Visit an open house or estate sale.
Even if you aren’t interested in buying a house, it can be super fun to snoop around someone else’s. Plus, some open houses serve food, and estate sales can be a perfect place to buy something unique and fun for your girlfriend.
Go to an aquarium or zoo.
Aquariums can be a relaxing place to watch the fish swim by and see some strange undersea creatures. If fish aren’t your thing, you can also go to a zoo and observe animals in their natural habitats. Make your date laugh by playfully making fun of the extra-weird fish, birds, and other animals.
Go to a farmers market.
Farmers markets are full of unique gift items, homemade foods, and fresh fruits and veggies. Wander around and see the sights or purchase a few unique items to create a farm-fresh dinner.
Visit a rockclimbing gym.
Looking for something active and fun? Book a class at an indoor climbing gym. If you’re interested in taking your skills outdoors, find a certified guide or instructor who can teach you how to climb the nearby crags. If you know someone who climbs outdoors frequently, you can also ask them to take you on their next rock climbing trip.
Make cocktails for each other to try.
Make classic cocktails you find online or create your own cocktail with ingredients you already have at home. After both of you make your mixed drinks, debate about who made the best one! You can also make cocktails that fit a certain theme, like “drinks around the world” or “Wild West booze.” You can also pick a movie and make drinks that match its aesthetic. Make this date alcohol-free by making virgin versions of the drinks you pick.
Take a ropes course or zipline.
If you and your girlfriend aren’t afraid of heights, book a zipline tour and sail under the clouds together. Alternatively, strengthen your bond and navigate through challenging obstacles together on a sky-high ropes course. Some courses even have couples’ retreats that can allow you to strengthen your connection and communication skills while having fun together.
Plant a garden and soak up the sun.
Plant all your favorite seasonal vegetables, fruits, flowers, and more in a hand-dug garden built just for the two of you. After you finish planting, grab a glass of lemonade and sit on the patio as you watch your garden (and your relationship) grow. If you don’t have space outside, create a mason jar herb garden instead.
Play a game over text.
Whether you and your girlfriend are long-distance or just looking for a way to stay connected when you’re not together, try playing a fun text-based word game together! Play would-you-rather. Play never have I ever. Send a GIF instead of words and have your partner guess what it means. Play Mad Libs and ask your partner to fill in the blanks over text. Choose a TV or movie character and send 3 clues to describe them—your girlfriend has to guess who you are.
Draw pictures of each other.
Grab two canvases, paintbrushes, and paint, then set a timer for 20 to 45 minutes. You can also make this a challenge by seeing who can create the best portrait within the time limit! Alternatively, set a timer for 5 minutes and paint whatever you’d like. When the time is up, switch canvases and repeat the process until both paintings are done!
Volunteer for a cause you care about.
Choose a cause you both care about, like animal rights or conservation and sign up to volunteer for a couple of hours at a local organization. If you both enjoy it, you can even sign up to go every week and benefit the people in your community at the same time. People who volunteer tend to be healthier and live longer, partly because volunteering allows you to create a sense of purpose.
Do a puzzle together.
Connect with your girlfriend by putting together a puzzle while listening to music or watching your favorite movie or TV show. If puzzling isn’t your vibe, put on your detective hats and try a murder mystery box where you have to solve the case based on clues given to you.
Get an astrology or palm reading.
Book an appointment with an astrologer or psychic who can read your future. If you don’t have an astrologer near you, you can also create your astrological charts and do your own compatibility reading.
Visit a karaoke bar.
A karaoke bar is a great place to unwind and belt out the lyrics to all your favorite songs with your girlfriend. If the date goes really well, you can even use this time to serenade her. Some karaoke bars allow you to sing on stage, while others have private rooms. Alternatively, pull up lyric videos on YouTube to sing along to or buy a karaoke machine and use it at home instead.
Find a chocolate or candy factory tour.
Some factories allow guests to come in and watch the entire candy-making process, while others have more of a theme-park vibe. Book a tour with a chocolate or candy company you both enjoy and spend the whole day in their Willy Wonka wonderland.
Go to an observatory or planetarium.
Planetariums and observatories are great for low-key dates where you can watch the stars (without getting eaten by mosquitos). Find a local space-gazing place near you and enjoy an interactive tour of the galaxy with your girlfriend. Use an interactive star map or download a stargazing app (like SkyView on Google Play or the Apple Store) to admire the cosmos at home.
Look through your old yearbooks.
