First Date Ideas
First dates bring about a range of emotions. While you’re likely excited about the date, you’re probably a little nervous, too. Chances are you’re also thinking about ways to make the date interesting if you want to possibly take the relationship to the next level. You may have to plan some virtual dates or go to places where social distancing is enforced due to the pandemic, which adds a new challenge to dating in these times. However, you can still have a memorable first date that could be the start of something special for you and your partner.
Here are a few fun and exciting first date ideas you can plan to ensure you and your partner have a great time.
Go to Dinner
This is one of the most common first date ideas, but it’s a classic for a reason. At a dinner date, you have no other distractions other than the delicious meals you’re enjoying. This opens up the floor for you to learn more about the other person. You’ll hopefully share some laughs, find out what the two of you have in common, and make plans to see each other again. To make sure you stay safe during the pandemic, you can plan a virtual dinner date by order your date a meal from their favorite restaurant, ordering a meal for yourself, and sharing some engaging conversation over Zoom.
Cook a Meal Together
You and your date can go to the grocery store together to get all the ingredients for the meal you’ll make together. This will help you get to know each other and help to form a bond as you prepare your meal and enjoy the results together.
Go For a Walk
This is one of the simplest first date ideas but it could lead to significant memories that the two of you can look back on for years to come. Walking can also calm you down and help you get rid of some of the nervousness that comes with a first date. During your walk, you can take a tour of the city and talk about your goals for the future so you can become more comfortable with one another.
Visit a Dog Shelter
Before you plan this date, make sure your date is not allergic to dogs. If you’re both dog lovers, visit a local shelter and walk some of the dogs. You may even decide to adopt a pup who will serve as a reminder of your first date for years to come.
Go On a Breakfast Date
If you think a dinner date may be too much pressure or you have more time in the mornings to spend time together, try a breakfast date. You can bond over pancakes or waffles, and this is one of the most efficient first date ideas to get your day started off right.
Plan a Dessert Date
A date that involves sweet treats is one of the best first date ideas if you and your date love dessert. If you have to work late or you feel that a dinner date may be too formal for your first time meeting, choose a local bakery or coffee shop where the two of you can spend time with one another while sharing a decadent dessert.
Play Some Board Games
Some friendly competition is a wonderful way to have fun on your first date. Choose some board games the both of you enjoyed as a child and grab your favorite snacks for a comfy first date at either of your homes.
Go to An Arcade
If the two of you are into vintage video games or you’re still into playing newer versions of these games, go an arcade. If you don’t feel comfortable going to a public place right now due to COVID-19, hook up your video consoles at home and play one another in a few games and engage in conversation in between levels.
Plan a Movie Night
If you’re not ready to return to traditional movie theaters yet, you can invite your date over for a movie night. You can choose the movie you want to watch together, and even order some of your favorite movie snacks like popcorn and candies. Or, you can order takeout from a nearby restaurant so you can enjoy dinner while you watch the movie.
Organize a Paint and Sip Night
There are several art studios that offer paint and sip classes and you can take them virtually or in person. You and your date can paint a simple or complex image depending on your artistic skills while enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail to make the activity more comfortable. Once you’re finished painting, you can admire your work together and hopefully plan for a second date.
Attend a “Murder Mystery”
If you and your date love crime shows and murder mysteries, head to a dinner theater show where you have to figure out how the “murderer” is. This fun activity allows you to enjoy a meal and see an entertaining play.
Attend a Cake Decorating or Baking Class
If you’ve always wanted to know how to decorate your own cakes or bake desserts from scratch, ask your date if they’d like to take a class with you. This interactive activity is one of the most fun first date ideas and you’ll have a sweet memory to look back on.
Take a Dance Class
Whether you want to learn how to waltz of you’ve always wanted to take a salsa class, take your date on a dancing adventure to learn new moves and increase your confidence for the next time you go to a lounge or social event.
Take a Pottery Class
If you love to work with your hands and your date is crafty as well, check to see if there are pottery classes in your area so you can express your creativity together.
Go For a Jog
This is one of the ideal first date ideas for you to plan if you and your date are fitness buffs. After getting your endorphins going after a run, you can make a healthy smoothie together to make the date complete.
Volunteer Together
Find a nonprofit organization or a cause you and your date care about and volunteer together. This date is a wonderful way to give back to the community and show each other how devoted you are to helping others.
Buy Each Other Gifts
You and your date can set a price limit and get each other gifts for your first date. You can present the gifts to each other at a fancy restaurant, in the park, or virtually. The gift will serve as a keepsake to help you remember this special occasion.
Have an At-Home Karaoke Night
You can invite your date over to your house or have a karaoke night virtually by cueing up your favorite songs and belting them out. This will likely set the stage for the two of you to have a great time together and learn about each other’s taste in music.
