Going Out Date Ideas

Mall Shopping Go to your local mall, department store, or large discount store, such as Target or Walmart. Split up and spend $20 each on various products to use that night for a romantic and seductive evening together. Keep your purchases a surprise until later that evening.

Progressive Dinner Don't settle for dinner out at one restaurant. Have your drinks and appetizers at one restaurant, main course at another, and dessert at another. You'll have a fun evening sampling new things and enjoying the different atmospheres.

Go to a Party It doesn't matter if it's a work party, a friend's party, or even your niece's birthday party. Plan to go together and walk in arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand.

Walk Around a College CampusTake a date on a tour of your campus (if you went to or currently attend different schools). If you don't live nearby, tour a local college campus and relive your glory days together.

See a Matinee Movie Instead of having a traditional Friday night date, plan to skip out of work early on a Wednesday afternoon and catch a movie matinee together!

Attend a Lecture Look at the even schedules at your local library, museum, or art gallery. Find a lecture that interests both of you and make plans to attend! Be sure to hold hands during the entire lecture.

Visit a Botanical Garden Walk amongst the tropical birds, plants, and butterflies hand-in-hand when you visit a local botanical garden.

Eat Outside Take her out to dinner at your favorite restaurant and dine on the patio or balcony while you enjoy the fresh air and brisk breeze.

Visit an Art Gallery This is a cheap date with stimulating conversation and loads of fun. Whether you visit a large gallery or a small town shop, you'll enter a whole new world when surrounded by paintings, prints, and sculptures. Discuss what you see in the paintings. Debate over what you would buy if you could any one thing in the gallery. Top it off with a stop by a coffeehouse for a warm drink, a little music, and more conversation.

Drive-in Movie It's the standard movie date with a very romantic twist. Bring along a basket of romantic goodies and a blanket for two.

Fireworks Blast View a fireworks display and then light a few fireworks of your own during the grand finale.

Local Concerts Check your local newspaper for weekly events. Most cities offer free evening outdoor concerts. Grab your lounge chairs or picnic blanket, take a few snacks, and enjoy a free evening of entertainment together.

Rummage at Garage Sales You'll have a blast rummaging for bargains with each other. Commit to finding each other a romantic trinket by the end of your outing.

Dinner & a Movie Movie's are not just popcorn times anymore. Most cities now have dinner theaters that show movies as well as serve meals. Enjoy a movie, eat a good meal, and enjoy each other's company with your own private table rather than squished in two theater seats.

Cultural Dinners Expand your horizon's with a dinner out at a cultural restaurant that neither of you have tried.

Head to a State or City Park Bring along some bread and feed ducks in a pond. No ducks? Then take a nice long walk and just enjoy the fresh air and each other. In warmer areas, you'll be able to marvel at all the beautiful flowers that are currently blooming.

Go to Church Together Get to know your partner even better by attending a service at their church.

Arcade Games Get a roll of quarters and have a blast playing games. Compete against each other on a racing game... winner gets to pick the reward!

Football Games Go to a local high school game, college game, or pro game together. Be sure to huddle closely, cheer together, and feed each other Nacho's.

Go to a Baseball Game Catch a major league game if you have a team in your city. Minor league games are just as fun! Or, bring out the child in you and hit the little league parks. You'll have a blast watching the kids play. Don't forget some peanuts, popcorn, or hot dogs from the concession stand.

Beach Afternoon Relax in the sand together for an afternoon. It's the perfect time to just talk, laugh, read to each other, or do a crossword together. Cool off in the water together.

Comedy Clubs The couple that laughs together stays together... Check out the entertainment section of your newspaper to get the scoop on comedy clubs or comedians headed to your area! It'll be a fun & funny night out on the town.

Go to a Museum Browse the art and exhibits together at a local museum.

Visit the Zoo Browse the zoo exhibits and habitats for a fun date afternoon.

Visit an Aquarium Visit a local aquarium for a fun afternoon. Often times they have exhibits where you can feed the fish, swim the dolphins, or touch the sting rays. Another fun aquarium date -- Ripley's Aquariums.

Go to a Play Go out for a romantic dinner, then take in a play at your local theater.

