Most memorable dates come from spending quality time together and finding ways to laugh, talk freely, and create memories you’ll both look back on.
Not every date has to be epic. Not every moment you spend together has to be Instagram worthy.
So if you’re looking to spend some fun quality time with your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband, these date ideas are for you.
Whether you’re dating someone new, taking your boyfriend or girlfriend out, or trying to keep the spark alive with your long term partner, fun dates are a great way to enjoy each other’s company.
12 Fun Things to Do on a Date
1. Go to a Local Arcade and Compete Against Each Other
Icebreakers rarely get much better than some healthy competition.
Arcades are one of those unique places where you literally don’t have to take yourselves too seriously. Race cars, play some HORSE, air hockey, heck, whoever wins the most tickets wins!
It doesn’t matter if you’re good or terrible at video games. Heck, being bad at them is usually what’s funny about going to arcades.
Another awesome thing about competition is you two talking smack, celebrating wins, and laughing about stupid mistakes. Those are the moments you’ll remember later, not sitting across from each other struggling to make conversation over dinner.
2. Take a Cooking Class Together
Cooking is such an incredible way to learn how someone does or doesn’t do teamwork.
Instead of ordering food at a restaurant and splitting duties, you two get to cook together. And cooking doesn’t always have to mean making dinner (although you could totally do that). You could make pasta, learn how to bake desserts, or even take a class to learn how to make different foods.
You’ll laugh, you’ll make a shitty oatmeal chocolaty cookie God knows what, and you’ll have a blast trying. Plus, it’s hilarious seeing how well your personalities actually mesh as a team.
Read also: 20 Summer Date Ideas for New Couples
3. Take a Mini Adventure Through Your City
Let’s face it, most of us drive hours to find an adventure when there’s probably a tour of greatness hiding in your city.
Pick an area of the city you haven’t explored and check it out! Hit up some local shops you’ve never been to, try new restaurants, walk down streets you don’t usually go down, and see where the day takes you!
Building a spontaneous date like this opens you up to new experiences you’ll tell your grandchildren about.
4. Have a Picnic Date
Who knew something so simple could be this fun?
Grab some snacks, sandwiches, drinks, and drive to your local park, beach, lakeside, or wherever and find a chill spot outside. Throw down a blanket, pop some kernels in the grill, and leave your phones the hell away from each other for a bit.
Speaking from experience, you honestly have better conversations without the distractions of people watching you eat or loud restaurants.
Being outside and able to just enjoy each other’s presence without feeling rushed is awesome.
Read also: 15 Fun Friend Date Ideas You Can Enjoy at Home
5. Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
This one doesn’t matter if you like art or not. Museums and galleries have funny ways of making you talk.
You’ll have things to talk about with all the random stuff you’re seeing. Talk about your favorites and least favorites. Inform each other on why you like what you like and educate each other on new information you’re discovering.
Dates at museums and art galleries are great because you can learn so much about how your date thinks just by talking while observing the pieces.
6. Go Bowling
Bowling is classic for a reason.
Active without being too strenuous. Competitive without being cutthroat. And it gives you tons of time to interact with each other.
Is either one of you good? Awesome, kill ’em. Are you both awful? Great, take dumps all over the lanes and laugh about it afterward.
Either way, you’ll have a blast and create memories making shitty strokes or dominating everyone.
Oh, and the time in between turns? Conversation galore, my friends.
Read also: 60 Funny First Date Questions That Will Instantly Break the Ice
7. Try an Escape Room
Escape rooms are probably the last thing on your mind when you think “fun,” but hear me out.
They’re actually super fun, I promise. Both of you will have to communicate and work together to solve puzzles and clues to win. Not only will you quickly learn how your date handles stress, but you’ll also create a fun adrenaline rush working together to beat the game.
Pro tip: don’t finish. Linger and laugh about how you didn’t get out in time.
8. Go Hiking
Life tends to slow down when you’re out in nature.
Instead of being cooped up indoors looking at screens all day, you can spend time bonding by talking and walking through nature. You both tend to open up more when you’re taking leisurely hikes as opposed to, say, dining in.
Hanging outdoors with fewer distractions also allows you two to focus on each other more, which can do wonders for your relationship.
9. Play Games
Game nights are seriously underrated.
If you and your date are competitive people, you’ll have a field day playing games with each other.
Cards. Board games. Video games. Trivia games. It doesn’t matter, as long as you two are having fun and spending quality time with each other laughing until your stomachs hurt.
You also learn a lot about your date by playing games with them. Some people are petty, some are extremely competitive, and others are just plain hilarious when they lose.
10. Take a Dance Class Together
“I suck at dancing. I hate dance dates.”
Yeah, hear me out.
If you truly suck at dancing, there’s a good chance your date sucks at dancing too. And trust me when I say learning to dance with someone who can’t dance is hilarious.
Whether you want to learn ballroom, salsa, swing dancing, or just about any style, the two of you are bound to laugh at each other’s epic fails and build confidence around one another.
11. Check Out a Local Food Festival or Farmer’s Market
There’s something so fun about wandering around food festivals and local markets.
Instead of both of you being stuck with one meal, you get to walk around and try new foods. You’ll each find new favorites and tell each other about your favorites back home. You can even teach each other how to make new foods!
Talking about food tastes and discovering new dishes is so much fun. There’s also something relaxing about wandering around with no real agenda or timeline.
12. Make a Bucket List
Okay, so this one isn’t really an activity you can do, but I had to include it.
Sometimes the best dates can occur without even leaving your couch.
Sit down with your special someone, grab some snacks, and create a bucket list of fun activities you both want to do. You could travel to new places, try new activities, or even learn new hobbies together.
Talking about new experiences you both want to have is fun and exciting. You get to learn more about what your date likes to do, and you build anticipation for future dates.
Conclusion
Dates don’t have to be extravagant, expensive, or completely over the top.
Fun dates are about spending quality time with your significant other and creating memories you’ll look back on for years to come. Great dates allow you and your partner to be comfortable, laugh, and simply have a good time.
As long as you two have a great time and come away from your date with smiles on your faces, you nailed it!
FAQ
What is the most fun thing to do on a date?
Depends on who you ask, but for the most part, any activity that involves some type of interaction and allows you to freely laugh and have fun is always a winner. Going to an arcade, escape room, bowling, and cooking classes are always top tier date ideas.
What are some good first date activities?
When going on a first date, it’s always best to suggest something that will stimulate conversation but won’t make either of you feel awkward. Coffee dates, mini golf, museums, food markets, and short walks are always winners.
How can I make a date more fun?
Break away from the typical dinner and movie. Try and do something where you two can interact with each other. Maybe it’s working together to learn something new, create something, or compete against each other. Dates are more fun when you’re doing things instead of just talking about stuff.
Are cheap dates still fun?
Hell yeah, they are. Some of my favorite dates cost me absolutely nothing. Going for hikes, game nights, checking out new areas in town, and food festivals are always a blast.
What should couples do when they run out of date ideas?
Do something you both have never done before! Take a class together, visit new places, make bucket lists, and explore new hobbies.
How often should couples go on dates?
As much as you can! Like I said above, it doesn’t matter how extravagant or expensive your dates are. All that matters is you making an effort to spend quality time with your partner.
What are some good indoor date ideas?
Cooking classes, escape rooms, arcades, museums, game nights, dance classes, and food markets are great places to start.
Do fun dates make relationships better?
Absolutely. The more positive experiences you have with your significant other, the stronger your emotional connection will be, which builds a better foundation for a healthy relationship. Fun dates create memories that you’ll look back on for the rest of your lives.
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