The Date Night Almanac! 50 Ideas For Date Night!

The Date Night Almanac!
50 Ideas For Your Next Date Night!

Are you stuck on what to do for Valentine’s Day, a special holiday, or this weekend’s date night? Maybe you haven’t been on a real date in forever or maybe you are stuck in a date night idea rut and need some fresh options! This list of my top 50 favorite date ideas encompasses everything from the typical dinner date to the more out of the box adventures. Nothing on this list is far fetched and can be translated to a family or friend activity! Now, before you read this post, choose a number between 1-50. That number is your next date night idea!

1. Spa Date. Get pampered and book an appointment for a couples massage or any number of spa services to fit your budget. 
2. Backyard Picnic. Craft the perfect meal and take it outside with an oversized blanket or rug. Collect greenery or flowers from your own yard and dress up your presentation.
3. Drinks. Get dressed up and head to a bar. Order your usual for each other and one new drink you’ve never tried before. Ask the bartender for a suggestion.
4. Movie Night In. Go through your old movie collection and choose a movie at random. You can only get 3 vetos!
5. Learn To Cook A New Dish Together. Choose a new-to-you recipe from the internet, grab some groceries and learn to cook it. 
6. Picnic In The Park. If you don’t already have a fancy picnic basket, hunt for one at a local antique shop and have it on hand for all your future picnics. Start touring local parks with delicious feasts!
7. Game Night. Choose a board, puzzle, or card game from your collection and play for bragging rights or a prize like a massage or homemade dessert. 
8. Explore A Nearby Town. Choose a town or city within a few hours and take a road trip to explore it for the first time.
9. Check Out A Local Event. Look up your local calendar and take a stroll through a street craft, art, or food truck event.
10. Shopping Date. Pick a budget, split it in half and go to your favorite shops. Try on outfits for each other and choose your next date night attire!
11. Take A Local Art Class. Look up your local listings and sign up for an art class like pottery or painting.
12. Spa at Home. Pull out your robes and face masks and pamper each other with some at-home spa treatments. Dress up your bathtub with bubbles and flower petals and don’t forget the spa music for ambiance!
13. Movie Night Out. An oldie but a goodie. Bonus points if you choose an independent or foreign film and/or you go to a completely new-to-you theater.
14. Hiking. Look up local trails and pick one that you absolutely love or haven’t had a chance to try yet.
15. Wine & Cheese Tasting. Pop into your local market and ask for help choosing new cheese and wine pairings. Be open to suggestions so you actually try something you haven’t before!
16. Outdoor Adventuring. Depending on where you live and your athletic ability, choose an outdoor activity you can both do together. Kayaking, skiing, biking, the options are endless…
17. Do A Seasonal Craft. There is always a holiday just around the corner. From pumpkin carving to cookie decorating… there is never a shortage of holiday-themed craft supplies.
18. Start Learning A New Language. Grab a free language app like DuoLingo and start a new language together. Compete for vocabulary goals and give your brain a healthy dose of fresh learning.
19. Library. Check out a book from your local public library and find a cozy nook to cuddle and read.
20. Go Farm Picking. Find a seasonal U-Pick farm and go picking. Make a meal with your fresh-picked produce.
21. Plan A Vacation. Spend an evening planning a trip you’ve always wanted to take. Start with your budget and go from there!
22. Indoor Adventuring. Choose an indoor activity like bowling, roller skating, or ice skating. 
23. Coffee Shop Hang. Take your conversation to your favorite coffee shop and grab a cup of joe or tea. Bring a board game for an added activity.
24. Cooking Class. Learn from a professional chef and take a cooking class together. 
25. Crab & Shrimp Picking. Head to your local seafood market or grocery store seafood section and order your favorites cooked! No cooking required but picking seafood takes time. Always a great social experience.
26. Stargazing Night. Take a blanket, snacks, wine, and your stargazing app to your closest open air space and check out your night sky constellations! 
27. Take Out. Order with your favorite delivery service from two different restaurants and have your favorite take out restaurants at the same time.
28. Escape Room. Schedule a date at an escape room and enjoy the experience together.
29. Park & Play. Find a park bench and play a multiplayer app like Words With Friends.
30. Visit An Exhibit. Check out the latest exhibits at a local Museum, Aquarium, Planetarium, Zoo, or Botanical Garden.
31. Be A Big Kid. Go to an indoor trampoline park, an arcade, or play laser tag.
32. Go Beer/Wine Tasting. Microbreweries and wineries are everywhere! Choose one and take a taste test tour. 
33. Go out to eat. Another oldie but with an important twist! Make a list of the top 10 places in your area that you haven’t tried yet. You must choose from that list and not from your comfort zone for every consecutive dinner date night out.
34. Billards. Pick a local spot to play a round of pool or darts! Winner has to buy drinks and becomes the designated driver for the evening.
35. S’mores Night. Have a backyard fire pit or fireplace? Or a local spot for a bonfire? Even if you just have a candle, you can roast some marshmallows and enjoy this classic date night dessert!
36. Go To The Gym. Start a new workout plan and cheer each other on. Bonus: get new workout clothes that make you feel good about yourselves!
37. Amusement Park Date. Head to the local fair/carnival if it’s in town or a major amusement park.
38. Be A Tourist. See your town through a tourist’s eyes. Visit all the usual attractions and take a tour with a boat or bus guide.
39. Start A New TV Series. This one takes a little planning. Choose a new TV series that you will both enjoy and start a night of TV binging.
40. BBQ. Brush off the old grill and bbq your favorite main courses and skewered veggies. If you don’t have access to a BBQ grill, try roasting your marinated dishes in the oven.
41. Rock Climbing. Check out a local rock climbing gym and tackle a few auto-belay walls. If the height scares you, try bouldering!
42. Go Out For Dessert. Visit your favorite ice cream, chocolate, or cookie shop and order something you don’t usually get.
43. Comfort Food Night. Learn each other’s favorite guilty foods with a junk food night in on the couch. Go ahead and eat Lucky Charms for dinner!
44. Buy a New Plant. Visit a local garden nursery and shop for a new house plant to take care of together. Don’t forget to research the care instructions. 
45. Go See A Live Show. Look up the schedule for a nearby theater and get tickets to see a comedy show, musical, play, or musician.
46. Putt-Putt. Find a course you haven’t played before and battle for the putt-putt win!
47. Learn A Musical Instrument. Choose an instrument you’ve always wanted to learn or something easy and inexpensive like the Ukelele and learn together with a teach-yourself book.
48. Dinner Theater. Have a sure-to-be silly experience and have dinner at a local dinner theater such as Medieval Times, Mystery Dinner Theater, or Pirate Dinner Adventure.
49. Pub Trivia. Look up the restaurant and bar trivia schedule and go! Enjoy bar snacks, drinks, and showing off your general knowledge.
50. Pillow Fort. Build a pillow fort in your living room complete with blanket flooring and flashlights. Eat your meal or dessert in your fort.