Go to a Drive-in Movie Channel the past at a local drive in theater. Bring along a blanket, share some popcorn and enjoy the flick all in the comfort of your car. Act like teenagers again and engage in a little make out session during the show.

Go to a Car Show Check out the classic cars together, then grab diner at a local diner.

Go to an Air Show Go to a Blue Angels or other air show for an exciting afternoon together.

Go to a Movie It's a standard date, but still lots of fun! Pick a flick that you both enjoy or take turns picking the movies that you want to see. Add lunch or dinner before or after the movie and you've got yourself a date. Skip the movie if this is your first date though. It's hard to get to know someone if you're sitting in the dark and can't talk.

Go to an Ice Skating Show These fun shows aren't just for little kids, they're for the kids at heart as well! Check your events listings at Ticketmaster. There seems to always be a 'Disney on Ice' show coming up.

Go to a Concert If you love music, this is a perfect date for you! Check your local event listings and head to a night of fun with a local band or get tickets for a big concert coming up.

Visit Garage Sales If you're looking for fun, entertainment, and bargains, get up early on Saturday morning and head to the sales. Shop 'til you drop or make a game of finding obscure items. Add a romantic breakfast and you've got a great date.

See a Musical Check your newspaper for the local theater listings. Guys may groan at this date idea, but musicals can make for an incredibly romantic date.

Go Out for Dinner We're not talking just a normal dinner... this needs to be a romantic dinner! Go to a 5-star restaurant and enjoy a gourmet meal by candlelight. Heck, you can even make McDonald's meal romantic with some intimate conversation.

Go Out for a Cultural Dinner Be adventurous. Go out to dinner at a restaurant that you haven't tried before. Looking for ideas? Open your yellow pages and look at all of the ethnic options available.

Go to the Symphony Listening to beautiful music while sitting closely by your date -- what could be better?

Take a Riverboat Cruise If you're anywhere near a major river, check the tour guides for riverboat cruises. We're not talking gambling riverboats (unless that appeals to you), but rather a leisurely trip down the river that allows you to talk and just enjoy one another's company while viewing the scenery.

Ride a Ferry or Steamboat Do you live near a ferry boat? Get a couple of tickets, take along a snack, and just spend the time talking and watching the water go by.

Visit a City Park Take along a Frisbee and a picnic lunch and you've got a fun date in your local park.

Visit an Orchard This only works in the fall, but it's a great date idea when the time is right. Head to a local orchard and pick your own apples. Once you get them home, bake an apple pie together, then enjoy the fruits of your labor (literally).

Watch Little League Games You'll have fun watching the little kids scramble. Grab a hot dog and a coke and cheer for the kids as if you were watching the world series.

See a Midnight Movie If you're lucky enough to have a late night movie schedule, take advantage of it! Many times they're less crowded, giving your more 'private' time.

Go to a wedding together It could be a friends wedding or a family members wedding. Squeeze your partner's hand during the vows. *Note* - this wouldn't be a great date idea for those that are not in a committed relationship.

Go to a stranger's wedding Go to a stranger's wedding together. We're not talking about crashing their reception, but rather sit in on the ceremony and vows and watch them pledge their love and commitment to one another.

Go window shopping Bring along only enough money for a snack to share. Hold hands and browse, telling each other what you would buy. You can browse for your future home or give each other ideas for future presents.

Go Cave Hiking If you're lucky enough to live near a national park with caves, head on over for an adventurous date idea. Places like Kentucky's Mammoth Caves make for an adventurous afternoon. You'll definitely find out what your partner is made of.

Bet on a Horse Race Ok, so even if you don't bet, you can have a fun afternoon at the horse track. Snag a table, some hot dogs, and a couple of beers. Get a program and either bet on the horses or pretend to bet between one another. Winner gets a prize of their choice.

Go to a Casino Bring along a roll of quarters and play the slots together. If you're a card shark, head to the blackjack table together. Either way, play together or have a friendly competition.

Walk Through the Mall It might sound a little odd, but you can do a lot in a mall. Have a quick lunch in the food court, then grab a dessert at the cookie stand. After window shopping, stop in a photo booth to take your photo together. While your date browses a shop or heads to the restroom, pick up a little trinket as a memento of your day.

