Dating your spouse or significant other is important. Really important. We all get so caught up in our lives that sometimes we forget to set aside time to connect with our partners. Between shuttling the kiddos to ice skating and swimming lessons, attending mid-week work happy hours, and my husband’s many sporting activities, it sometimes feels as though there isn’t enough time for us to go on dates or spend time just the two of us. The truth is, if something is important to you and your marriage, you make time. A busy life isn’t an excuse. We’re all busy. I’m busy. My husband is busy. But my husband and I don’t let the chaos of everyday life overcome our marriage. We make it a priority to date one another and spend quality time together. And I’m not just talking about binge-watching Netflix together although we’ve been known to do that from time-to-time. Make it a priority to date your spouse or significant other. Set aside a minimum of one or two days a month where you focus on each other – more if you are able.

To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of date ideas beyond the typical dinner and a movie. The list includes dates you can do at home after you put your kiddos to bed or things you can do outside of the home. I hope the list gives you a little inspiration next time you are trying to think of something to do with your spouse or significant other. But remember, it’s not what you do, it’s who you do it with. That’s what really matters.

Go Golfing: Go mini golfing, tackle 9 or 18 holes, or just hit up the driving range. Go Ice Skating: Lace up those skates, indoors or out, and grab a cup of cocoa or coffee afterward. Go Hiking: Put on some comfortable footwear and tackle some trails at a local state park. Have a Picnic: Make a picnic or grab some takeout and a bottle of wine and find a spot at a nearby park or by a lake to cozy up at. Go Rock Climbing: Find an indoor rock-climbing facility in your area and sign up for a beginner’s class together. Explore New Cuisine: Experience new cuisine together. If you’ve never had Lebanese, Thai, or Indonesian, now’s the time. Navigate a new menu together. Take a Cooking Class: Learn how to make spring rolls or how to roll sushi. A quick Google search should turn up several cooking class options in your area. Explore a Farmer’s Market: Explore a local farmer’s market and pick up some fresh fruit, veggies, and local meat and cheese to enjoy together. Explore a Brewery: Scope out some nearby breweries and try some local brews. Some offer tours so you can get an insider’s look at their facility. Explore a Winery: Check out a local winery or two. Attend a wine tasting, tour the facility, bring a blanket and find a grassy area to sit and enjoy a bottle of wine. Be Tourists: Be tourists in your own town. Check out a museum or a tourist attraction. Document your day trip with a few photos. Take a Painting Class: Look on Groupon or Living Social and find a painting class to attend. Most of them have wine, beer, and snacks available to purchase while you paint. Take a Trapeze Class: If you live in a large metropolitan area, chances are there are trapeze classes you can sign up for. A great way to build trust with your partner! Hit up the Arcade: Create some friendly competition with a game of ski-ball at Dave and Buster’s or a local arcade. Don’t forget to make some friendly wagers. Go Bowling: Who doesn’t love bowling? Play a few games, order some appetizers and a pitcher of beer or soda for a fun afternoon or evening. Go to a Trampoline Park: Have some fun together bouncing at the trampoline park or playing dodgeball while burning some calories at the same time. Tailgate for a Game: Pack up some yard games, a grill, some burgers, and some beverages, and find a spot to tailgate for a football game or baseball game. Tour a Distillery: Tour a local distillery to see how spirits are made and enjoy a few hand-crafted cocktail afterwards. Go Kayaking or Canoeing: Rent a canoe or tandem kayak and navigate a local river or lake together. Pack some snacks and beverages to enjoy along the way. Tube Down a River: If you’re not into paddling, how about floating down a river? Rent an extra tube to house a cooler for snacks and beverages. Go Paddle Boarding: Take a paddle boarding class together or rent a set if you’re already paddleboard pros. Go Garage-Sale-ing: Find some bargains and thrifty buys at garage sales or yard sales in your area. Don’t forget to bring small change! Go Thrift Store Shopping: Go treasure hunting at a few local thrift stores. Holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day are typically 50% off sale days. Attend a Flea Market: Find more bargain buys at the flea market. Are you a Flea Market Flip fan? Find an item or two you can re-purpose or upcycle together. Go Fishing: If you or your spouse are fans of fishing why not hit the river, lake, or ice together? Be sure to try and catch enough for dinner! Attend a Concert: You don’t have to spend hundreds to find great music. Check out smaller music venues and cafes to find amazing local talent. Go to a Comedy Show: Who doesn’t love to laugh? Comedy shows rarely disappoint. Sit in the front row if you don’t mind getting picked on. Run a Race: Lace up your running shoes and run a race together. Start with a 5k and work your way up to a 10k or 1/2 marathon. Running is a favorite pastime for my hubby and I! Go to the Gun Range: Go to an indoor or outdoor gun range