Get Mani-Pedis Together
You and your date can enjoy some pampering by getting manicures and pedicures together. Your hands and feet will feel great afterwards and you’ll likely feel relaxed for the rest of the day.
Go to a Comedy Show
Find out which comedians will be in your town and get tickets to a standup show for you and your date. This is an ideal chance to laugh with your date whether you want to see the show live or on Zoom.
Indulge In a Virtual Wine Tasting
Taste some new and vintage wines at your local vineyard or virtually. You can come up with dinner ideas for your next date to pair with the wines you sample.
Go to a Bookstore
Head to your local bookstore to explore new and vintage works by your favorite authors. You can also visit the bookstore when there is a poetry reading so you and your date can explore your artistic side.
Play Bingo
You may think that bingo is for the older crowd but you and your date can go to a live or virtual bingo game and win some prizes to create a great first date memory.
Attend a Trivia Night
Whether you go to a trivia night at a local bar or want to plan a trivia night at home, you and your date will enjoy answering questions about your favorite shows, movies, and cultural phenomena. This is a great way to stimulate your mind and have a great time together.
Go Pumpkin, Berry, or Apple Picking
If you’re going on a date during the fall, fruit picking is one of the nicest first date ideas to allow you to enjoy the whether while choosing fresh ingredients to make a fall dessert you can enjoy together.
Try Ziplining
If you’re looking for a date that speaks to your sense of adventure, first date ideas like zip lining will allow the two of you to create a memory that will make your first date one of the most unique you’ve ever had. After the adrenaline rush, you may even want to go for drinks or dessert afterwards and take a few pictures of your time together.
Go To the Zoo
Take a trip to the zoo to see some exotic animals and learn more about the birds and mammals that are native to your area. The zoo will sometimes feature live shows and places to eat so you can plan a fun and interactive day.
Go Bowling
Even if you’re not the best at bowling, you and your date can still have a great time at your local bowling alley. You can even set set up a virtual bowling game with your date and enjoy a mug of craft beer while you see who will win the game.
Go Thrift Shopping
Take your date to a nearby thrift store so the two of you can search for one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. You’ll learn more about your date’s sense of style and you can put on a fashion show for each other with the clothing and accessories you find.
Stroll the Botanical Gardens
Take a stroll through your local botanical gardens to learn all about the beautiful flowers and trees that are native to your area. You’ll also see some exports from all around the world that grow well in the local soil and you can take some beautiful pictures to remember your special date.
FAQ
Some of the best first date ideas are the ones that allow you and your date to learn more about each other while enjoying each other’s company. Hopefully, by the time you’ve agreed to go on a date, you have had a few conversations and know a little about your date’s hobbies and interests. With this information, you can organize first date ideas like going ice skating in the fall or winter, attending a concert featuring your date’s favorite artist, or taking a cooking class together. These activities give you a lot to talk about and allow you to interact with one another to see if you can form a more significant connection with each other.
First date ideas are suggestions that you can use a plan an enjoyable and memorable date with someone you’re interested in. When you’re getting ready for the date, consider how well you know the person and the type of relationship you already have. For instance, if you’re planning a date with someone you met recently, you may want to play it safe on your first date by booking reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in town. However, if you’re exploring the possibility of a romantic relationship with someone you’re already friends with, think of great first date ideas that will show how much you care. For instance, a picnic at your date’s favorite park featuring the foods they like best is a personalized date that makes it easier to have a comfortable conversation and get to know one another better.
No matter what thoughtful and creative first date ideas you come up with, you should expect to feel some nervousness as you’re preparing for the big event and even when you’re on the date. You should expect to have a nice time, but remember this is the first time you and your date are going out with each other in a romantic way. Don’t try to move too fast; let things develop naturally. Remember to be courteous and polite, and remember that your date will likely feel a little nervous as well. You can also anticipate feelings of excitement, especially when the both of you see that the date is going well.
If you know that you want to make a great impression on your date because you want to set the stage for a committed relationship, remember that chivalry is important. You can impress your girlfriend by taking her to one of the nicest restaurant in the area
When you’re trying to find good first date ideas, think about what you like to do, what your date enjoys doing, and how the two of you can have a great time during each phase of the date. If you want to make sure you’ll spend most of your time on the date engaging in conversation, you can plan a picnic or a nice dinner. If you want to make memories by engaging in a fun activity, plan a nature hike, miniature golf, or a more adventurous activity like zip lining or sky diving. The activities you plan should reflect the goals you want to accomplish on the date, whether you want to learn more about your date through a discussion or want to share a significant memory with them. Either way, you want the date to have a significant impact on the both of you so you’ll want to see each other again.