Do you still have your old high school or college stuff? Flip through your old yearbooks and other memorabilia together and laugh about all those fun and cringe-worthy memories together.
Try geocaching.
Geocaching is a large-scale treasure hunt where you find activities hidden around your area. Once you find a cache, there’s usually a little puzzle you and your girlfriend can solve to crack it open. Then you can sign your name in the logbook and enshrine your names in Geocaching history! Download the Geocaching app to start your journey!
Build a blanket fort.
Use chairs, blankets, tables, books, and sheets to create a cool place to hang out for the night. Stock the fort with blankets and sheets, then play board games, watch movies, and eat popcorn and other snacks with your special someone.
Order her favorite dish.
Call or order your food online, then pick it up and surprise her with a romantic dinner at home. Light candles, play some mood lighting, and wait for her smile once she sees a beautiful dinner made just for her! If the two of you are long-distance, use a food delivery app to send your sweetheart something delicious.
Visit an animal shelter.
Whether you’re taking your girlfriend to look for a pet to love forever or just visiting to see all the adorable animals, visiting an animal shelter can be a great activity to do together. Some shelters need volunteers to come in and pet or play with the animals. That way, you can volunteer and enjoy all the cute kittens and puppies at at same time!
Make smores over a fire.
Buy wood from your local store and make a campfire in a pit outside or in a fireplace inside. While you cuddle around the fire, roast marshmallows and hot dogs on metal skewers and enjoy a quiet night together.
Go to an arcade.
Grab some drinks and arcade food, then compete with your partner at a racing, shooting, or dancing game. Some arcades also have laser tag, bowling, and other cool games you can play together. Get ready to let loose and have some fun!
Have an indoor picnic.
If the weather is cold (or you’re looking for a way to shake up your regular dinner night), create a makeshift picnic in your living room. Make sure to bring your favorite fast food order or put together a charcuterie board with a ton of different cheeses, meats, and crackers to try!
Give each other romantic massages.
Massaging each other at home can be a great way to show selfless love and affection, foster trust, and express vulnerability. Just put on some relaxing music, grab her favorite lotion or oil, and gently rub her aching muscles. Make it a full-out spa day by giving each other mani-pedis or wearing invigorating facial masks.
Pick outfits for each other at a thrift store.
Visit your local thrift store and search the racks for the funkiest, most unusual outfits for each other. When you get your new ‘fits, go out to a nice restaurant and laugh at all the looks you get! You can also pick a movie or TV show character you want your partner to look like and choose an outfit to match!
Take a ceramics class.
Creativity can not only play an important role in life satisfaction and emotional well-being, but it can help you form strong emotional bonds with your partner. So why not play with clay together to create something you’d both love? Some ceramic stores also give you pre-made creations to glaze yourself.
Have a board game night.
Buy a new board game you think you and your girlfriend would like, then throw a mini date night! Put on music, dim the lights, make a delicious meal, and play the game together. If you’re looking for a group activity, you can also invite your and your girlfriend’s friends to play with you!
Visit a botanical garden.
A botanical garden can be a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature while holding the hand of the one you love. Find a garden near you and take the day to just wander around and admire the flowers. Alternatively, visit a garden center and pick out a couple of plants to take home with you!
Drive around town.
Taking a drive can be a fun way to get out and about without needing a specific destination. Just fill your car with gas, grab some icy drinks, and drive until you stumble across something fun to do together. Stop when you find a cute town, a few shops you’d like to walk around in, or a new restaurant you’d like to try.
Go ice skating or roller skating.
Whether you prefer ice skating or roller skating, a rink might be a wonderful place to enjoy a fun and romantic evening away. You can both hold onto each other if it takes a while to get the hang of it and enjoy each other’s company as you glide across the floor.
Visit a comedy club or slam poetry event.
Tons of cities and towns have comedy clubs or open mic nights where you can listen to the locals show off their talent. Make it a complete night out by going to dinner after, or surprise your date by going up on stage and performing!
Play an online game.
Even if you and your girlfriend aren’t “gamers,” playing video games online can be a great way to unwind and bond together. Go to a game marketplace like Steam or hook up your gaming system and start your adventure! Alternatively, try this Tabletop Simulator to play classic board games together online.
Walk or bike downtown.
If it’s a nice day out, try going on a relaxing bike ride or walk around town. As you travel, drop into all the interesting-looking shops and try a restaurant you haven’t been to before.
