When two people have been together for a while, it is easy to slip into that comfortable place and stop truly dating. Does this mean you cannot enjoy lazy nights on the couch watching a movie? Of course not. In fact, it is a nice place to be in your relationship when you get to that point. I would recommend, though, that couples change things up a bit, otherwise weekend routines can become mundane which can often lead to complacency, and complacency can be an enemy of marriage. This can prove especially true for couples that have been together for awhile. Out of curiosity, I sat down one day and wrote as many dating ideas that I could think of that two people might enjoy. Some are geographically specific, and others are only applicable during certain seasons, but I hope these will get your own thoughts churning as you come up with creative ways to continue to grow together in your relationship.
1. Play games: chess; Hive; Clue (you can find a lot of games for 2 players with a simple search)
2. Grocery shop together and cook a meal
3. Binge watch a great series: The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Wars; old classics; The Lord of the Rings (that would be an all-day binge!)
4. Visit your local museum
5. Assemble a puzzle: buy a puzzle with a picture of your favorite vacation spot that you can then frame
6. Take a dance lesson: my husband and I did this for our son’s wedding and dancing has now become a daily fixture in our lives
7. Take a cooking class
8. Go to the zoo
9. Go to a wine bar and spend your time setting your goals together for the next 1, 5 and 10 years
10. Picnic at the park
11. Search top tourist spots in your town and pick 3 to do
12. Set the dinner table with your wedding china and crystal and have an elegant meal at home
13. Build a snowman and roast marshmallows
14. Attend your local high school musical: these are inexpensive and can be very good
15. Host an outdoor BBQ
16. Take a driving or walking tour of your local National Historic Trails
17. Attend your local high school sporting event: my husband and I love to go to our local football games to get into the spirit of fall
18. Charades
19. Bowling
20. Ziplining
21. Go to a shooting range
22. Have a slumber party at home with movies and popcorn
23. Fondue night
24. Escape Room
25. Skip dinner and have a wine and cheese night
26. Attend a rodeo
27. Go hiking and end with a picnic
28. Research local festivals in your area to attend
29. Miniature golf
30. Tubing on the river
31. Rock climbing
32. Ride go-karts
33. Restaurant hop: go to two and just eat appetizers; go to two more and just eat dessert
34. Take a painting class
35. Lay outside and gaze at the stars
36. Attend an outdoor concert or play
37. Volunteer for a charity that is dear to your heart
38. Pick pumpkins in a pumpkin patch
39. Carve a pumpkin together
40. Cut down your own Christmas tree
41. Take a tour of your city
42. Go to the midnight show at the movie theatre
43. Make ice cream sundaes
44. Decorate a Christmas tree
Via K945
45. Attend an animal show/race (nothing cuter than watching wiener dogs run!)
46. Drive to a nearby small town for lunch at the local café
47. Explore geological areas near you (waterfalls, caves, beaches, forests)
48. Go paintballing
49. Karaoke Night
50. Wine tasting tour
51. Brewery tour
52. Go to a comedy club
53. Attend the carnival that comes to your town
54. Dye Easter eggs together
55. Take a ferry ride
56. Go antiquing and then find your favorite food truck for lunch
57. Go on a scavenger hunt: you can find ideas online
58. Recreate your first date
59. Curl up in your pajamas, grab your hot chocolate, light a fire and read a book to each other
60. Go berry picking
61. Enjoy a spa day at home
62. Take a bike ride
63. Make a bonfire
64. Go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood
65. Take the 5 Love Languages online quiz, and discuss each other’s language
66. Sleep in and go to breakfast at your favorite cafe
67. Eat takeout by candlelight or picnic in your front yard
68. Cake night: make your 3 favorite cakes and eat them with a fork on the couch-no plates required!
I had fun coming up with ideas, and new ones are still popping up in my mind! Part of the enjoyment of date night is the creativity involved. If you are on a budget, come up with a list of 10 things you can do at no-cost (the above list has several). Continuing to date takes effort, but effort is required to have a successful marriage. This is especially true during the child-rearing years. Remember the best thing you can do for your children is have them grow up in a home where they witness two parents that have a healthy and loving relationship. As we all know, keeping our bodies in tip top shape takes work. Maintaining a marriage that thrives is also no easy task. Shake things up, try something new and you will keep the spice in your marriage.
Together with you,
Lisa Lou