The One Ultimate List of Date Ideas Tagged With: Small Groups, p. 8

Stuff a backpack with everything you need and go hit the trail. Where are the best places to go backpacking on a date? You could go to a park, a hiking trail, or someplace out in the wilderness. You could also turn backpacking into camping and have a date in the great outdoors. Just remember if you're planning on staying outside for an extended period to make sure that you have food and other supplies. Your date night will end up being a disaster if you are out in the wilderness with no food or water. Done right, backpacking makes a great date.

Leathercrafting is a lost art, but there's still plenty of date night fun to be had. A cheap way to get into leathercrafting is by buying scraps of leather from your local tannery. Also, local leather workers might be willing to sell you any scraps they have. If all else fails, you can buy leather online to work with at home. You should already have something in mind that you'd like to make out of leather. Maybe you want to make a belt, pants, or a wallet. The two of you will be able to make more advanced things out of leather after you've made several dates out of it. Leatherwork is a unique date idea that can be a lot of fun for the both of you.

Quite a few couples think that going to a bar or restaurant during happy hour is all about discounted drinks. You will find that quite a few establishments offer discounted appetizers and also meals during this time. If you don't drink, it's no big deal because you can get a great deal on finger foods and sometimes meals. A happy hour date with your spouse is all about letting your hair down and enjoying the moment. Eat some chicken wings, talk about how work has been going, and enjoy being in the presence of the person you love more than anyone else. Happy hour is about, well, being happy, and that's the attitude you should have while enjoying your date.

If you're searching for a date idea to get your blood flowing, laser tag is it. You run around an obstacle course while trying to shoot a laser gun at each other. The goal is to hit the other as many times as possible without you getting hit. It takes creativity, a little luck, and a whole lot of agility to pull this off. You'll need to hide behind corners, be sneaky, and have good aim. The look on your spouse's face when you zap them will make playing laser tag worthwhile. Allow your animal instincts to kick in as you hunt for each other in this high tech shooting game.

Making s'mores is so much fun. Eating the s'mores is a whole different experience. The roasting of the marshmallows is fun in itself. There's something about sticking a marshmallow on a stick and roasting it that is such an enjoyable experience. Conversations have a way of spiraling into something truly magical when you're around the campfire. Don't worry; you can roast marshmallows outside your home over a charcoal grill if needed. You can take your s'mores inside or enjoy them while out in the open fresh air. Anytime is a good time to whip up a batch of s'mores and turn it into a delicious date.

People live busy lives, and sometimes it's hard to prepare a home-cooked meal during the week. Have you ever thought about turning a night of cooking into a date? You can make several meals at once over a few hours if the two of you chip in on the work. You cook the food and then freeze it to eat later on during the week. Think of your date night meals as frozen TV dinners with the most crucial ingredient in them, which is love. You can eat healthily all week long, and it will be because of the time you shared during your date night cooking spree.

Social clubs are a great way to rub shoulders with people in your community. Visiting a club is a great date idea because it will give both of you a chance to get to know new people. Beyond the advantage of getting yourself out there, you can also have quite a bit of fun. Couples who enjoy mingling with others will enjoy getting social at a club. Try your best to make as many connections as possible while at the club because they will help further your life down the line. The more people you know, the higher the likelihood it is that you'll succeed at anything.

Communication is always an issue in a marriage. Setting aside a little time for something like learning about "love languages" is a must. Author Gary Chapman wrote in his book The Five Love Languages about the ways that people express and receive love. Taking the surveys can be eye opening as you gain insight into how your spouse (and yourself) prefers to be shown love. After you've determined your love languages you'll be more aware of the way you express love within your relationship. Sitting down next to each other and speaking about what makes you feel loved is a great way to express your feelings. It's not always easy to get mushy, but let the words flow. Allow your heart to do all the talking, and you'll find the right words to say. It's okay to feel uncomfortable talking about you feel on the inside, what isn't okay is bottling it up. Allow your heart to gush and say whatever it is that your feeling. Love is a beautiful thing but it requires nurture and attention. You need to educate yourselves on the 5 love languages to ensure that you're expressing love in the ways that your spouse cherishes most.

