24 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 by doing something 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. But don't stress! We've got your back.

Here, we've compiled all of the greatest, non-boring and expertly vetted
first date ideas that are guaranteed to not only impress your date but
also potentally lay the groundwork for a lasting relationship. Who
knows? It could be the start of something new.

1. Take a walk.

Yes, sometimes the simplest date ideas are the best ones.
According to research by the dating app Zoosk, after dinner and
coffee, a walk is the third most popular date idea for women in
their 30s, 50s, and 60s. It ranked 4th among women in their 20s.
2. Go thrift shopping.

Hit up a couple of thrift stores and search for some hidden

treasures. This is a great way to get a sense of your date's style
and sense of humor. And no matter how the date goes, you
could end up going home with some cool stuff.

Want To Know The Secrets Of Making A Person Fall in Love With You ?

3. Visit a museum.

"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.
4. Swap hobbies.

Splitting the day between your favorite activities is a great way to get
to know each other. Each of you pick one of your favorite ways to
pass the time and share it with the other. After a meal break, the next
person gets their turn.

5. Visit a farmers market.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.
6. Try trivia night (and win)!

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 into the playful
competitive spirit together.

7. Check out a carnival or amusement park.

It doesn't matter how old you are, an amusement park (or pop-up
carnival) outing is a perfect summer date. Having rides, games,
and food stalls at your disposal will help break the ice and fill in
any conversation gaps.
8. Escape an escape room.

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."
9. 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 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."

10. Attend a reading.

If you find intelligence sexy, a literature or poetry 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.
11. Get a spa treatment.

It's way too early for a couples rubdown, but a side-by-side

manicure or chair massage, you can do. It'll ease any nerves that
you or your date have about meeting, making for a much more
relaxed conversation. You'll also both get the satisfaction of
doing something nice for yourself.

12. Go skating.

"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.
13. Sing karaoke.

"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."

14. Check out some open houses.

Pick a weekend day to check out open houses in a nice

neighborhood near you. Lots of them have free snacks and
drinks, plus you'll be able to see what your date is hoping for out
of their future without having to ask straight out.
15. Go bowling.

Bowling can be a little goofy (the shoes, the music, the

technique), which only means it's perfect for breaking the
ice.

16. Take an art class.

"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.
17. See a comedy show.

"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."

18. Visit an animal shelter.

"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.
19. 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." Don't do this if your date isn't into
sports, however—they won't enjoy you explaining every play to
them.

20. Listen to jazz.

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.)
 21. Anything at the beach

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.

22. Meet up at sunrise or sunset.

"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."
23. Go dessert hunting.

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," Safran adds.

24. 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.