LivSimpl

Six simple (and cheap) summer date ideas

Much of the time my wife and I want to go on a date but aren’t sure what to do. Both being as indecisive as we are, we usually end up not doing anything. Now that I think about that, it’s a real shame. Hopefully this will help others in a similar predicament. Here are simple date ideas that don’t require a ton of advanced planning and won’t break the bank.

Before I start, I need to clarify that I’m posting these on the assumption that the purpose of the date is to get to know the other person with whom you’re going out with. If you’re looking for elaborate ideas on how to wow someone with something flashy, you won’t find it here.

Outdoor concerts. Summer is a great time to experience various outdoor festivals, concerts and other activities. Many of them (at least around here) are free or relatively inexpensive. Grab a blanket or some lawn chairs and take in the music on a warm summer night.

Farmer’s market. Pick out some fresh ingredients and ask the sellers for any special recipes they may have that involve the items they’re selling. Then head home and make a meal together. If you’ve never eaten truly fresh produce before, let me tell you, it is MUCH better than the stuff you buy at the grocery store.

River walk . I usually see signs for them, or see sections as I drive by, but rarely do I actually set out and explore the river walks in the cities in which I’ve lived. Set out and explore one of them. You’ll have a better appreciation for your community while enjoying a leisurely stroll. Very conducive to hand-holding.

Library tour. While I realize not all libraries are quite as elaborate/architecturally interesting as ours here in Salt Lake (above), see if there’s anything interesting to check out (ha!) at yours. If not, swing by and visit anyway. It’s a good chance to get out of the heat and at a library you don’t have to worry about awkward silences. :) Pick up one of the classics and begin reading it together to find out why it’s a classic. Or get a Far Side book, find a shady tree and enjoy.

Picnics . A classic, yet often overlooked date idea. Pack a meal and find a scenic spot in a park. When you’re done, lay on your backs and watch the clouds, play a little frisbee or just enjoy being outdoors. If there are basketball courts or something similar nearby, play H-O-R-S-E or some other low-key game. If you’re doing this in the evening, don’t forget the bug spray.

Swing by night. On a nice night get ice cream and find a playground with a swing set big enough for adults. Swinging under the stars can be quite romantic. Of course, indulging yourself by going down the slide and using the monkey bars isn’t a bad idea either. :)

There are hundreds of other ideas out there. What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the list.

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Photo courtesy of here , and special thanks to captainstardust over at Plurk for a couple of the ideas.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Family, Food, Simple Pleasures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.