If there's one thing that's for sure about fencing, it's that you need someone else to do it with. You can't do fencing by yourself, fencing is made for two, and that's what makes it the perfect date idea. If you're new to fencing, don't worry, it's a total blast. It looks hard, but once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite easy. Remember, you've got on all kinds of protective gear that will make sure you don't get hurt. Fencing is a great exercise, and it also improves your agility and hand-eye coordination. Try to record your fencing date to make sure you can watch it later on and show your grandkids. No one will ever believe that the two of you were into fencing if they don't see it with their own eyes.

The Raspberry Pi has taken the world of computing by storm. There are so many different projects you can work on with your Raspberry Pi or Arduino as a couple. You can build an arcade game, build a robot, or use it to run software that you code. You can turn your Raspberry Pi project into several dates. The first date can be where you decide what you're going to do with the Raspberry Pi. The subsequent dates can be the two of you working to put your plan into action. After you're done, you can show off your contraption or put it on eBay and see if anyone is willing to buy it from you.

Every now and then, everyone needs to let their hair down and have a little old-fashioned fun. A skipping stones date allows you to do just that, and it's so incredibly relaxing. How exactly do you skip stones? First you find some small, flat rocks, they'll skip across the water best. Once you have a good rock to toss out there, try to throw it hard and fast, at a low angle (as parallel to the water as possible). This will allow you to skip them across the water. Ponds and lakes work best for skipping stones, and you'll get the hang of it after a while. You'll be surprised by how many times you can get the stone to skip across the water. It won't be long until you're able to skip the stone a pretty far distance. For added fun, have a competition to see who can get the most skips in, get the highest skip, skip the largest rock, etc.

Laying on a hammock has to be one of the most relaxing things ever. Imagine lying next to the person you love in a hammock. The problem that many couples have is that they don't talk to each other very much. A date laying on a hammock is the perfect way to open up the lines of communication. It's impossible for a couple not to talk when you're so close to each other. It doesn't matter how far apart your relationship has drifted, a hammock date will pull the two of you together, and get the both of you chatting up a storm in no time.

Frisbee is a fun sport that requires two people and almost no talent at all. If you're new to playing frisbee, stand near each other while throwing the disc back and forth. The better you get at playing, the further apart the two of you should stand. When you get really good is when the real fun starts because you can do all kinds of tricks. Watch YouTube videos on how to improve your frisbee game so that this doesn't turn out to be a one-time date thing and nothing else. Frisbee is a lot of fun, it gets you out in the sun and fresh air, and there's also plenty of exercise involved.

Halloween is a spooky time of year when you can play all kinds of scary games. Halloween games are extra fun because you only get to play them once a year. If you really want to make sure your Halloween game date is a blast, get all kinds of holiday-themed candy to eat while you play them. All of the candy companies have specialty packed treats to give to trick or treaters. You can munch on a few of your favorites while playing games together. You only get to enjoy these treats once a year, and that's why you should enjoy them to the max while playing spooky games.

We all have to live within our means, and that's why budgets are so important. Why not turn the budgeting process into a date? The two of you do need to sit down and calculate how much money is coming in and where it's going. Spice things up by ordering takeout food and treating yourself to a movie or favorite television show after you're done. Intertwine activities with your budgeting dates so that they don't feel like it's a chore and nothing else. After all, you are spending time with the person you love, and every minute is precious. Make the most of it by adding a little flair to the budgeting date, and you'll look forward to doing it the next time the need arises.

Panning for gold probably won't bring in tons of money, but you'll get to enjoy a new activity. You can go to a local stream and pan for gold, and it doesn't cost anything. There are places where you pay, and they allow you to pan their streams for gold. You might see a speck of gold here and there, and that's what makes it so much fun. It's like hunting for a needle in a haystack, and seeing your spouse's face light up when they find gold is priceless. You'll feel like someone who headed out west in hopes of finding prosperity when you're sloshing the water and sediment around the pan, searching for any specks that sparkle in the light.

