How to Pick a Creative Idea for a Date

Co-authored by Elvina Lui, MFT

Last Updated: April 30, 2021 References

While dinner and a movie are classic standbys, sometimes you might want something more exciting out of a date. Creative date ideas are great whether you’re dating someone new or have been married for years. When picking a creative date, think about if you and your date might like to learn something new, enjoy nature together, or have a playful adventure.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Playing Around

Trampoline parks seem to be springing up everywhere, and they’re not just for kids! You can bounce to your heart’s content and get great exercise with your date for an hourly fee. Search “trampoline park near me” online to find your closest park. ^{[1]
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Set up a mini-scavenger hunt. This is a great idea that you can basically do anywhere. Come up with a list of items to find or places to go in your town and give your date the list for the two of you to complete it together. You can also make a photo scavenger hunt, where you go to different places and take selfies, instead of finding actual objects. ^{[2]
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- For ideas on what to include on your list, think of a theme: some examples include bridges, churches, types of Christmas decorations during the holidays, or animals.
You may have to travel a bit to find one, but there are giant mazes made from corn or large shrubs in various locations year-round. Additionally, some farms have them open to the public during fall festival seasons. Search “outdoor mazes near me” to find one. ^{[3]
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Race go-carts to test your courage. Go on a high-speed date by hitting a go-cart track. To make it extra interesting, place bets on which of you will win the most rounds. ^{[4]
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- Look up “go-carts near me” online to find a racing track in your area.
5
Attend an interactive play for a dramatic date. Check out a murder mystery dinner theatre, or go to a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. These types of events are available in many major cities, and put a unique spin on the classic show date. ^{[5]
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- Search “interactive plays,” “murder mystery theatre,” or “Rocky Horror Picture show” online to find locations in your area.
6
Shoot hoops or hit the slopes. There are endless easy and free options for those of a more athletic nature. Grab a basketball and hit your local outdoor court or rec center for a game of 1-on-1. If you like skateboarding, take your date to a skate park and teach them some tricks you know. ^{[6]
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- If you’re a winter sport person, look up your local ski resort to go skiing or snowboarding. Or go to a local pool and swim laps together in the summer.
- If you have a specific athletic skill that you’d like to share with your date, be sure they’re open to trying it, and remember to keep things light and fun even if they end up not being very good at it.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Enjoying Nature

If you live near a river or lake, you may be able to rent kayaks by the hour as a fun nature date. Get a 2-person kayak to work together while you row. Search “kayaking near me” online to find local kayak rental locations. ^{[7]
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Go horseback riding for some old-timey fun. Horseback riding allows you to spend some time outdoors, and you can see some great views on more hilly trails. Be sure to dress comfortable in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. ^{[8]
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- Look up “horseback riding near me” to find a local stable that offers public riding.
If heights don’t bother you, a hot-air balloon ride can be a breath-taking date. Find out if there are hot-air balloon rides in your area by searching “hot-air balloon rides near me” online. ^{[9]
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Try skinny dipping at night. Go somewhere secluded where you won’t get caught, and skinny dipping can be both romantic and adventurous. It also makes for a great story later. ^{[10]
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- Drive around and look for a rope swing into a lake or river as an added bonus.
5
Go hiking at a county or state park. Most areas, even urban areas, have large parks with hiking trails within a 2-hour drive. Browse “hiking trails near me” to find one in your area as a great free date. ^{[11]
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- Be sure to dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and pack some snacks to have a picnic while you’re out hiking.
6
Find a farm and pick your own fruit in the summer or fall. If it’s fruit-picking season, you can often find farms that will let you pick your own apples, berries, or other fruits or veggies. Search “pick-your-own farms near me” online to find a local farm that allows you to pick your own fruit. ^{[12]
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- You and your date can then take your fruit home and try baking a pie or making another dessert with it.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying New Experiences

1
Go on a ghost tour for some haunted fun. Many cities have a tour highlighting haunted houses and local ghost sightings. Search “ghost tours near me” to find your closest ghost tour. ^{[13]
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- Most of these types of tours are on a bus and make stops allowing you to go outside or sometimes inside the haunted locations. Be sure to dress for the weather for the outdoor portions.
2
Get your palms read or see a psychic. Getting your fortune told can be an exciting, fun date even if you don’t completely believe in psychic phenomenon. Palm-readers, tarot readers, and psychics are often located in touristy areas, near beaches, and at carnivals, but you can also find them in regular neighborhoods by looking in an online phone directory. ^{[14]
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- Search “psychics near me” to find a local fortune-teller.
3
Go to a weird museum to learn surprising new things. Many big cities have a museum that’s different from the standard art or history museum. Examples include the Museum of Sex in New York City, the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, and the Museum of the Weird in Austin. ^{[15]
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- Search “unique museums near me” in your Internet browser to find a local non-standard museum.
4
Take a class of something you’ve never done before. Learn some new recipes and cooking skills that you can try out later at home by taking an ethnic cooking class together. Or, take a ballroom dancing, salsa, or hip-hop class to try out a new dance style. ^{[16]
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- If cooking or dancing aren’t your thing, try a painting, sculpture, or screen printing class.
- Contact local culinary schools, dance studios, or museums to sign up for a class.
5
Help other people or animals by volunteering. Volunteering can be a rewarding learning experience, and can bring you and your date closer. You can volunteer through an organization or church, or simply by calling places that need volunteers, such as soup kitchens and animal shelters, to see how you can volunteer there. ^{[17]
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- Ask your date if they could volunteer anywhere, where would they choose? Do they like animals or helping the environment? Get an idea of what volunteer experience would be rewarding for both of you by talking about it beforehand.
- When you decide where you’d like to volunteer, call your local animal shelters, soup kitchens, or environmental organization to set up a schedule of when you’ll go.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What are some cute, cheap date ideas?

Elvina Lui, MFT
Relationship Expert
Elvina Lui is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in relationship counseling based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elvina received her Masters in Counseling from Western Seminary in 2007 and trained under the Asian Family Institute in San Francisco and the New Life Community Services in Santa Cruz. She has over 13 years of counseling experience and is trained in the harm reduction model.

Elvina Lui, MFT

Relationship Expert

Expert Answer

Look into the free or low cost activities in your community, concerts in the park, community theaters, zoos and museums, or even shows put on by the local high schools. If you have no idea, join and ask around on your neighbor forum. If you aren't already on your neighborhood forum, you might be surprised at how helpful and informative it is.

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Question

What are some good date ideas?

Elvina Lui, MFT
Relationship Expert
Elvina Lui is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in relationship counseling based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elvina received her Masters in Counseling from Western Seminary in 2007 and trained under the Asian Family Institute in San Francisco and the New Life Community Services in Santa Cruz. She has over 13 years of counseling experience and is trained in the harm reduction model.

Elvina Lui, MFT

Relationship Expert

Expert Answer

Having fun together, that is what creates memories. You could introduce each other to interests that you had from when you were younger. You could try new things together. In fact, trying new things together is a good way to strengthen the relationship. If you two love food, instead of eating at nice restaurants, you two could cook together, even try challenging recipes together. If you love traveling but can't afford to go on big trips, do travel research and planning together, and look at smaller trips that are more local and within driving distance.

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How to Pick a Creative Idea for a Date

Steps

Playing Around

Enjoying Nature

Trying New Experiences

Expert Q&A

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