Last week in our blog, we discussed the importance of dates in romantic relationships, and how to create a date jar. This week, we figured it might be helpful to jump start that date jar brainstorming by presenting you with XY ConneXion’s All-Extensive Date Ideas List. Enjoy!

For a PDF of the list, click here.

XY ConneXion’s All-Extensive Date Ideas List

Free Dates:

• Explore local nature (beach, mountains, desert, etc) for hiking or exploring
• Go for a picnic in the park and feed the ducks (with duck-safe food, not bread)
• Check out the local library and choose books for each other
• Volunteer together with a local charity organization
• Have some seasonal fun (build a snowman, jump in puddles, run through sprinklers)
• Take a free class at a community center
• Check out the local  farmers market (the free part involves not buying anything)
• Go stargazing or watch the sunset  (if you are going to make it a sexy date, do so in a private place)
• Walk around a new neighborhood and look at houses
• Play people watching bingo (find cards online or create your own)
• Get dressed up fancy and walk around the local downtown area
• Fly a kite or make paper airplanes
• Go to the dog park

At Home Dates:

• At-home movie night (complete with popcorn)
• Binge-watch a new series
• Play a board game or complete a puzzle
• Go camping in the living room or backyard
• Take an online quiz or personality test (or take the XY Relational Test)
• Cook something new together, or teach your partner a family recipe
• Create an at-home spa day complete with massages and face masks
• Build a blanket fort and spend the whole night there
• Attempt to draw portraits of each other
• Do an at-home wine tasting (make it  a blind tasting by covering the labels)
• Plan a detailed vacation to a random location (only actually purchase if sober)
• Share songs, poems, or other art that you enjoy
• Try couples yoga or pilates
• Each learn something new and teach it to each other
• Read a book together , whether it be fiction, nonfiction, self-help, a relationship book like XY Theory, or any other genre
• Plant a garden or inside herb garden
• Go through pictures together, whether it be of your relationship or childhood
• Buy a deck of conversation cards or a couples game
• Create a scavenger hunt for each other
• Throw a dinner party or game night with friends
• “Shop” for pets online (but don’t actually buy them without considering the responsibility and attention pets require)
• Have a tie dye party or some other craft activity
• Learns something new by taking an online course, like one of our relationship strengthening courses (we hope you enjoyed our shameless plugs)
• Watch a sports game with a sport  or team you don’t  follow
• Put a movie on mute and try to lip-read what they are saying

Local Dates:

• Check out shows and performances  at your local theaters and comedy clubs
• Visit a local museum or art gallery (check with your credit card and other subscriptions /resources for free entry days)
• Check Groupon and similar sites for local deals
• Go to Costco and eat samples as a meal (requires Costco membership)
• Take a free DIY class at Lowe’s, Michaels, or similar stores
• Try an escape room and test your communication skills
• Find a local food truck or restaurant you’ve been wanting to try
• Window shopping at the local mall or downtown area
• Look for street fairs and yard sales
• Attend an author’s reading at Barnes and Noble or a local bookstore
• Go horseback riding on the beach or through the mountains
• Laser tag, paintball, trampoline park, ax throwing, arcade, go kart,  bowling, mini golf, etc.
• Try a sport together like tennis, pickleball, etc.
• Take a drive and explore your area, or head to the next town over
• Check out a local winery, distillery, or brewery
• Head over to an antique store, estate or yard sale,  or thrift shop
• Trivia night at your local bar or gathering place
• Attend a lecture at a local college or community center
• Find an ice skating rink (perhaps indoor if it’s summer) or roller skating rink
• Go to a concert, even if you don’t know the performer
• Relive your first date or favorite date
• Try multiple food trucks

All-Day or Overnight Dates:

• Drive to the nearest national park or nature preserve
• Take  a ski/snowboarding/tubing trip for winter, and quading/duning  for summer
• Do an adrenaline activity  such as skydiving, ziplining,  or bungee jumping
• Go camping for the night or weekend
• Pick a town near you and play tourist for a day/weekend
• Pick a direction and drive until you need to pull over for gas
• Head over to the zoo or aquarium
• Go apple or berry picking at a farm 
• Go rock climbing at a gym or out in nature
• Check out a water park or amusement park
• If you’re near a body of water, go kayaking for the day
• Rent a convertible for the day and take it for a trip
• Find a fun AirBnb or hotel and book it for the night or weekend

Sexy Dates:

• Play strip chess/Mario Kart/Hangman/any other game (get creative with it)
• Buy some new lingerie  or sex toys
• Dirty Truth or Dare
• Naked Twister
• Just spend some time making out on the couch
• Buy some massage oil and learn how to give each other massages
• Stay a night in a fancy hotel
• Pretend you and your partner are on a first date again
• Take dance lessons such as the tango or salsa
• Read a sexy book to one another

Long Distance Date Ideas:

• Go on a walk together while on the phone
• See what museums or art galleries offer virtual tours
• Take a virtual class such as painting or cooking
• Buy the same bottles of wine and have a wine tasting over Zoom
• Watch the same movie together, either through screen share or time matching
• Play online games together through an app or website or online escape room
• Read the same book or listen to the same audiobook, and then discuss together
• Try making the same meal or cocktail
• Stargaze from your different locations (it’s the same sky)
• Plan a future trip together (or fantasy vacation)
• Write love letters and watch as your partner reads it
• Put on a fashion show over Zoom (casual clothes, fancy outfits, or lingerie)

Still need more ideas? Make sure to check out local attractions and date options in your area through Google Searches, local restaurants, and social media sites.