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40 Irresistible
First Date Ideas

Everyone knows the first date is the hardest one to plan. Should you opt for

something simple—such as coffee or a drink—or are you the type of person

who wants to be remembered and do something a little more… out-of-the-

box? One thing is for sure: when planning a first date, you want to make sure
it will go well— and hopefully give you the chance to plan a second date as

well. Don't stress! We've got your back.

Fashion Face Off: Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas

We've compiled all of the greatest non-boring and expertly-vetted first date

ideas that are guaranteed to not only impress your date with your savvy ideas

but will also lay the groundwork for a potentially lasting relationship. Who

knows? It could be the start of something new. Happy planning!

1. Take a walk.

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Yes, sometimes the simplest date ideas are the best ones. According to

research done on the best date ideas by the dating app Zoosk, after dinner and

coffee, a walk was the third most popular date idea for women in their 30s,

50s, and 60s and ranked 4th among women in their 20s.

2. Visit a museum.

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"Visiting one or several museums can be a great first date," says Michelle

Ngome, a speaker, author, and connection enthusiast. "Many museums are

free, affordable, or accept donations. This gives the couple a chance to have

casual small talk and understand each other's perspective on life based on art."
It's also a surefire way of killing any awkward silences: There will be an

endless supply of great conversation starters all around you. Plus, many

museums have a small cafe inside, so if things are going well, you can extend

the date by grabbing a bite.

3. Visit a farmers market.

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There are a ton of reasons this works so well as a first date. "First, it's a public

place so it's relatively safe," says Sunny Rodgers, a clinical sexologist and

certified sex coach. "Plus, it gives socially-nervous daters a lot of different

things to discuss. You can discuss flowers, fruit, and jam preferences as you

wander and shop together. If the date is going well, I suggest buying coffee,

fruit, or ice cream and sitting someplace to eat or drink together. If things are

going extremely well, I suggest purchasing a few key ingredients and setting a

second date where you'll cook or prepare the purchased ingredients to enjoy

together." And if the date's not going well? You've got the perfect excuse to

head out: fresh ingredients that need to be put away.

4. Try trivia night (and win)!

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This beats the typical conversation over cocktails. Many bars and pubs have

themed trivia nights, so you can show off your pop culture or historical

knowledge and get in the playful competitive spirit.

5. Escape an escape room.

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These adventure games in which people get together to use clues to solve

various puzzles are incredibly popular right now, and they make a fantastic

first date activity. "An escape room is a surefire way to get to know your date

quickly," says Laura Bilotta, a dating coach and matchmaker. "You'll have to

use teamwork, and the task at hand will keep the two of you talking without

awkward lulls."
6. Go hiking.

If you both like being active outdoors, this is a great way to get to know each

other. "I don't suggest hitting a secluded trek or one that would take hours to

complete, but instead find a walking trail either around your city, in a park, or

out in the countryside," suggests J. Hope Suis, a relationship expert and

author. "Pack some water and a few snacks, dress comfortably and hit the

road. You will have plenty of time for conversation and you can also judge

their spontaneity and maybe even their fitness skills."

7. Attend a book reading.

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If you find intelligence sexy, a book reading will help you gauge your date's

intellect and provide a conversation starter. "It will allow you to talk about a

subject matter that is outside of 'tell me about yourself,' and yet you still get a

sense of the other person," says Janet Zinn, LCSW, a couples counselor.

8. Go skating.
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"Ice skating or roller skating was a dating staple back in high school for

many," notes Stef Safran, a dating and matchmaking expert. "Try out doing an

activity that keeps the focus on balancing yourself from falling—literally." At

the end of the day, a little light physical danger is a great, time-honored

bonding experience.

9. Sing karaoke.
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"Nothing draws us close to someone like a willingness to share with openness

and honesty," says Michelle Puster, a licensed professional counselor. "A

demonstration of such vulnerability shows confidence and an effort to get to

know someone by sharing about themselves first."

10. Go bowling.
Bowling can be a little goofy (the shoes, the music, the technique), which

means it's perfect for breaking the ice.

11. Take an art class.

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"This activity can spark your creativity and will also allow for conversation and

connection," notes Susan Ruth Freedman, a couples therapist and a clinical

sexologist who works with Jack & Jill adult store.

12. See a comedy show.

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"A great way to ditch the tired dinner and drinks combo is to grab a cocktail

and go to a comedy show," Bilotta says. "Having a drink first will help you get

comfortable and acquainted. Hopefully, the show you see is funny, but even if

it isn't, you'll have lots to talk about afterward."

13. Visit an animal shelter.

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"If you're an animal lover, one of the best first dates is to go to an animal

shelter where they have a selection of animals from cute kittens to Komodo

dragons," says Cherry Davis, a dating coach. It's a great way to see how your

date interacts with them, plus you can often gauge how affectionate someone

is by how they treat potential pets.

14. Attend a sporting event.

Love sports and know your date does too? Head to a local game. "Both people

can get to know each other and how they react at events like this," explains

relationship coach Susan Golicic, PhD. "It also has lots of things going on in

case some awkward silences pop up at the beginning." Note to men: Do not do

this if your date isn't into sports.

15. Listen to jazz.

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If your city has a great jazz club (and chances are it does), take your date to

enjoy some live music while you have a cocktail or three. The setting will be

more romantic than your typical bar, and you'll have plenty of material to chat

about in between sets. (After all, it's the perfect opportunity to channel your

own Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.)

16. Take a cooking class.

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"I usually suggest a cooking class because it's hands on," Rodgers says. "Again,

it's a safe place and offers a shared experience that allows for lots of topics to

discuss. It's also usually a short time period, so the dater can decide if they

wish to extend the date or make plans for a second date. With something like a

pasta making class, you could suggest a second date at an Italian restaurant

known for their fresh pasta."

