First date ideas

Dinner, drinks, a movie... there's nothing wrong with the "standard package," but if you're considering an upgrade for your next first date, check out these creative, tried-and-tested ideas from other iVillagers, from bookstores to barn hunts.





1. One of my best first dates was a hike with the guy and his dog. It went so well that we got a coffee after the hike and then took his dog to the beach.



2. My favorite first date was at a dinner comedy theatre. My date and I had time to chat and get to know each other over dinner, and then the play (a British farce with plenty of sexual innuendo, mistaken identities, running around and door slamming) kept us laughing.



3. Try meeting at one of those pottery stores that let you come in and paint something and then return later for the finished project.



4. When it's a blind date, I'm partial to bookstores. You can meet at the coffee counter and then learn a lot about someone by the kind of books and magazines they read and the music they listen to.



5. Some of the best dates I've been on early in the relationship are "fun" dates: miniature golf, bowling or an amusement or theme park.



6. For first dates, I think you should do something active. That way, you have something to do so there's no pressure to talk, but there is plenty of opportunity. My boyfriend and I met for a drink at a local bar to see if we liked each other, and then we went kayaking a day or two later. It made conversation so much easier, and the day flew by!



7. In wintertime, skiing, ice skating, darts or driving around looking at the holiday lights can be good activities for a first date.



8. Go to the zoo! Or try an aquarium or an aviary. I'm also a fan of public gardens, weather and conditions permitting.



9. Rather than meeting for dinner, take a wine tour together or try a wine tasting or cooking class. That way there's something going on besides sitting across a table trying to think of something to say.



10. I think I'm the queen of unique dates! My first date with my boyfriend was spent riding around the countryside in his deuce and a half and stopping to look at some pickups for sale. We ended up digging through junk in his barn! Don't even ask about the dead dog! Okay, so we're different, but you can do something fun together that you both like to do or share an interest in.