When you’re online dating, first date ideas can be difficult to come up with—especially if you’re going on dates pretty regularly. Sure, you might have your go-to date plan, the one you know you can always count on to be a decent first date, but if you’re averaging several dates a month, even Old Faithful is going to get…well…old after a while.
Since we all live in various geographical areas around the world, every idea on this list probably won’t help you, but some will…we hope. We tried to take into account both you City Slickers, you Country Dwellers, and you In-Betweeners.
Here are 5 first date ideas:
1. Be a Tourist
If you live in a city, you’ll have to set aside your snobbery against all things tourist-y for a little while and put on your explorer hat instead. A first date is a great time to go back to some of those things that first drew you into the city in which you now live. Or, in some of your cases, to visit some of the places you’ve yet to go to because they’re “too tourist-y.” If you live in Houston, meet your date at the Space Center for a tour or go to Café du Monde if you are in New Orleans. What about the Clinton Presidential Library for those of you in Little Rock or Graceland for those of you in Memphis? Take her to the Coca-Cola museum if you’re in Atlanta or take a Segway tour if you’re in Austin. Becoming a tourist helps both of you set aside pretenses and just enjoy each others’ company.
2. Live Music
Concerts are great, but you can’t really get to talk to someone if you’re sitting among 30,000 other people in a big arena. That’s why we really like the Bands in Town app. It’s a great way to locate any live music that’s going on in your area—from big concerts to your favorite troubadour playing at the local coffee shop. Use the app to find someone who’s playing—maybe even someone neither of you know.
3. Amuse Yourselves
That’s right. We’re suggesting you channel your inner child and hit up the local amusement park. Go to Six Flags or Disney World, if you’re a lucky local. Ride the rides. Eat the cotton candy. Spend the money.
And if you don’t live in a town with an amusement park, find another source of amusement. MainEvent has laser tag and billiards, Top Golf is way more fun than a driving range, and if you’re in a city like Nashville with a hipster country club like Pinewood Social, you can bowl or play bocce ball. There’s less pressure and stress when you’re both embarrassing yourselves…unless one or both of you are crazy competitive. And if that’s the case, it might show you reasons not to date each other.
4. Embrace Your Small Town
It’s easy to think when you live in a small town that there aren’t any other date options besides dinner or coffee. But that’s not necessarily true. If you’re in a college town, you could meet at a basketball game at the local university. Surely there’s a farm somewhere there, too. Pick a bushel of peaches at the local orchard or baskets of strawberries at the berry farm. Is there a festival coming soon? What about a state park? All of these are good options that keep you active while giving you the chance to visit.
5. Go for the Quirky
We’ve all been traveling down the interstate and seen exit signs for attractions that partially pique our curiosity and partially make us roll our eyes—an alligator farm, caves and caverns, or snake pits. Is there one near your city or town? Of course, going to a nearby snake pit isn’t for everyone (slowly raises hand), but if you mention it and she likes the idea, you might just have found your girl!
Our biggest advice is to keep it light and keep it fun. Whatever you do, find a way to enjoy getting to know another person. Don’t force the heavy conversations, just let them happen naturally—and if that’s not on the first date, it’s okay.
What other online dating first date ideas do you have? Share them in the comments below.
Photo credit: Dave Leaumont
