Take Your Next Date Outdoors with these Date Ideas

By: Sylvia Karcz, Contributing Blogger

Whether you’re head over heels for a new crush, years deep in a special partnership, or simply want to celebrate a meaningful friendship, there’s something unequivocally unique about summer love. Maybe it’s the warmer weather, extra time outdoors, or, the simple fact that longer, brighter days allow for more quality time adventures with your beloved.

Whatever the reason, summer never fails to feel oh-so-sweet, and it’s exactly why we think there’s no better time to plan some memorable outdoor-centric dates. Read on for a few creative ideas to spice up your summer and add that extra spark to your relationship!

 

Love Songs & a Nature Walk

 A fun summer field trip and romantic tunes? A harmonious pairing, I’d say! This simple rendevous starts with you and your date making love-themed playlists for each other, about ten songs each. Then, pick a botanical garden, public park, or a mellow nature trail you’ve always wanted to explore; even a zoo or aquarium will work, but try and keep it outdoors if the weather allows.

If you’re up for adding another level of creativity, bring two small notepads or sketchbooks, and a drawing tool of your choosing (pen, colored pencils, etc.) When you arrive at your location of choice, take turns playing songs from each other’s playlists; however, try and use just one set of earphones so that you’re extra connected! Take breaks to discuss any memories a particular tune evokes.

And if you decided to bring paper and pen, you’ll have the option to do a bit of sketching, too! Find a few places to sit along your walk, pick an item to draw, and showcase how you interpret the nature around you. You can even sign a drawing off with a love-note, if you dare!

 

Join a Charity Walk or Run Together

While it may not be the most intimate of dates, movement for a worthy cause will surely leave a lasting —and meaningful— imprint on any partnership.

This date idea starts with looking up a local charity walk, 5K run, or any form of leg-powered challenge that will take place in the upcoming summer months. Even if you’ve just been dating for a short while, there’s something potent about planning, training, and completing a memorable event with a person close to your heart. Tip: if you’re having trouble deciding, toss the options in a hat and let fate  choose.

Once that’s settled, coordinate an outdoor “training plan,” but keep it lighthearted and fun. This is about bonding and romance, after all. And, as the big day gets closer, there’s one last part of the puzzle: to take a trip to a local thrift store and pick out some quirky matching outfits! Think outside of the box, and if you have the time, get crafty by painting or embellishing your newfound race uniforms together. It’ll build excitement and a sense of teamwork!

All of these small but significant steps really the stage for your charity event, and help keep the focus not on competition, but on creating memories with one another. And at day’s end, you’re doing something outside, together, for a good cause. That emanates love quite unlike anything else!

 

Sunrise Silence Hike

Yep, this one’s a date morning, and an unforgettable way to start off a day or weekend with your significant other: sunrise breakfast at the end of a local hike. But that’s not all, lovers: let’s elevate it by making it a partial silence challenge, too!

First, research a short local trail, ideally something a tad predictable in terms of how long it’ll take to top-out, since the goal here is to catch the sunrise. You’ll also want to choose something with a bit of a vista so you can actually see those first glimmers of sunlight! Once you’ve narrowed it down, plan a little breakfast picnic with your date. One person can take care of coffee or tea in a thermos in the morning, and the other can tackle a breakfast snack. Don’t forget headlamps, either, since you’ll want to get an alpine start and hit the trail at dawn!

When you arrive at the trailhead the morning of your date, start your silence challenge. It may sound silly, but trust that it’s an excellent exercise in non-verbal communication! And the longer you go without talking, the more in tune you become with your surroundings. Bird song, your gait crunching on the forest floor, whisps of wind…every sound is accentuated and holds its weight.

Reaching your summit point, there should be just enough predawn light to start prepping your picnic. As those first energizing rays hit, consider your silent challenge complete! Enjoy each other’s company and chat about what you’ve just experienced. Even though you’ve said nothing up until this point, you should have plenty to talk about!

 

Campfire Cookout

I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that nothing says summer like camping under the stars. What’s more, is that nothing beats cozying up with your special someone after a campfire-cooked meal! Although you can certainly plan for a hike-in campsite, the options will become far greater with a campground fire pit you can drive to. So, review your options, pick a night, and reserve a campsite. Be sure to pack accordingly with a tent, sleeping bags and mats, camp chairs, and everything you’ll need to cook a meal over a campfire: cutlery, foil, plates, a firestarter and firewood, a grill grate if needed, etc.

 

Next, onto the food planning. We’re going for something a bit different here, so try not to simply grab a pizza before your campout— lean into the challenge! Head to the store with your partner-in-crime, and before you begin shopping, write down three of your favorite food items on a piece of paper. Swap your notes and start brainstorming, because your challenge is to make a couple of (small) snacks that include all of the items on your date’s list! Be sure to keep it a surprise. The rest of the magic lies in your hands! Creating something with another something is inherently romantic, and everything from setting up your campsite to preparing a meal together can really fan the flames of love.

So dive in! Cook, eat, be merry, and absorb the magic of the outdoors with this summer date for the books.