Cute date ideas that aren't just drinks or dinner...

Question

Eric F · Answer

Walk the streets ⚠️: “The new litmus test”

Nitabel · Answer

Date Idea: Your Nearest Atlas Obscura Destination: Whether it’s a quirky museum, a spooky ruin, or the world’s largest frying pan, it’s guaranteed to be unique! (Double recommended as a second date — a person’s relationship to weirdness can tell you a lot!)

Dana Vance · Answer

Zoo or Botanical Gardens: The zoo by me does a Brew at the Zoo evening in September—walk around and sample different beers at stands they have set up. For a nice fall evening, beats being inside.  It’s an adults only night too.

Juliana · Answer

close up magic: sounds so cheesy, but we found a local close-up magic show (only 20-ish tickets per show) and had the best time!

Andie · Answer

pottery painting date: Bring coffee/pastries in the am or byob in evening!

Laura · Answer

Bowling Night: Bring back bowling 🎳 Pick fun bowling names, get a couple drinks, throw some balls. It’s always a fun little date. My fave is SHATTO 39 lanes in Koreatown. They have a photobooth setting for the scorecard background.

xdudx · Answer

Top Golf: There’s something about crushing balls that sends endorphins through me. The angry birds game is a personal fav.

Tamar Fox · Answer

Art museum! The weirder the better: Wander around and look at art and talk about what you would love or hate to have on the wall of your house.

D · Answer

wine flight + book date: Either a date-yourself kinda date or a date-an-introvert kinda date, but a wine flight with a good book is a lovely way to enjoy being around humans quietly yet indulgently. You have two things to talk about if you want to: the notes and your texts. And a wine flight is time-based, so when it is finished, the date can be too. Here's a Spanish porrón from the Corning Museum of Glass.

Daniel Day-Louis-Dreyfus · Answer

Outdoor Light Show: Putting a fall/winter flourish on @D’s suggestion: wander through acres of neon and trade photo duties when one of you thinks up a goofy pose. The Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens is secular and striking. Enjoy nature at it’s most artificial 😜

D · Answer

walking dates: I love going on walks (in general), but also on a first date, because a) you don't have to look directly at a stranger for a prolonged period of time, yet b) you can listen intently and share thoughts as you pass new sights or surprises. And if they're down, a non-human companion is always a fun pal to bring along (this is BC, my friend's Dog, who I walked today). And it costs nothing but a little energy! If it's not fun, you can just walk away bahahaha (politely).

Ryan · Answer

Paint and Sip classes: My boyfriend and I love going to these! Where I live, there are multiple studios that host these classes & have a bar inside. However I have also seen small businesses that host private Paint and Sip parties at your home. Such a fun date, PLUS you have 2 finished paintings in the end. A win win for creative couples that have little time for art :)

(Pictured is mine on the left and Eric’s on the right hehe. Linked is the studio we go to, as an example)

E.T. · Answer

Little Free Libraries date night: Last year, my husband took me on a darling date where we visited, reviewed, and donated to Little Free Libraries he’d mapped out for us. The LFL app has a map of all their libraries in your area, and you can track what you’ve donated or mark if one is in need of more books! It was so much fun.

Mara Bowden · Answer

Science Museum!: Embrace your inner kid and enjoy the wonder of learning. Go in the evening and enjoy a quieter museum experience filled with play. Seeing your partner get excited about the exhibits is wonderful.

Jess · Answer

Board game night: You can host your own, or find one at a game cafe near you. Either way, playing games with someone is a great way to get to know them better!

Fun fact: at one point in my career I was interviewing people about two-player games, and I repeatedly heard stories of folks (mostly women) ending a new relationship because the other person got hostile, defensive, or sulky after losing a game.

Whitney · Answer

Basketball: Go to the park and play some one-one-one. It’s not serious, my personal “guarding-style” is hugging, so it’s goofy and physical and usually leads to gettin’ down when we get home. A double workout! Hahaha

Ava Rose · Answer

Escape room: If you do one that’s outside, it’s a fun way to explore the city

Katherine · Answer

Figure Drawing: I love the idea of spending an afternoon or evening at home drawing each other. There's something incredibly intimate and cozy about dedicating the time to look closely at someone and capturing details of them that might go otherwise overlooked.

Sophie · Answer

Thrifting and tacos: Laughs, flirty “does this suit me?” chats, finds(!), and a treat. Maybe fighting over this Taco Bell golf bag if you see one for $20!

Sara Quinn · Answer

Swimming: Back in the day I used to take all my dates on a guest pass to the beautiful indoor pool at my gym…but really swimming in any body of water is the ultimate date.

Sara Quinn · Answer

Bookstore date: Fun and sexy and you can get a lot of information and talk as much or as little as you want

Anisha · Answer

Volunteer together!: Most states/cities/localities have consolidated listservs of volunteering opportunities. There are tons of options you can sort through - sidewalk cleaning, tree planting, etc. It’s free, a group situation and time bound if you are on the fence about them, and it helps you get a sense of who they are - all while serving your community!

Vickie · Answer

Go to the zoo/aquarium: Lots of stimuli so you won’t run out of things to talk about, but low key / casual cause you’re just walking around and exploring. And I feel like animals bring out the childlike wonder in everyone

sunset strip mall · Answer

taking a spin around a farmer's market: pretty, pleasant, lots of things to eat and drink and look at; also a nice excuse to surprise them by buying them flowers

Dylan · Answer

Play a friendly game of pool: nothing like a little healthy competition between friends or lovers as a way to spice up the night

Dylan · Answer

Go to your local drive-in theatre: a cute + cosy activity to do when it's cold - pack a bunch of blankets, pillows + pizza on your way in.

my tip: see something that doesn't require perfect audiovisuals... it's more about the vibes than the movie itself.

Dylan · Answer

IKEA dates 💘: i love this as a cute friend or date activity - start the day with swedish meatballs and end with a trolley full of cute new home decor! do it on a weekday to avoid the crowd chaos...

Maribeth · Answer

Letterpress workshop: My husband and I took a letterpress workshop at a local place that I have dreams of becoming a member of and making stationery at. Haven’t done that part yet, but we had a blast with a handful of sweet old ladies, and one incredibly odd one. It was fun to make inconsequential decisions together, and for both of us to be equally out of our wheelhouse and learning something new.

We came home with a slew of letterpress posters with the name of our house: “Oscar’s Beachfront Property”, which is a treasured memento as our sweet 19 year old pup is in the clouds with our grandmothers now.

It was great!

Jill · Answer

Tennis: Take a semi-private tennis together. Or, just play at a park together. Play in the evening, bring a speaker if you’re going to a park and listen to music while you hit. Pack a picnic blanket and a few cold drinks for the post-match cool down.

katherine · Answer

going to the library together: air conditioned and usually beautiful. exciting to do a book haul. deeply romantic to recommend books to someone. PLUS putting books on hold and getting there seeing the little slips with your name on them is a LOT like making a fancy reservation.

Analisa Burns · Answer

arthouse movie theatre date: catch up on your letterboxd watchlist & find out if that guy you have a crush on eats popcorn too loud. two birds one stone honey