17. See a psychic.

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What better way is there to find out if you're destined to be together forever?

18. Check out a street or music festival.

You'd be surprised how many of these events there are, and they make great

date destinations. "It's pretty easy to find a festival within 10 or 20 miles if you

look hard enough," says David Bennett, a certified counselor and relationship

expert. "They often involve free shows, good food, games, and rides. And, at

the very least, you can people watch."

19. See a drive-in movie.

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Seeing a movie isn't generally ideal for a first date since it's pretty difficult to

have a conversation in a crowded theater. A drive-in, on the other hand, allows

for a little more privacy so you can chat about your favorite scenes.

20. Hit up a botanic garden.

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"If the weather allows, checking out a botanic garden can be a nice way to view

things when you have to focus on what's in front of you," Safran says. That

way, you don't have to stress about coming up with topics bring up when

there's a break in the conversation.

21. Take a wine-tasting course.

Many wine shops and bars offer wine tasting evenings, which can be a fun way

to do something social and still get to know each other at the same time. If you

can't find a class near you, DIY one at a BYOB restaurant with a few different

bottles of wine.

22. Anything at the beach

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If you have access to a beach, it's a good idea to utilize it. In Zoosk's research

on date ideas, women of all age groups mentioned the beach one of their top

romantic venues.

23. Create your own culinary tour.

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If you feel like getting really creative, give this first date idea a go. "Order one

appetizer at a local place, then go to another place and share another

appetizer," suggests Zinn. Keep going until you're full! "You'll learn your date's

food tastes and it's a fun way to try different things together."

24. Meet up at sunrise or sunset.

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"Meet to watch the sunrise or sunset," Golicic recommends. "This is not only

romantic, but also allows for conversation—sometimes really deep

conversation—while taking in the beauty of something we often take for

granted."

25. Visit the zoo.

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Similar to the botanic garden idea, this shifts the focus onto something other

than the two of you, Safran says, which can help cut out the first date

awkwardness that sometimes occurs.

26. Go dessert hunting.

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Take it upon yourselves to find the best dessert spot in town. "Going from

place to place on a tour can have you sampling deserts while making small

talk," Safran says. You could also book a cupcake tour or something similar if

it's offered in your area. "While being one-on-one can make some people

nervous, going with a small group can make things easier if it takes you a bit to

come out of your shell."

27. Do a park picnic.

If the weather is nice, there's nothing better than an outdoor picnic in your

local park. Pick up some fruit, cheese, crackers, and wine and you'll be set.

Dinner in a fancy restaurant is nice as a first date idea, but this is way more

thoughtful.

28. Go on a bike ride.

Or do pretty much any other physical activity you both enjoy. "Not only do you

get to do something you would normally do and get to talk about how you

work out, you get to check the other person out in workout clothes," Golicic

says.

29. Bounce around in a trampoline park.

It's pretty hard to not have fun when jumping around in a room filled with

trampolines. "These indoor parks are popping up everywhere," Bennett says.

"They add a little thrill and fun to your first date." What's more, you'll see if

your date is able to have a good time and not take themselves too seriously.

30. Meet at a bookstore.

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Take each other on a tour of the bookstore, pointing out your favorite books

and why they're important to you along the way. Many bookstores these days

have coffee shops, so you can always start or end with a cup of Joe.

31. Try a swing dance class.

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"This is a playful way to engage, get exercise, and learn how you move together

as a couple," Freedman says. Even if neither of you is a great dancer to begin

with, learning a new skill together is a surefire way to gauge your

compatibility.

32. Go to a concert.
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"Similar to the sports event, there are times when talking isn't required,"

Golicic points out. "I would suggest something on the more mellow side to

start with, but this is a chance to have fun moving and singing to the music."

33. Visit a neighborhood you've never been to.

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If you live in a major city, it's likely that there are neighborhoods in your area

that you've never explored. Maybe there's even a major tourist attraction in

your town that you've never been to. Meet your date there and explore.

34. Play arcade games.

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"Bars are popping up that are filled with old school arcade games and Skee-

Ball," Bennett says. You can often play for free if you buy a drink or two, and

some friendly competition is a solid way to see if there's a spark.

35. Volunteer.
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Do some good together. "Volunteer dates for an organization are great way to

see if you share the same values and morals," Davis says. "You can observe

how they interact with other volunteers, if they are adaptable or need

structure, and if they are willing to try something new interacting with people

that wouldn't be in their social circle."

36. Eat at a diner.

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This takes all the stuffiness and pretension out of the typical restaurant date.

It's hard to take yourself too seriously when you're eating pancakes for dinner.

37. Go on a photography walking tour.

This first date idea can easily be DIY-ed. "Take your smartphone and go for a

walk and talk while taking pictures of what you like," Zinn says. "Then, sit and

compare what you took and why you liked it."

38. Eat brunch.

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Daytime dates are seriously underrated, and brunch is an easy way to give

them a try if you haven't done one before. Pick a restaurant you know has

amazing food and a lively atmosphere that will inspire conversation. Also,

you're signaling to your potential partner that you're not just in it for what

goes on in the bedroom.

39. Go kayaking.
"For the outdoor enthusiast, this is a great activity for a beautiful day,"

Freedman says. "Ideally rent a two-person kayak so you can be close and

communicate about the beautiful sites in nature."

40. Eat ice cream.

It's safe to say you and your potential S.O. have been on a million coffee dates,

but have you ever been on an ice cream date? Probably not. Grab a cone and

take a stroll.