and learn how to safely and properly shoot a gun. See who has better luck with the target. Go on a Segway Tour: Take a historical tour of your city as part of a segway tour group. Segways are a great way to navigate your city. Plant a Garden: Plant a flower garden or plant some herbs, fruits, or veggies in pots for your deck or patio. Watch your garden grow over time. Play Cribbage: Cribbage is a great game for two players. Winner gets a massage and the loser has to clean up dinner for a week! Cook an Italian Dinner: Dust off that cookbook and create an Italian feast together. Make an Italian playlist and grab a bottle of Chianti. Go to an Amusement Park: Leave the kids at home for an adult day at an amusement park or county fair. Ride the ferris wheel, eat some mini donuts, and play a few games. Explore a New Town: Explore a nearby town you’ve never been to. Check out the shops, grab some lunch at a cafe, and visit an ice cream shop for dessert. Learn to Dance: Sign up for dancing lessons. My hubby and I took dancing lessons before our wedding and I have to say, it really brought us closer. Volunteer: Choose a cause you are both passionate about and volunteer your time. Cook meals at a homeless shelter or pack meals for Feed My Starving Children. Go Horseback Riding: If adventure is your thing, take a day trip and go horseback riding. Drive Go Carts: Nothing will rev up your love life like a little go-cart driving! Remember, no bumping on the track! Tackle a Project: Find a fun project to do together on Pinterest, rearrange a room in your house, or build something together. Sing Karaoke: Even if you can’t sing a tune Karaoke bars are still a riot! Go to a Piano Bar: If you are fortunate to have a piano bar in your area you are in luck! Scope out a dueling piano show and request a few of your favorite songs. Create a Couple’s Bucket List: Sit down and write a bucket list of things you’d like to do together. Go to a Drive-in Movie: Bring a cozy blanket and pillows and turn the back of your SUV into a love nest. You can bring your own snacks and adult beverages if you wish or grab some popcorn or nachos from the concession stand. We are fortunate to have a drive-in movie theater a few miles from our house! Tour Model Homes: Check out some model homes or open houses in your neighborhood or an area you’d like to move one day. It’s a great way to get inspiration for your future home and see what you like and dislike about certain floorplans and features. Harvest Fruit: Find a local farm or orchard and pick strawberries or apples together. Take the fruit home and bake a pie or make a dessert together using the fruit you picked. Have a Campfire: Nothing says romance like snuggling up together next to a roaring campfire and some delicious s’mores to go along with it. Ride the Lightrail or Train: Use public transportation as your mode of transportation for a daytime adventure. Explore the city along the way. Go Antiquing: Browse antique stores and reminisce about your findings and the memorabilia you discover. Attend a Food Truck Festival: What’s better than a fabulous food truck, you ask? How about 50 fabulous food trucks all in the same place!? Go to a Coffee Shop: Sit by the fireplace at a coffee shop and splurge on a couple of delicious lattes or cappuccinos and talk. Have a Progressive Meal: Have an appetizer at one restaurant, dinner at another, and end with dessert somewhere else. Try a New Recipe: Find a recipe you want to make. Go to the store and purchase the ingredients. Go home and prepare the meal together. Go for a Bike Ride: Pump up those tires and take those bikes out for a cruise. Bring a few dollars and stop for ice cream along the way. Get Pedicures: Go to a nail salon or spa and get side-by-side pedicures together. You’d be surprised at how much men actually enjoy them! Have an Outdoor Candlelit Dinner: Decorate your deck, patio, or outdoor space with cafe lights and candles and have a romantic dinner or a cheese plate and wine under the stars. Play Tennis: Grab a set of tennis rackets and a sleeve of balls and hit the nearest tennis court. My hubby has been teaching me how to play the past year and it’s been a great reason to spend time together and be active. Go Skiing: Go cross-country skiing or downhill skiing. My hubby and I did both this past winter after more than a decade off and we had so much fun! Take a Dinner Cruise: If you live close to a large body of water or a major river, chances are there are many options for dinner or sightseeing cruises. Visit an Animal Shelter: Visit a local animal shelter and play with the cats and dogs. Maybe you will even come home with a new addition! Have a Fiesta: It doesn’t have to be Tuesday to make tacos. Whip up some delicious Mexican food and a batch of margaritas to enjoy together. Have an Indoor Picnic: Spread a blanket on the living room floor and enjoy picnic food or takeout and a glass of wine. Take a Fitness Class: Head to the gym and try a new class together like zumba, yoga, or spin. Those who sweat together, stay together! See a Play: Check out your local theater scene and find an interesting show to attend together. Play Paintball: Paintball isn’t just for bachelor parties. Suit up and head out for a competitive game of paintball. Get a Couples Massage: Book a relaxing deep-tissue couple’s massage or try a stone therapy massage. Go to a Home & Garden Show: Seek inspiration for your own home and garden at a home show in