Creative Date Night Ideas

As much as I hate to admit it, it’s been three years since we’ve gone on a date. Separation anxiety, the pandemic, and simple mental and physical exhaustion has meant there has been either no point or no way we could carve out some mam and dad time.

Three years is not that long to be fair. But it made me think about how creative we can get with our date nights. Is carving out the time and energy to date as parents really as difficult as we think it is? Not with these creative date night ideas.

  • Dig Out The Board Games

For a while, board games were reserved for wet Saturday afternoons in our house, but recently we’ve taken to fighting over wedges with Trivial Pursuit and scheming with Cluedo. Possibly not the most romantic of dates, but full of potential for laughter and closeness.

  • Read A Book Together

And not a Bronte classic. Pick up a steamy romance and see where it takes you!

  • Laugh And Laugh Some More

Find a local comedy gig, stand up or open mic night and laugh the night away together.

  • