This post covers the best first date ideas.
For more helpful and fun content, follow me on Pinterest!
Being a married mother of one, it’s safe to say I have been on my fair share of first dates!
My philosophy for first dates was always to keep it lighter and casual if possible.
For example, grabbing a lunch date instead of a romantic dinner has way fewer contingencies on expectations, less commitment, and is much lighter.
You will both feel more at ease.
Dates that are shorter and low commitment are the way to go. You can always extend a fantastic date, but if you decide to go on his boat for the afternoon and he sucks, you’re stuck and screwed!
But if a crappy lunch date occurs, you can end it in less than an hour, and guess what? You have the rest of the day and night to yourself! Yay!
Whether in college or not, exploring low key date ideas is a charming and stress-free approach to dating.
Opting for a relaxing first date idea, like a quaint cafe or a scenic park, offers a serene environment ideal for genuine connection.
These settings are perfect for delving into conversations and finding common interests.
When considering where to go on a first date, the aim is comfort and ease, making locations like food trucks or local farmer’s markets are delightful choices.
These kinds of low key dates are universally appealing, providing a relaxed atmosphere where two people can truly get to know each other. Ultimately, the best place to go on a first date is somewhere that reflects your personality and allows a natural, enjoyable interaction.
You ready my dears?
This post covers the best First Date Ideas.
First Date Ideas
Remember, for first dates, try to not put so much heaviness and expectations on the activity or outcomes. Low key dates are the way to go that are light, chill and playfull. Romance will absolutely grow with the foundation of fun playfulness as a foundation, promise!
1. Dog park
If you both own dogs, going to a dog park together after grabbing coffee is a cute first date idea. Your dogs can play, and you can have time to chat or play with your dogs together.
It’s an awesome choice for relaxing dates and being outside with your doggies will make you both feel more at ease.
2. kitty cafe
Not a doggy owner? No worries, if you are a crazy cate lady like me, going to a kitty cafe where you can enjoy a latte while playing with kitty rescues is a lot of fun. Some kitty cafes also serve wine if you aren’t into coffee.
Have fun together in a calming kitty setting and play!
A great choice for unique first date ideas.
Related Reading: How to Not Be the Forever Girlfriend (Find Husbands)
3. coffee date
I know it’s basic, but it’s tried and true. You can grab coffee or a yummy decaf with a piece of pie in the evening. It’s a casual and cozy first date idea. Also, it’s super low commitment should the date go sour!
One of the most low key activities for a first date!
Related Reading: 50 Awesome At Home Date Ideas for Homebodies
4. museum tour
If you both appreciate science or art, seeing the newest exhibit at your Natural History Museum could be a fun first date idea. You will have a good time exploring the exhibits and seeing if you mesh on a fun and educational level.
5. botanical gardens
San Diego had a handful of gorgeous botanical gardens to enjoy.
They are super calming, and being around flowers and nature is incredibly healing. This makes it an excellent opportunity for a first date.
You can grab some tea and casually stroll through the tranquility of a beautiful botanical garden, enjoying the beautiful Earth and each other’s company.
6. grab lunch
Lunch is great because it isn’t nearly as serious, daunting, or romantically charged as dinner.
It’s way more casual and less expensive, and if the date is mediocre, you get to go your separate ways, and you still have the rest of your day to enjoy.
Grabbing lunch is an excellent first date idea if you aren’t super sure about this person yet and want to keep it more casual.
7. take a cooking class
If either of you is a foodie, taking a cooking class together is really playful, light, and fun.
Others are in the class so that you won’t feel so isolated together on your date. Not only that, you get to learn a new recipe you get to enjoy once you’re done!
8. go to the zoo
Maybe it’s still the child in me, but the Zoo is a blast! I loved it as a kid, and it’s just as fun now.
Some zoos offer beer and cocktails in certain areas, so you can enjoy your drinks while exploring the park!
9. go to the aquarium
Have a thing for more marine life? Go to the aquarium together!
10. mini golf
Mini Golf is great because it’s low commitment, not super expensive, and has a finite ending.
This way, if the date goes sideways, you have to endure, maybe a whole hour, then once the game is over, deuces!
Related Reading: 25+ Fun Summer Date Ideas For Married Couples To Try
11. go bowling
Bowling is and always will be fun. For the same reasons as Mini Golf, your game will eventually end, and depending on how it went, you can either go for another round or call it a day.
Most bowling alleys have beer and snacks to enjoy too.
12. attend a local event or festival
Whether there is a super cool Fourth of July festival and parade downtown, a local concert, or a cute Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the community park, there are generally loads of fun and free events that communities throw that you can enjoy together.
Remember Aqua and Raymond’s first date in Aquamarine was the Last Splash before school started thrown at the beach! lol. Had Aqua not been a mermaid, they would have been able to enjoy a long dinner, dance, fireworks, and nighttime beach snuggles!
Have fun for hours, or call it quits if it sucks whenever you want.
13. wine crawl
While living in California, my husband and I took a few days to enjoy wine country with friends for his birthday a few years back.
What’s great about this is you can either plan to go on a wine bus crawl with just the two of you or take the pressure off and invite friends and their partners so you can enjoy together.
It’s another finite activity where you can taste wine from numerous wineries, play games, and get to know each other.
14. go on a hike
Especially if you both have doggies, enjoy nature together, and find a pretty nature trail.
Pack some snacks, drinks, and maybe a little cannabis, and enjoy the wonders and beauty of nature together with your doggies!
Find a trail that has a cool destination at the end, like a sweet rock formation or a waterfall.
Related Reading: 10 Best Questions to Ask When Dating for Marriage
15. visit a local bookstore
Like what my love Ru Paul says, reading is fundamental!
Going to a bookstore together to explore each other’s genres and interests is a super low-key first date idea.
You can even check if there is an excellent book reading coming up that you can attend, too.
One of the best quiet places to go on a date.
16. farmer’s market
I’m a freaking avid lover and advocate of farmer’s markets.
Farmer’s Markets are super fun, light, and a casual first date idea. You can grab local jams, honey, fruit, bread, flowers, and a whole bunch of cool stuff, so if the date sucks, at least you got some bomb ass to produce!
17. bike ride
Bike rides are fun and an active first date idea.
Meet at the bay, beach, or local park and take a relaxing bike ride together. Pack a lunch so you can stop somewhere and have a picnic together.
18. Go Roller skating
Rollerskating is another super fun, casual, and light first date idea!
It’s active and super playful, and you guys can enjoy the beach, boardwalk, park, or local skate rink.
19. go ice skating
Winter time? No problem.
Have fun together ice skating at your local ice rink. It’s a super romantic and cute first date idea.
20. try a painting class
This could even be a sip-and-paint class where you both enjoy a glass of wine as you paint!
You both get to create a cute and fun masterpiece to take home and enjoy delicious wine regardless of how the date turns out.
21. go to an arcade
This was actaully my husband and I’s first date!
We went to a beer arcade where we could pour or own beer and enjoy fun arcade games.
I had so much fun and still remember beating him at Pac-Man!
It was great, casual, and playful, taking the edge off the first date component and my ideal first date.
22. take a goat yoga class
I’m sorry, but I feel there has to be an air of lightness to first dates, and sometimes traditional yoga can feel so serious! Therefore, goat yoga is an awesome first date idea with a more playful energy!
Goats are freaking hilarious, and you will both be in much lighter spirits attempting your yoga poses as a goat is lying down under you as you perform downward dog.
Some kitty cafes do this, too! So if goats make you squeamish, kitty yoga, which I have done, is fun and playful.
23. plant a tree together
No need to wait for a special ceremony to plant a tree; do it on your first date!
Think of it as gardening and giving back to the Earth and your community. Research the type of tree you want to plant, ensure it’s suitable for your environment, and get after it!
If the date tanks, no worries; you contributed to the Earth and took time to give back.
24. volunteer together
Volunteering together is a great way to give back while getting to know each other—research local charity projects such as soup kitchens, animal shelters, building homes for the homeless, etc.
You can spend an afternoon putting up the foundation of a home for the homeless or serving lunch to them.
25. cliff diving
If you are feeling adventurous and courageous, go cliff diving! Find a local area where you can take a plunge together.
26. go to a ceramic cafe
Go to a ceramic cafe and choose a piece of ceramic art to paint. You can choose one to paint together or individual pieces, like a coffee mug.
You can enjoy an afternoon together, talk, paint and in a week you will have a new gorgeous piece of art.
27. bud tasting
Coming from California, I am an advocate for good old cannabis.
If you both are familiar users of cannabis, grabbing a few new strains to test out is super low maintenance and a light first-date idea.
Go for a hybrid for a day of fun.
28. food truck tasting
Some places will have food truck fairs or routinely have times each week when loads of food trucks line up to serve food to the community.
This is a super fun way for foodies to get to know each other while enjoying delish eats and drinks!
29. attend trivia nights
Many bars or beer gardens have a weekly trivia night. This is a super fun and exciting first date idea, testing your knowledge while you enjoy your brews.
30. browse a record store
Cruise through your local record store to scope out your date’s tastes. A super short, low commitment, and casual first date idea that is quick and easy.
31. rooftop bar
There were loads of rooftop bars in Gaslamp in San Diego. The views are great, super romantic, and a lot of fun.
They are usually crowded and have lots of music, so if that helps ease your nerves, a rooftop bar with a great view and good drinks is an awesome place to go for your first date.
32. trampoline park
Trampoline Parks aren’t just for kiddos. They can be a crazy, fun first date idea! Jumping around together, grabbing food, and being kids together are great ways to break the ice.
Don’t take yourselves too seriously, and enjoy the fun.
33. petting zoo
Petting zoos are a blast, at least I think they are!
We are on our way to homesteading, so it’s less relevant for me personally now, but these animals are so fun and playful. You will have a blast together feeding and playing with the cute sheep and goats!
Find a local petting zoo to have fun feeding goats, piggies, genuine pigs, cows, and other fun farm animals.
34. Solve a murder mystery
Playing a game like a murder mystery box is way better than an escape room for a first date idea. Even if you’re with friends, what if the date sucks and you are struggling to freaking escape! You could be stuck for a while lol
Put the escape room on hold until you know each other better.
With a murder mystery box, you can meet in a public area like a diner if you want to be safe and start attempting to solve a murder mystery together! If the date sucks, call it a night; if it goes well, you will spend all night having a blast solving your mystery. No pressure.
35. go to an auto museum
Checking out the local auto museum can be a fun first date idea.
It’s low maintenance low commitment, and it’s really cool exploring many classic cars.
36. Go to a sporting event
This could be a baseball or basketball game or whatever. These are great because there are lots of people, you don’t have to be quiet like at the movies, and you can really enjoy each other’s company in a low-risk setting.
37. grab dessert
Dinner can be too hot and heavy for some on a first date. I got you.
Plan to meet up at your local creamery for delish af ice cream or dessert of your choice.
It will likely be much shorter and more casual than a dinner date.
38. fruit picking
Harvesting super yummy fresh fruits like strawberries, apples, or blueberries is a fun first date idea.
first date ideas
So what do you think? Deciphering where to go on a first date is about creating a setting that fosters comfort and connection.
Places on a first date range from tranquil parks to charming coffee shops, each providing an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations.
The variety of places to go on a first date allows for personalization, ensuring that the date reflects shared interests.
Casual first date ideas like a walk through an art exhibit or a quick bite at a local eatery take the pressure off, allowing genuine interaction.
The idea of a perfect first date is subjective, yet it often revolves around an environment where laughter and stories can be shared effortlessly. Ultimately, the best place to go on a first date feels right for both, where memories can be made, and a potential new chapter can begin.
Good luck, and have fun!