A weekend in a cabin is a great way to get away from all the stresses that life has to offer. Rent a cabin for a couple of nights, bring some food, and enjoy being away from city life. You should spend time with each other and turn off any electronic devices that might get in the way of your enjoyment. Couples need time to bond and to be together, and there is no better way to do it than by being in the middle of nowhere. Take walks through nature in between meals and enjoy being in each other's presence.

Fishing is a fun way to enjoy the great outdoors and to get some tasty food for free. Fishing itself is fun, and it gives you a chance to sit down next to each other and be a couple. Also, if you're the type who likes to catch what they cook, you can have a feast near the water. Remember, it's called fishing and not catching, so you might not have anything to eat on your date. The point of fishing isn't always to catch fish, but to spend time with the person you love. These precious moments are what your bond is built upon, and they are needed for a strong, lasting relationship. There aren't many things that can get you to forget about the hustle and bustle of your life like fishing. It's a great way to relax with the one you love.

If there's an event coming up that requires a party, planning for it is a must. Can you really turn party planning into a date? Why not? You can plan the party out longhand on a piece of paper or use an electronic device to make it much easier. You could turn an evening at the park into a party planning date and even have a picnic. You'll have to get together with your spouse to plan the party; you might as well turn it into a date. Even a pan of freshly baked brownies and a glass of milk can turn planning a party into a date that the two of you can enjoy.

A dinner date can be as low key or as fantastic as you want it to be. You can head to your favorite fast-food restaurant or go someplace that has tablecloths. Food courts at shopping malls can make for an awesome dinner date because both of you can choose what food you want. A dinner date can be a functional event where the two of you enjoy a meal after a hard day of work, or it can be a reason to celebrate. The important thing is that you're setting aside time that both of you can get together and enjoy the other's company. Eating a sack of burgers at the park can be just as enjoyable as dining in a bistro with a snooty waiter. Have fun, enjoy the meal, and allow the sparks to fly between the two of you.

Orienteering is where you follow a course with the aid of a map and a compass for those of you who don't know. Some courses are rugged and meant to be ran, while others are more about nature and outdoors. If speed and exercise are your goal, you'll want to see how quickly you can go from one end of the course to the other. You aren't going to time yourself, but it is fun to challenge yourselves to see how quickly you can run the course. You can run the course as a couple or go solo to see who has the best time. You might want to run the course together for the first time so that you both know what you're in for. Also, it will be exciting to see how the other reacts to the course that will challenge you in every way possible.

Couples who consider themselves animal lovers are the ones who enjoy going to the animal cafe the most. What is an animal cafe? An animal cafe is a restaurant where you eat your meal near or accompanied by animals. The owner of the cafe determines the type of animals you eat near or some even allow you to bring your own pet. You can pet the animals and get to know them a little better before or after your meal. The fun part is that you express your love of animals, which most people don't get to do these days. Make sure you have your camera ready to capture the priceless expression on your spouse's face when something funny happens with the animals.

Riding quads brings the great outdoors to you. Riding a quad on a path is the modern-day equivalent to riding a horse. The two of you can go down the path side by side or single file. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, the sounds of the wilderness, and the wonderful feeling of being together. A quad ride can quickly turn into an adventure if you allow yourselves to roam freely. By going off the beaten path, you explore the world around you while also getting away from all the hustle and bustle that life has to offer.

Learning CPR, the Heimlich maneuver or other lifesaving skills could very well save someone's life. Every person should know CPR, and that's why it's such a great date idea. Your local Red Cross, fire department or another organization, more than likely, has CPR classes or workshops that you can take or attend. You don't want to learn CPR from watching videos or by practicing on each other. You must have the dummy to practice on as well as qualified instructors, and whoever has the classes will have one of them. CPR isn't challenging to learn, and it will take you less than an hour to get it down pat. By the time you're done with the CPR class, you'll have a firm grasp on how to do it, and you'll also more than likely be certified as well.

Ultimate frisbee is a game similar to soccer, but instead of a ball, it uses a frisbee. If you know of another married couple that likes to go out on double dates, ultimate frisbee is an excellent activity to do. You can either play against the other couple or team up according to sexes. The men on one team and the women on another if that's the route you want to go. If you want to play by yourselves, it's possible, but a little less fun. It might be more fun to see who can score by throwing the frisbee in the goal from the furthest distance.

Drones are so much fun to fly, and that's why they've grown in popularity. You can fly a drone just about anywhere, including inside, if you're careful. The best place to fly a drone is an area with plenty of open skies. If both of you have drones, there are so many things you can do. You can have races; you can try to do stunts, or fly together and have fun. Many drones have cameras built in, so why not go exploring and capturing video of the beauty of your area? Going outside for a few minutes to fly your drone is as good of an excuse as any to get off of the couch and to enjoy being outside. If you're new to the hobby be sure to learn about any local laws or ordinances related to flying drones. Take your love of drones to the next level by getting your spouse involved in the hobby that you can't get enough of. Your drone dates will become a regular thing if your spouse enjoys them anywhere near as much as you do.

The day you got married changed your life forever. You love your spouse even more today than you did on that wonderful day. No one fully knows when they get married, the impact it will have on them. It is a great way to show your spouse how much they mean to you by renewing your wedding vows. The most important day of your life was the day you exchanged your wedding vows. Renewing your vows doesn't need to be as elaborate as when you got married. What you're trying to do more than anything else is to convey how special your spouse is to you and how much you value your marriage to them.

You probably spend more time in your bedroom than in any other room in the house. A bedroom makeover is something you should do every once in a while to keep things fresh. A bedroom makeover can consist of cleaning and rearranging things or going all out and replacing everything that you can. Changing things up can really improve the feel. Take the opportunity to make your bedroom a little more sexy. If you're in for a wild experiment, allow your spouse to design the entire makeover. Allow your spouse to choose the bedsheets, the furniture, and whatever else you're willing to give them the power to change. You might be in for a jaw-dropping experience when you see how your spouse wants your bedroom decorated.

The great outdoors is where many couples like to spend their time on a date. The act of hunting in itself is an excellent way for two people to get closer. You've got to have a keen eye when it comes to finding prey to hunt down. The two of you will have to be in tune with your surroundings. You can't ignore each other when you are a part of the wilderness. The closeness you share while out in the middle of nowhere will increase your bond strength. Also, if you're able to bag something, then you'll have fresh meat for dinner.

Don't knock it until you've tried it... Dumpster diving can result in a memorable date if you know the right dumpsters to dive in. The worst dumpsters to look for stuff in are going to be those from restaurants and grocery stores. Try to find dumpsters from high-end stores if you want to score the good stuff. The two of you can hop into the dumpster and look around while trying your best to find all the goodies. You might want to consider taking turns and someone being outside of the dumpster so you can keep an eye out for garbage trucks. The last thing you want is your dumpster diving date to end wrongly by a garbage truck coming and tossing both of you into the back of it.

Every year virtual reality becomes much more detailed and far more lifelike. Going on a virtual reality date isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. If the two of you have your own headsets, then going on a virtual reality date is a cinch. You just pick the place to go to in your own world and have all kinds of fun. There are places where you can rent the gear and have everything provided. The world around you will never be the same again after the two of you realize that there's much more out there than what meets the eye. Virtual reality expands on the world as we know it and creates the type of fantasy existence that was only a fantasy until now.

Nothing leaves a couple feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated than going to the spa. You can start things off with a massage. Both guys and gals can enjoy body treatments, massages, and aromatherapy. Couples can have a great time at the spa if you preplan and schedule activities that both of you will enjoy. Pedicures and manicures can also be enjoyable and can leave the two of you with nails that don't make you cringe when you look at them. The two of you will feel like a million bucks after you leave the spa. The conversation after a spa trip always flows so easily since both of you are relaxed.

Riding in a horsedrawn carriage feels like a blast from the past. The two of you can sit back in the carriage while enjoying this old fashioned elegance. Imagine what it would've been like for royalty in the past to travel the same way as you go down the street. Use this moment to silently reflect on what makes your love for each other so special. Times like these don't require much creativity since you can look around and see what's so incredible about the moment. The sound of the horses walking, the closeness of the two of you sitting together, and the open-air aspect of the carriage all create a romantic atmosphere that is unique to itself.

There are two great ways to play video games - you can hit up your local arcade or you can play games at home. If you have a game console, then go ahead and make the most of it. If not, don't sweat it, since you can use your smartphone to play games. The two of you can take turns and see who does better. You'll be surprised by how involved you are in the other's gameplay. It won't be long until you are jerking back in excitement when your spouse jumps on the ledge or has an ill-fated encounter with a bad guy. If your game collection is old and boring try renting a few new games or finding free games to play on your phone, tablet or PC.

An obstacle course will let you know right away all about the physical abilities of your spouse. It's surprising by the time you're done with the obstacle course how you feel the areas on your body that need the most improvement. It will be interesting to see which of you are in the best shape. If you want to take your obstacle course date to the next level, time yourself and see who can go through the course the fastest. If you do the obstacles several times, you'll eventually get good at them and will be able to complete the course faster and faster.

Thrift stores often promote good causes and offer significant savings at the same time. The reason why many people shop at a thrift store is that everything is so much cheaper. So, if you want to have fun at the thrift store, give each other a budget to buy something for the other. A budget of five or ten dollars can get quite a bit of stuff at a thrift store. If you're unsure what your spouse might buy, tell them to meet you at the cash register before checking out. You might want to look over what each other picked to make sure that it's something you want. Thrift stores are also great places to find stuff from your childhood, and playing with old toys might add a little excitement to your date night.

Your financial future as a married couple is extremely important. Saving and investing are the ways you can financially prepare for old age and to create a lifestyle that you're comfortable with. An exciting date activity would be to choose a handful of possible things to invest in and then do research for them using the internet. For example, you could research investing in Bitcoin, commodities, or lesser-known stocks. Have some takeout food delivered to you and your date will not only benefit your future but will even be more enjoyable. Going over your portfolio's performance is always a great date idea, and it's also something you should do regularly.

Archaeology enables history buffs to take things one step further and touch the historic landmarks and items of the era. An archaeology date can be as simple as the two of you going to an area and digging for things like glass bottles in an old trash pit. If you're feeling adventurous, you can team up with a group of researchers trying to uncover a secret hidden past. Archaeology allows you to experience history in a way that nothing else can. You will be able to see and feel the past, and it will come to life in your hands.

It's always fun to see who is the sharpest when playing brain games. You can play brain games online or buy a box game and play against each other. Turn your game date into something genuinely spectacular buy ordering pizza and wings or creating an over the top meal from scratch. Why not turn game night into a date with all the bells and whistles? The brain games will even be more exciting if you place a little wager on the game. If you have a meal, the loser has to take out the trash or do the dishes. The bet will make both of you play a little harder, making the outcome of the game even more exciting.

Frisbee golf is where you throw a frisbee and try to hit several different targets on a course. The game resembles golf in the sense that you play 9 or 18 holes. You can play frisbee golf without a course, but it's a lot of work. You either want to set up your own course or see if there is a frisbee golf course in your area. Alternatively, you can set up a miniature course where there are only a few targets. If you have a big back yard or live not far from a wooded area, setting up a small course isn't too tricky, and you'll be able to get a few holes in during your date. Frisbee golf is a fun activity that most couples have yet to try.