your area. Go Skydiving: If you are brave enough to take the plunge together, why not try skydiving? It’s an experience you’ll never forget. Play Footgolf: Footgolf uses the same concepts as regular golf, except you are using your feet and a soccer ball instead of a club and a golf ball. Many golf courses are offering this unique sport. Make Homemade Pizzas: Make homemade dough or get the pre-made kind along with your favorite sauce and toppings. Cooking together is great teamwork building for couples. Visit the Zoo: Leave the kids at home and explore the animals at the zoo. Some zoos even have “adult night” where you can sip cocktails while you take in the exhibits. Set Goals: Sit down and discuss your individual and shared goals for your careers, you family, you finances, your fitness, and your faith. Go for a Walk: Take a stroll around a local lake or explore a new walking path in a nearby neighborhood. Go to the Beach: Pack up your beach bag and cooler and grab a few towels and head to the nearest beach for a day of fun in the sun. Play Volleyball: Grab a volleyball and head to a local park and play one-on-one. Go Swimming: Head to the gym or community center and swim some laps together and then spend some quality time in the jacuzzi. Make Ice Cream Sundaes: Head to the grocery store and stock up on a few different flavors of ice cream and your favorite sundae toppings. My favorite is vanilla ice cream, raspberries, and a little whip cream. Go Rollerskating: Head to the nearest roller rink and relive your childhood years skating around the rink hand-in=hand. If you’re lucky, you might get to do the limbo! Play Frisbee: Grab a frisbee and head to the park or the backyard and toss the frisbee back and forth. Have a Movie Night at Home: Go to the dollar store and get your favorite movie theater candy and a tub of microwave popcorn. Head home and cozy up on the couch and rent a movie from Amazon. Visit an Aquarium: Leave the kiddos at home for an adult adventure at the nearest aquarium. If you have time, see what’s playing at the iMax while you’re there. Float a Lazy River: If you have an outdoor waterpark nearby, grab your suits and spend the day floating around the lazy river while enjoying the sunshine. Check out an Art Gallery: Even if you think that art isn’t your thing, art galleries can be really interesting to visit. Stroll through the gallery and discuss the pieces you see. Visit a Local Bakery: Check out a mom and pop bakery, order coffee, donuts, or danish. Sit and enjoy your treats and read the morning paper together. Go Camping: If you’re into the outdoors, pack up your tent, air mattress, and sleeping bags and venture out for a night of camping, just the two of you. Take a Pottery Class: Groupon always has great specials on pottery classes. Try your hand at throwing some bowls or vases on the pottery wheel. The bonus is that you’ll have an excuse for a second date when you go back to finish your pieces after they’ve dried in the kiln. Test Drive Cars: Even if you’re not in the market for a new car right now it’s still fun to go and test drive the newest models with the latest and greatest gadgets and features. Go to a Horse Track: Grab your floppy hat and head to the horse track for a day of live horse racing. Bring a few bucks and make some bets! Our local track also has an “extreme race day” where they race donkeys, ostriches, and zebras. So much fun! Go to the Casino: I’m not a huge fan of casinos because of the smoke but I enjoy going with my hubby once in a while to play Pai Gow Poker. If cards aren’t your thing check out the seafood buffet and play a few slot machines. Play Bingo: Check out the nearest bingo hall or search online for bars that have “bar bingo.” Have a Wii Marathon: Have a competition with interactive Wii games like bowling, golf, or dance dance revolution. Go to a Hibachi Grill: Hibachi grills not only have great food, they provide great entertainment as well. Just make sure to take it easy on the sake! Makeover a Room: Give your living room or master bedroom a mini makeover. Paint the walls and shop together for new throw pillows, curtains, and accents. Have a Groupon Date: The key to this date is to be spontaneous. Search Groupon for a restaurant to eat at or an activity to do the very same day. Night on the Town: Get dressed up for a night on the town. Find a great wine bar for dinner and hit up a jazz bar afterward. Have a Stay-cation: Snag a hotel deal on Priceline or Hotel Tonight to find a swanky 4-star boutique hotel to cozy up in for a mini stay-cation. My hubby and I do this all the time. We’ve been able to stay at luxury hotels in downtown Minneapolis for just $80 a night. Don’t forget the champagne and strawberries! Visit a Creamery: Tour a local creamery and take part in all of the delicious tastings they typically offer including cheese and ice cream! Watch your Wedding Video: Grab a bottle of wine and a box of tissues and watch your wedding video or look through old photographs from when you first started dating. Watch the Sunset: Find a spot to cozy up together to watch the sunset. Be sure to bring a blanket and a few adult beverages if you like. Enjoy Sunday Brunch: Find a restaurant that has all-you-can-drink mimosas or a build-your-own bloody mary bar and a great brunch menu. Sunday brunch is one of my favorite things to do with my hubby. We love searching out new places to try.

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