50 Great Date Ideas

Since May is Date-Your-Mate Month, I thought I’d share a list of 50 great date ideas for married couples. Not all dates need to look the same. Dinner out and a movie can be wonderful on occasion, but there are lots of other equally effective ways to spend time together and nurture your marriage. Browse the list below for some fresh ides to try — maybe even tonight!

Most of these ideas are relatively inexpensive. Many are even FREE. And about half of them can be done without ever leaving home. So pick one (or two or three) and give it a try!

50 Great Date Ideas

1. Go for a walk — through a park or just around the block
2. Get some ice cream – or frozen yogurt or custard, drive through or buy a 1/2 gallon for home
3. Go ice skating – hold hands as you circle the rink (if you can let go of the rails)
4. Play tennis or pickle ball – have fun and get a little cardio at the same time
5. Play a board game – Monopoly, Risk, Chess, Bananagrams – pick one you’ll both enjoy
6. Cook a meal together – make a simple charcuterie board or go gourmet and make 5 courses
7. Share three things you admire about each other – “Here, I’ll go first…”
8. Read aloud to one another – take turns reading sections from the same book or share favorite parts of different books you read side by side
9. Watch a documentary – it’s a great way to learn something new
10. Take up a new hobby – pick something you’ll both enjoy
11. Make up a song or poem together – “You write one verse, then I’ll write another…”
12. Go for a drive – just tool around the neighborhood or pick something more scenic
13. Sit on the porch and talk – tell each other about your day
14. Browse a bookstore or library together – check out a new title or two to bring home
15. Take a bath or shower together – again, these are ideas for married couples 🙂
16. Go thrift shopping – who can find the best bargain — or the weirdest item for sale?
17. Attend a school football or basketball game – “Let me root, root, root for the home team!”
18. Plan a dream vacation together – planning the vacation is half the fun, even if you don’t go anytime soon
19. Wash the car together – tackle the job in the driveway or take it to a local carwash
20. Learn a new craft together – painting, pottery, woodwork, weaving, macrame: the options are endless
21. Hike through a state park – lace up your boots or running shoes and go explore nature
22. Pack a picnic to share – how about watermelon, homemade cookies, and turkey sandwiches or fried chicken
23. Lay on a blanket and watch the stars –
24. Stage a competition – try to out do one another in sit-ups, basketball, cards, Ping-Pong, etc.
25. Attend an outdoor concert – check your city’s calendar of events for free concerts in the park
26. Work out together – lift weights, go for a jog, or take an aerobics class together
27. Watch a sunrise/ sunset together – so romantic!
28. Go grocery shopping for special treats together – pick things you each like but rarely get
29. Share high point/ low point for the day or week – what made you happy? sad? surprised?
30. Listen to an audiobook together & discuss – fiction or nonfiction, you can listen for free on Librivox or through the Libby library app
31. Play disc golf – or just toss a frisbee back and forth
32. Visit a local art museum – take turns making up stories to explain what the artwork “means”
33. Set goals together – what is your 5-year plan? 10-year?
34. Give each other back rubs – feel the stress and muscle tension slowly ebb away
35. Go swimming – head to the lake or a local pool to get in a few laps
36. Snuggle & cuddle – or find a quiet corner and do a little passionate necking
37. Climb a tree and sit in its branches – admittedly, some trees are easier to lounge in than others
38. Go antiquing – Do you recognize any “artifacts” from your own childhood?
39. Look at old snapshots together – break out the albums and scrapbooks for a stroll down memory lane
40. Go fishing – it’s a great way to relax
41. Listen to favorite songs together – if you like different genres, you can each take turns sharing favorite pieces
42. Watch funny videos – laughter is great medicine!
43. Slow dance under the stars – hum a tune or pull up some dance music on your smart phone
44. Run errands together – make a list and knock them all out in one fell swoop
45. Plan your dream home – How would you lay it out? Would you build something big for entertaining or something tiny for low maintenance?
46. Pitch a tent and sleep outdoors – even if it’s only in your own backyard
47. Make an empty nest list together – What will you do once your kids grow up and leave home?
48. Go bowling – go for the high score or go for the silliest technique
49. Exchange love notes to one another – take your time & think through what you want to say
50. Make music together – if either of you play an instrument, try playing/singing a duet — otherwise just blend your voices together in harmony