Now that the temps have turned, you may be looking for a new way to spend time with your guy this spring or summer. The list of date ideas during the warm weather months is endless, but it can be tough to figure out where to begin. So we’ve narrowed it down to present 10 of our favorite warm weather dates!
1. Be grill masters:
One of the best parts of summer by far is the delicious summer food. We love that grilled or barbecued chicken, slabs of freshly seasoned steak or stacks of grilled veggies (or veggie burgers). There’s no need for a monstrous gas grill, either. Instead, pick up a portable or mini grill (they start at just around $30!) at a local hardware store. Let your man grill up your favorite foods for you, or pick out a few of your own recipes and impress him with your own grilling skills. We bet he won’t turn down one of these tasty grilled meals!
Looking for a totally out-there but fun way to spend time with your guy? Buy some cheap water guns or water balloons, invite him over, and be prepared to get wet. Cooling each other down in the heat with this middle-school-style activity can be great since it’s more casual than date-like. Invite your or his friends to join in the water war to keep things even more low-key. Just make sure to have a pile of dry towels handy, and no white t-shirts (unless you have a bikini top on underneath)!
3. Star gaze:
The night equivalent of a picnic in a park, stargazing is just as relaxing and romantic. This is the perfect way to end a day of warm weather activities rather than, say, hitting up the movies. Grab a blanket to sit on and maybe an extra to keep you two warm if it’s a chilly night. Check out this website for stargazing tips and a list of what stars or planets will be most visible on each night.
4. Visit a zoo:
It might seem a little childish to hit up a zoo on a date, but you’d be surprised how much fun it can be. Maybe you’re a fan of the penguins or monkeys, but you can bet he had a thing for the lions and tigers when he was little. If he’s lucky, tell him you’ll bring him to see the bears. Zoos usually require a lot of walking, which is the perfect time for chatting (the baboons and elephants will probably give you enough to talk about.) Use this website to look up a zoo or aquarium in your area.
5. Go to an outdoor concert:
Once the warm weather hits, so do the outdoor music festivals and concerts. An outdoor concert is an awesome way to not only enjoy great entertainment, good music and the weather, but to also spend time with your man. Unlike in a stadium or concert hall, the music is usually quiet enough for you to actually be able to have a conversation with each other. Plan it out together, surprise him with tickets to a concert, or drive him to a free outdoor music festival. Check out SummerStage concert series if you’re near New York City, or SeatGeek for concert info from all over the U.S.
6. Hit up a baseball game:
Hopefully your guy is not as much of a baseball fanatic as Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch, but he probably enjoys a game or two. Chowing down on hot dogs and popcorn might not be the sexiest date, but it can be an awesome way to relax and have a fun time cheering with (or against) your boy. Check out the Major League Baseball schedule to find a game nearby or to find a game featuring your or your guy’s favorite team. Depending on the stadium, the teams playing and where you choose to sit, tickets can range from $20 to $100. Tickets are usually available up until the week, sometimes even days, before the game, but, of course, the earlier you buy, the better your seat options! Your boy will definitely appreciate it if you can get into the spirit of the game with him. Put on your best all-American girl outfit, complete with a baseball hat and ponytail, and watch out for those fly balls.
Check out some of these sites to buy tickets to a game:
7. Visit local ice cream shops:
Make the kid summer staple of stopping at an ice cream shop your new go-to for date night (or afternoon.) Check out some local shops in the area, and look for that delicious old-school homemade cone of ice cream. Of course, any ice cream place will work (think Friendly’s™ or Baskin-Robbins™.) A tip for finding those hidden spots you may not know about: search “ice cream” in Google Maps in your town or area. Or, better yet, stop that ice cream man the next time he drives his truck past you. Make eating the chilled treat even more fun by trying the unique or special flavors at each spot (yes, that means no chocolate and vanilla twists.) Share a lick or spoonful or two of each other’s choices.
8. Go boating:
Whether you want to hop in a relaxing, slow-moving canoe, paddle a two-person kayak or speed in a mini powerboat, boating is a great way to spend warm days with your guy. Simply being around the water – a lake, river, ocean or sound – is relaxing. Pick your boat type based on the kind of date you’re looking to have. For that super calm, quiet date, with room for chatting or enjoying the scenery, try a canoe or kayak. Paddle together, or get two kayaks and race him to a spot of your choosing. If you or your guy has a boating license, a mini motorboat can be a great adrenaline-inducing date. Or, just go for a cruise, and enjoy the scenery with him while someone else steers the boat! If you’re really adventurous, try out some jet skis. Hey, it worked for Will Smith in Hitch. For places to paddle wherever you are, check out this site.
To look up a boat-renting spot in your area, try some of these other sites:
9. Park it:
For that romantic, but laidback, daytime date, look for a park or lake in your area and take a stroll with your man. Grab a blanket and an iHome© or speakers to relax and lay in the sun. Are you two more of the active types? Bring along a Frisbee™ to toss to each other. If there’s a lake, walk around it, or find a bench to sit on and chat.
10. Take a bike ride:
For the athletic couples out there, or those of you who are looking to fit a workout into your dates, a bike ride is the perfect warm weather activity. Find a trail in your area and a place to rent bikes (if you don’t already have one.) Pack a backpack with water and snacks, and pick a spot to take a break and talk.