Go Shell Searching on the BeachTake a romantic stroll down the beach and collect shells together. You'll spend quality time together with the lulls of the ocean, great conversation, romantic hand holding, and beautiful scenery.

Go Out for a Five Course Dinner It doesn't necessarily have to be a 5-star restaurant. Pick a nice setting and have a five course meal - salad, fruit & cheese, appetizer, entree, and dessert.

Go Grocery Shopping Even the most mundane of tasks can be made romantic. Plan a trip to the grocery store to purchase all of the items needed to make a romantic dinner at home for two. If you want to try something a little different, plan a trip where you pick out only aphrodisiac food items.

Visit a Pet Store Everyone loves pet stores. Play with the dogs, pet the kitties, and pick which you would bring home if you could. If you already have pets, take them along on your date! If you visit a pet store such as Pet smart, you can bring your pooches along with you!

Go to a Football Game It could be an NFL game, college game, or a high school game. Put on your fan gear and hang out together cheering on your favorite team.

Go to a Basketball Game Whether it's the NBA finals or a local high school team, head to the gym to watch a little basketball action. Looking to join in on the fun? Play a little one-on-one together at a local park!

Head to the Beach Grab your towels, ipod, and sunscreen and head to the beach for a day lounging in the sun together. Bring along a picnic lunch and a few toys (water raft? volleyball?) and you can have both romance and fun!

Go to a Boating Show or Race Even if you're not water people, you'll still be impressed by the boats. If you prefer action rather than browsing, head to a boating race. Place a friendly bet with each other and the loser has to pay up that night.

Go to a Circus Pretend your kids again with some popcorn, peanuts, and clowns at the big top. The greatest show on earth makes for a great date idea.

Go to an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet...and bring an empty stomach! The great thing about a buffet is that you can try some of everything! Each of you grab a plate and then share.

Go to a Ballet Get tickets to Swan's Lake, The Nutcracker, or any other local or touring ballet. The music will entice your sense and inspire romance. Make it a romantic night all around with a romantic dinner out prior to the show.

Play Bingo Play for friendly fun and possibly some prizes with a game of Bingo. You could head to a bingo hall (no, it's not just for older folks!) or even play at home with friends (make it a group date!).

Go to an Opera Try something new with tickets to an opera. Think pretty woman here, without the broken binoculars. ;) It's hard to take a date to an opera without leaving with a feeling of romance and a sense of closeness.

Go to a Bookstore Browse through the books together reading each other passages. Or, grab a cup of coffee and just spend the afternoon talking together amongst the books and people.

Visit Shops in a Nearby Town You can browse the shops, stop in for coffee, people watch, and just see the sights.

Watch an Olympic Sport It doesn't have to be the Olympics (seeing as the timing is difficult), but get tickets to an event for a sport that is featured in the Olympics. Needs ideas? Go to a gymnastics meet, a skating competition, or a soccer match.

Go Out for Ice Cream Get two different cones and share them. Or split one large banana split... with two cherries on the top!

Go to a Comedy Club Be prepared to laugh like crazy. They say that the couple that laughs together stays together.

Go for a Moonlit Walk Take a walk, hand in hand, lit only by the moonlight.
Is there anything more romantic that just spending the afternoon, evening, or night snuggling together?

Watch the Sunset Grab a bottle of wine and find a picturesque location to watch the sunset together.

Watch the Sunrise Find a picturesque location and watch the sunrise as you enjoy mimosa's and bagels.

Watch Planes Take Off Head to the airport (preferably a field behind the airport) and watch the planes take off (ala Wayne's World).

Cook Out Grill steaks and corn outdoors and then eat on your fancy china by candlelight indoors.
Bake Cookies Together Get his mom's signature cookie recipe and surprise him with the ingredients. Spend the afternoon baking together, then enjoy the cookies while sharing your favorite childhood memories.

Make Ice Cream Get an ice cream maker and spend a hot summer afternoon making various kinds of ice cream together.

Petting Zoo Bring along some quarters and head to a local petting zoo where you can get close with the animals and feed them.

Go On A Road Trip Take a long weekend and plan a road trip together. Pick a few destinations, but the actual destination doesn't matter as your focus is the road trip itself. Use the time to talk, and talk, and talk.