10 Fun First Date Ideas [GUARANTEED] to Get MORE Dates!
Looking for fun first date ideas that can land you a second date… or even more?
Not all first date ideas are the same because they do not help build emotional attraction and bring you both closer together.
You’ve lived through your share of disastrous first dates, but you’ve also gone on numerous enjoyable first dates.
So, how would you grade these positive first date experiences?
Exciting?
Yes.
Interesting?
Yes.
Unique?
Yes.
Memorable?
Perhaps.
But did you feel a connection?
Did you build emotional attraction together enough to want to keep seeing this person?
In too many cases, more than you’d like to admit, the answer is NO.
Then what was the problem?
What was missing?
In my opinion the emphasis on the date focused either too much on the activity itself or only on conversation.
Either it did not set the stage for comfortable, not-awkward interactions that naturally help build emotional attraction and connection.
Or it put too much pressure on you both to come up with interesting and compelling conversations.
You should want a blend of both.
Simple, Fun First Date Ideas that…
That’s why I decided to create a list of simple, but yet still fun first date ideas that naturally bring you both closer together and practically guarantee that you will want to see each other again.
I sought interactive ideas for mature adults at least in their 30s that lead to conversation and innocent physical engagement (hugging, holding hands, tickling, kissing, etc.)
Ladies, you can hint to the guy that you’d like to try some of these ideas- perhaps you’ve already tried them in the past.
I’ve personally done practically all of these ideas and have always received glowing positive feedback from the ladies I took them on.
Keep in mind, these work for second dates or any of the first few dates to help bring you naturally closer together. Of course, you may come up with better ideas and I would love to read about them in the comments field at the very bottom of this post.
Also, find out how to text a man after the first date with one of my favorite text guides Text Chemistry by dating coach Amy North.
Plus, learn how to respond to his texts to get what you want.
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10 Simple, Fun First Date Ideas that Help Build Emotional Attraction and Connection…
…and do NOT place as much emphasis on the activities and take away from social bonding.
1. Coffee Shop Hopping
This makes for a fun afternoon date. Map out a route of at least three family-owned coffee shops.
Find ones that have distinct unique features one from the other to make it more fun and interesting.
Some coffee shops even serve wine and beer, others live music or social events, others have board games to play.
Find coffee shops with very different decors and atmospheres.
Some of the best fun first date ideas are simple ones, but the main objective again is to choose dates that lead interaction and conversation so that you naturally get to know one another and create some chemistry together.
Small List of Family-Owned Coffee Shops around the US and Canada
The Wormhole Coffee– Chicago, ILL
Urth Caffe– Los Angeles, CA
Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company– New York City, NY
Neo Coffee Bar– Toronto, ON
Foxtail Coffee Company– Orlando, FL
2. Themed-Bar Hopping
Obviously, this only makes sense if both of you like to drink.
This is one of my favorite simple fun first date ideas since every bar has its unique atmosphere, menu, culture and vibe.
Be it “speakeasy” bars, tiki bars, sports bars, dive bars, hotel lounges or even nice restaurant bars, each place is unique.
This is a more creative twist on going out to dinner and allows for an adventurous run around the city and not just exhausting the fun at one spot.
Perhaps there is a place in town where many themed bars are grouped close together and which you could walk from one to the other.
Small List of Themed-Bars around the US and Canada
Bathtub Gin and Company– Seattle, WA
Anvil Bar and Refuge– Houston, Tx
Finn’s Manor– Denver, CO
The Franklin Bar– Philadelphia, PA
The Coldroom– Montreal, QC
3. Boutique Shop Hopping
Sticking with the theme of visiting more than one location on the same date, you could mix in stopping at a variety of family-owned boutique shops.
Every town has a section (or more than one section) where you can walk from one small shop to another.
Just like the coffee shops and bars, each shop has its own unique character and something interesting to see.
Tiny book stores, jewelry stores, candy stores, dessert cafes, custom-made clothing, hat shops, old record stores, collectible items, comic stores, tea bars, essential oils, paintings, sculptures and hundreds of others.
Each one offers its own adventure and opportunity to explore which of course leads to higher quality interactions.
These are the ideal types of interactions which are full of full of laughter, jokes and inside stories that tend to serve as a great motivation for both people to seek subsequent dates and a desire to spend more time together.
Small List of Boutique Shopping Areas in the US and Canada
The Japan Center– San Francisco, CA
Little Italy– San Diego, CA
Central West End– St. Louis, MO
Downtown Franklin Tennessee– (near) Nashville, TN
Gastown– Vancouver, BC
4. Theme Park or Amusement Park
This perhaps is one of the best interactive options for fun first date ideas. Of course, it may depend on where you live in the country, but many cities and towns are located at least within a couple hour drive to some kind of amusement park.
Here you get a chance to do everything you would normally do in one day on the same date, especially at a theme park or amusement park.
Jump on thrill rides, slow-scenic rides, watch live shows, see or touch animals, eat “carnival” type food or sit-down dining, get drinks, watch fireworks, take pictures together and relax and talk.
Theme park dates have always been some of my favorite kinds and always lead to plenty of inside jokes and stories which again are ideal for creating chemistry together.
List of Theme Parks, Amusement Parks in the US and Canada
Epcot– Lake Buena Vista, FL
Universal Studios Orlando– Orlando, FL
Cedar Point– Sandusky, OH
Canada’s Wonderland– Toronto, ON
Hershey Park– Hershey, PA
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5. Cook Dinner Together at Home
Here’s a better version of going out to dinner because it allows for an interactive activity to share together.
It’s fun and creative and relies on teamwork to finish the end product.
In the meantime, you will participate in meaningful conversation and learn more about each other’s palate preferences.
And of course, you both get to indulge in the prize meal that you both created.
Add a candlelight to the table and some soft music and it will cap off one romantic evening.
6. Escape Room
A date at an escape room falls under the category of pure engaging fun first date ideas. While the time spent interacting and working as a team to find a way to escape will not lend to meaningful discussions to get to know each other, it is, however, a surefire way to lead to physical interaction (holding hands, hugging, perhaps innocent tickling) and natural chemistry building.
Collecting clues and solving puzzles is definitely more fun and engaging then simply talking over dinner.
However, a combination date of the escape room and conversation over dessert or drinks afterwards will accomplish both fun and getting acquainted with one another.
All this being said, an escape room on a first date might seem awkward for some since you do not know each other yet; therefore, I highly consider doing the dessert and drinks too.
Top Escape Rooms in US and Canada
Mission Escape Games: NYC- West Hartford, CT- Philadelphia- West Flushing- Anaheim
Palace Games– San Franciscio, CA
Breakout KC– Kansas City, MO
The Basement– Los Angeles, CA
Locked Canada– Vancouver, BC
7. Skiing, Ice Skating, Roller Blading
Of course, this one of those fun first date ideas that will only work if you both at least know how to ski, ice skate or rollerblade marginally well.
Again, here’s another example of a fun activity where you don’t put all the emphasis on the activity itself or conversation.
There’s always that possibility of someone falling and the other one helping them back up on their feet which of courses an important romantic notion to develop chemistry.
If this is a first date then you could start with dessert, light dinner or a drink (just one you don’t want to be tipsy while ice skating) before to allow a chance to get to know each other.
Conversation and getting more acquainted with each other it’s a good warm up or romantic evening holding hands and hugging while participating in one of these activities.
Perhaps the best part comes when you sit down to take a break to talk or even laugh together about falling down.
List of Top Skii Resorts and Ice-Skating Rinks in US and Canada
8. Nature Walk or Botanical Gardens
Some of the best fun first date ideas take place in the afternoon.
They seem more relaxed than less pressurized.
And once again fun activities that allow for conversation and bonding make for the best first dates or first few dates.
Pretty scenery, animals in their natural habitat and sunshine will make it easier to hold meaningful conversations or less outgoing people rather than staring at each other across from the table.
Top Botanical Gardens in the US and Canada
Lan Su Garden– Portland, OR
Dallas Aboretum and Botanical Garden– Dallas, TX
Desert Botanical Garden– Phoenix, AZ
Powell Gardens– Kansas City, MO
VanDusen Botanical Garden– Vancouver, BC
9. Casino
A chance to celebrate your wins together or sob over your losses.
Here’s yet another of the interactive fun first date ideas that will lead to laughs and strays away from the regular, predictable dinner and movie dates.
You can keep it light by plane just a slot machines or try a few hands at blackjack or poker.
Typically, casinos will bring around free drinks as long as you’re playing the casino games.
Of course, this is meant for fun and entertainment not heavy gambling.
If you’re the guy setting the date better make sure she’s cool with casinos because not everybody agrees with the concept.
List of Casinos in US and Canada (Outside of Las Vegas)
Pachanga Resort Casino– Temecula, CA
WinStar World Casino and Resort– Thackersville, OK
Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino– Niagara Falls, NY
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino– Tampa, FL
Fallsview Casino Resort– Niagara Falls, ON
10. Top Floor Building Observation Deck or Rooftop Bar
Breathtaking views and perhaps even a drink in hand, allow for romantic and fun conversation.
There’s something magical about being at the top of a building or rooftop hotel bar.
And this idea works great for afternoon or evening dates. The experience during the day or at night are vastly different: a sea of bright lights or endless buildings and houses for as far as the eyes can see.
Simply taking a trip to the top floor of the hotel or iconic building will not make up the course of the entire day but it certainly can be a side trip treat.
You can also mix in the rooftop bar idea with the earlier idea of themed bar hopping.
List of Rooftop Bars and Observation Decks in US and Canada
Hottest Rooftop Bars in Chicago
Coolest Observation Decks in Chicago
Cool Observation Decks in Seattle
Coolest Rooftop Bars in Boston
Best Observation Decks in Boston
Coolest Rooftop Bars San Francisco
*New* Salesforce Tower Observation Deck in SF
Best Observation Decks in Canada
Bonus Fun First Date Ideas
Haunted House
Here’s another version of the escape room date idea.
Of course, it will probably have to be around Halloween time. But certainly expect a lot of hugs and holding hands while you cringe and weights and nervous anticipation around every corner.
Helicopter Ride
An exciting and great way to get a bird’s-eye view of your city and a very unique first date out-of-the-ordinary idea.
Mixology Bartender or Cooking Class
Another fun and interactive activity to share in together and a chance to learn something new about cocktails or creating a dish.
The knowledge of creating new drinks and meals can lead to future in-home dates to recreate them or a new version of them together.
Your Turn…
