Your Own Fall Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of every fall activity idea you hope to try this year.

Related: The Ultimate Fall Bucket List – 50 Cozy Activity Ideas for Couples

Spooky Date Ideas for October

• Enjoy a Scary Movie Marathon: Make some popcorn, turn off the lights, and cozy up for a scary movie marathon.
• Watch Classic Halloween Movies: If scary movies aren’t quite your thing, perhaps you might want to watch some fun and classic Halloween movies (here are 28 must-watch movies to add to your list).
• Visit a Spooky Haunted Hause: Ready for a scary experience? Check out a haunted house in your area. Some are so scary, they require you to sign a health waiver!
• Attend an Octoberfest Event: Check out an Octoberfest event for a day filled with amazing food, beer, and entertainment.
• Visit a Ghost Town: A ghost town is an old, abandoned town usually filled with historic buildings but no people. These are super interesting to explore! There are actually a surprising number of ghost towns in the world. Here is a list of ghost towns in the US and here is a list of ghost towns around the world.
• Attend a Haunted Tour: Take a look at sites like Groupon and Yelp to find an exciting haunted tour. We recently went on a haunted tour in downtown Denver, it was so much fun!
• Visit a Haunted Theme Park: Many major theme parks around the world undergo a haunted transformation through the month of October, including the addition of haunted houses, fun decorations, and more. Some even operate at night for an even better experience!
• Carve Pumpkins: Spend an evening filled with carving pumpkins and baking pumpkin seeds.
• Decorate Your Porch for Halloween: Purchase some fun outdoor Halloween decorations and spend a day decorating your porch to help encourage trick-or-treaters on the big day.
• Wear Costumes Together: Head to the store and pick out a cute couple’s costume to wear all Halloween day.
• Go to a Live Rocky Horror Picture Show: Ready to have the time of your life? Spend an evening dancing, yelling, and laughing at a live performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Don’t forget to bring your audience participation guide!
• Attend a Costume Party: This sounds like a fun group date idea.
• Host a Murder-Mystery Party: Another fun group date idea! Here is a great 1920’s themed game kit to help you plan the most epic night!
• Create Your Own Halloween Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of your favorite Halloween activities (plus some additional activities you hope to try). Here are 50 ideas to get you started.

Related: 50 Spooky Activity Ideas Perfect for October

Christmas and Holiday Date Ideas

• Visit a Holiday Market: Enjoy an evening of holiday food and festive entertainment at a holiday market. You could even get some holiday shopping done!
• Chop Down a Christmas Tree Together: Check out your local Christmas tree farm or grab a permit from a local landowner (like the US Forest Service) and find your perfect Christmas tree! We have a tradition of making this an entire day-long event by going on a fun hike on USFS land and challenging ourselves to find the perfect tree.
• Make Homemade Holiday Decorations: Spend an evening getting crafty and making your own holiday decorations such as wreaths, candles, or even homemade wrapping paper. Here is a fantastic candle-making kit and blank wrapping paper to help you get started.
• Bake Holiday Cookies Together: Whip up some tasty treats to share with loved ones or those in need.
• Go on a Carriage Ride: End a fun date night with a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride.
• Have a Holiday Movie Marathon: There are countless holiday movies to choose from, it’s so hard to choose! Here is a list of my favorites to help you out.
• Go Christmas Shopping for Loved Ones: Head to the mall or local shopping center for a full day of Christmas shopping. Don’t forget to take your shopping list and reference your Christmas budget!
• Watch the Nutcracker Ballet: Get dressed up for an elegant night at the ballet theater.
• Check out a Drive-through Light Show: Put on your pajamas, grab some snacks, and head to a festive drive-through light show experience.
• Watch a Holiday Parade in Person: Bundle up and grab a hot beverage before finding a good seat along the parade route.
• Have a Gingerbread House Contest: Snag two gingerbread house kits and compete to see who can make the best creation!
• Make Mulled Wine or Eggnog: Put together a festive drink together and let it simmer all day.
• Drive Around to See the Lights: Blast your favorite holiday tunes and drive around your local neighborhoods for a fun-filled evening.
• Go Caroling: This is a great holiday group date idea!
• Create Your Own Holiday Bucket List: Sit down together and write out a list of every holiday activity idea you hope to try this year. Here are 50 ideas to get you started.

Related: The Ultimate Christmas Bucket List – 50 Festive Activity ideas

Tips to Spice Up Your Dates

Here are some ideas to help spice up your date ideas:

• Alternate who plans the date
• Turn your date night into a double date
• Surprise your significant other with a date in the middle of the week
• Put all your favorite date ideas into a jar and choose one at random
• For even more date ideas, try a scratch-off dating book

The Ultimate Secret for Planning EPIC Dates

My absolute favorite tip for planning amazing dates is to plan them out for the entire year at one time.

I know, it might sound a bit crazy, but hear me out.

When you have all of your dates pre-planned and on the calendar, you will save time, money, and energy.

Why? Because the decision has already been made for you!

This also allows you the opportunity to seek out free events (like free museum entry days), save up for any more expensive activities (like travel), and ask for time off in advance.

It really is a game-changer.

It is also SUPER easy. All you have to do is skim the date ideas listed in this blog post, choose your favorites, and add them to your calendar. Boom! You’re done!

If you’re interested in how I plan my ENTIRE year in advance (on top of date nights), be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning the Entire Year in Advance. It truly is a game-changer.

Related: New Year Planning – How to Plan the Entire Year in Advance

HUGE Dating Money-Saving Tip:

Looking for free tickets to some of the best attractions in your area such as the zoo, local museums, state parks, and more? Then look no further than your local library.

In fact, taking full advantage of your local library is my absolute favorite dating money-saving tip. Many libraries (though, not all) offer AMAZING benefits like free tickets to local attractions, new release movies, streaming services, free state park day passes, and so much more.

No, you don’t need to pay to get a library card (you already did that when you paid your taxes). ITS. ALL. FREE.

For example, our local library allows us to print off attraction tickets for FREE twice every 30 days through their Culture Pass Program. Our options include the butterfly pavilion, museum of nature and science, art museum, history museum, state parks, and many more. This is an incredible program, as admission into any one of these locations is about $20 per person.

Crazy, right? How did I not know about this sooner?!

Further Reading

If you’re looking for more dating-related resources, check out these related articles:

• 34 Date Ideas Perfect for College Students
• 99 Unforgettable Gift Ideas Under $25
• The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

And that’s a wrap. Phew, that was a lot!

I hope you were able to find some exciting new date ideas. Have fun and enjoy!

Oh yeah, and don’t forget your free seasonal bucket list printable page…

The post The Ultimate List of Date Ideas (279 Ideas!) appeared first on The Olden Chapters.