Dates can be challenging. Depending on what you are in the mood for, what is even open, and your budget, trying to figure out a fun and cost-effective date can be tough. With that said, summer is here and is on your side. Let this list of 25 dates inspire you and your boo for your next rendezvous!

  1. Turn your backyard into your own campground getaway! Pull out the sleeping bags, set up some lights and tents, and finish it off with a bonfire. Enjoy the outdoors, look at the sky, and have comfort in indoor plumbing just a few steps away.
  2. Going for a hike is always a great idea for a date! Hit a local state park or national park and go for an adventure. This is an easy way to get out, get exercise, and still practice social distancing with others.
  3. Have a game night! Pull out a classic like Trouble or break out a deck of cards to play war or go fish. A little competition never hurt anybody!
  4. Ever wonder which type of M&M or ice cream is the best? Even if you don’t wonder that like me, doing a Tasting Night is fun and easy to do. Whether you and your significant other like chocolate, cheese, or potato chips, any type of food will do. Whatever you and your beau fancy, try out a tasting! Vote on your favorites or even do a bracket if you’re feeling extra creative.
  5. Make a picture book with all your favorite pictures and memories. There are multiple platforms, like Shutterfly, Walgreens, and Walmart, that one can use to compile pictures of you and your boo to be able to look back on your fun times together. Make sure to check out the phone apps, Shutterfly sometimes offers a free book of the month and all you pay is shipping! 
  6. Movie marathons are always an adventure and can be held outdoors or indoors! Take your favorite genre and make a movie night/day playlist. Roll the film!
  7. Have a picnic! Go to a local park or go on a mini hike and bring a basket and some goodies with. Your basket can be anything from desserts to a meat, cheese, jam, and cracker board. This is the perfect way to hang out, talk, have fun, and do things a little differently.
  8. See if you can make it through a date with “no” electricity. This means no phones, no lights, only exception: indoor plumbing. Tell scary stories, play some fun games, etc.
  9. Play Couples Trivia and get to know each other a little more. No matter how long you’ve been together, it is amazing the new things that you can learn! Make up questions and throw them in a hat. Question ideas:
    1. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
    2. What celebrity couple would you compare us to?
    3. If you could describe your life in three TV shows, what would they be?
    4. What’s your favorite thing about your partner?
    5. What’s your dream 5 course meal?
  10. Create a Travel Inspired Dinner! Pick a place you both want to travel and make that your meal for the night. Pull up some views from that country or city on your computer and enjoy a night “around the world”.
  11. Have a Karaoke Night or Lip Sync Battle! This will surely get you and your boo off the couch and will create a night of fun and laughter.
  12. Visit a museum or art gallery! Sounds a little tough for a summer date at home, but on the contrary, you don’t even leave your couch. There are numerous, incredible virtual tours around the world that you can “walk through” together.
  13. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful, but there are many days that we do not take the time to enjoy them. For a simple and relaxing date, take the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a sunrise or sunset.
  14. Do a breakfast in bed kind of date! There is no reason you must save your dates for nights! Whether you do breakfast in bed, that is up to you, but instead of a dinner date, have a fancy breakfast date. Go all out with strawberries, OJ, and chocolate chip pancakes!
  15. Do an Indoor “FortNight” when the summer weather isn’t on your side. Make a fort in your living room and one word: S’mores. This little treat can be done in so many ways whether you add Nutella, a peanut butter cup, or a banana, have fun while making exotic s’mores. Don’t have access to a bonfire because you’re indoors? No worries! S’mores can be made in the microwave, on the stove, in the oven, or over a grill! Do taste testing with different concoctions and see who can create the craziest and most delicious s’more!
  16. Plan your dream trip together! This date can be realistic or not, but take the time to look at the best time of year to travel to your destination, flights, hotels, restaurants and all of the other fun activities that come with a vacation.
  17.  Roll the windows down, take a drive, and jam to your favorite tunes! Take a scenic or historic route, sit back, and just enjoy each other’s company and the ride.
  18. Go stargazing! There are plenty of apps you can use to find stars and constellations.
  19. Take it to the kitchen and partake in the Ultimate Couple Cook-Off. A few different ways of doing this are:
    1. Put out a specific amount of ingredients that must be included and see who can come up with the tastiest and most creative meal in the allotted time!
    2. Pick a genre of food and set a timer!
    3. Pick a specific meal that you both must cook and go to town!
  20. Turn your living room into a comedy club! There are plenty of comedians on YouTube and Netflix, make some popcorn, sit on the couch, and have some good laughs.
  21. Make something homemade! Hop on Pinterest and find some recipes to make your very own homemade donuts, cupcakes, or pizzas!
  22. Have a DIY date night! Turn on some DIY or house flipping shows and get inspired! Figure out what tastes and ideas your significant other may have for future projects.
  23. In the mood for a fancy dinner? No problem! Dress up, set up some candles, and order from your favorite, local restaurant and do a fancy take on dinner at home. Mix up the location and do it on a blanket with candles in your yard, your balcony, or even your living room floor. Have fun, relax, and just do a change of scenery. Feel free to pull up a fire or a picture of Venice on your TV screen too!
  24. Do comedy, rom-com, or scary movie bingo! Make bingo cards using popular phrases or events that happen during the movie genre of your choice and get to playing. Winner gets to pick the next movie!
  25. Take a relaxation vacation! Do yoga, meditate, give each other hand & foot massages, wear face masks, and just relax!

Other Tips:

  • Create a dress code: dress up or be comfy, doesn’t matter! Either way, don’t be afraid to get a little fancy or have a strict PJ dress code.
  • Stay on budget, you can make these nights as simple or extravagant as you want. With that said, if you have each other, that’s all you really need.
  • If you are not sure what to do, write your ideas down, put them in a jar or hat, pick one, and save the rest for another time!
  • Stay off your phone! Make rules like the first person to touch their phone does dishes or must put $5 in a jar for the next date night.
  • Switch update night planning! Pick nights where you each plan dates individually or secretly and organize some date nights together! This will keep each of you on your toes and dates will be catered to everyone’s liking.

The most important rule…. HAVE FUN! These dates are about simplifying your time together to create more quality experiences. These are all ideas that you can customize to you and your beau’s liking and will hopefully inspire even more dates that you both can do together.