Go to a rodeo.
Grab your girlfriend and mosey on over to your local rodeo for a hootin’ and hollerin’ good time. Not only are they full of interesting shows, but most have local shops to wander into and cute horses and other animals to see! Find a rodeo near you with ProRodeo or Rodeos USA.
Have a cooking contest.
Assign each of you one meal to make (like dinner and dessert or an appetizer and dinner) and surprise each other with the one you make. You can also make two different recipes for dinner and judge who made the best one! Alternatively, gather 5 to 10 ingredients and try to cook your own unique dishes in a Chopped-style competition. Then judge who made the best meal!
Go camping.
Travel with your girlfriend up to the mountains or to one of your local state parks and set up a tent for just the two of you. Once you’re there, you can go hiking, build a campfire, or go kayaking or canoeing! Alternatively, set up a tent in your backyard and pretend to be out in nature.
Make hamburgers or pizza.
Pizza is a great option because all you need to do is make the dough and add whatever toppings the two of you like. If pizza isn’t your thing, fry up some burgers (and make any sides you’d like) to create a beautiful, delicious meal you and your girlfriend will love. Alternatively, you could bake cookies or bake and decorate a cake together!
Take a dance class.
Ballroom dancing, salsa, tango—taking a dance class can be a great way to learn a new skill while sharpening your teamwork skills as a couple. If a class isn’t your thing, you can also play music at home and slow dance to your favorite tunes.
Play trivia at a local bar.
Trivia can test your knowledge while encouraging you and your girlfriend to work together to pick an answer. Most trivia events take place at bars or restaurants so you can also order delicious food and drinks while you play. Alternatively, download a Jackbox online party game with a trivia minigame in it and play it with your partner.
Attend a local festival.
Whether you like trying new foods, listening to new music artists, or attending local traditions, going to a festival or fair can be a great way to connect with your community and enjoy your girlfriend’s company.
Make a playlist together.
Music can be a great way to bond with your partner. Not only can you listen to all their favorite tunes and learn why they love them, but you can craft something incredible together and include all the songs that remind you of them. Play this playlist while you’re on other dates or when you just need a little pick-me-up.
Rent a kayak or canoe.
Find a river or lake nearby, rent a kayak or canoe, and sail across the water with your girlfriend. Your arms might get tired, but the cool water is great for a hot summer day and you’ll get to practice your coordination skills together as a couple.
Try a fun DIY craft.
Do you want to make a slime stress ball? How about a lampshade decoration? You could even make your girlfriend a beautiful paper ring! Just grab your glue gun and make something new with items you probably already have around the house. Want more ideas? Check out this complete list for more fun crafts.
Take a ride on a hot air balloon.
Sail the skies and explore the town from above with the person you love. Just remember to keep all hands inside the vehicle, and bring a delicious picnic to eat together afterward!
Visit a jazz club.
Instead of thumping beats, a jazz club usually has performances from local live jazz bands. Jazz clubs might not be for everyone, but they might be fun to try if you’re looking for an entertaining and low-key way to spend time with your girlfriend.
Go to an art or history museum.
Museums can increase your sense of well-being, inspire you, and make you feel healthier. Find a museum in your area—whether you’re interested in nature and science, history, or art—and explore life-changing collections you and you’re girlfriend will remember forever.
Tour a vineyard or brewery.
If you’re looking for a unique way to bond with your partner, matchmaker and dating coach Courtney Quinlan recommends going “on a tour of a brewery or to a winery.” Taste your favorite alcoholic beverages and take a walk around the factory to see how they make them. Vineyards also allow you to enjoy the great outdoors as you take a romantic walk around the property.
Go to a drive-in movie.
A drive-in theatre is a fun place to see new movies from the comfort of your vehicle. Some drive-ins also offer double-features, which means you get to see 2 movies for the price of 1. Don’t forget the candy and popcorn!
Visit an antique store.
You can find great things at an antique store, along with some creepy or interesting items the two of you can make fun of together. Make it a whole day by visiting multiple antique and thrift stores and ending your hunt with a picnic lunch date.
Take a weekend vacation.
Going on vacation allows you to create new memories while figuring out how to handle challenges in a new unfamiliar place together. Pick a place where the two of you would like to visit, book your tickets, and prepare for a fun relaxing holiday! If you’re looking for birthday ideas, licensed relationship therapist Alysha Jeney says this might be a great time to surprise your girlfriend “with a vacation or an Airbnb.”
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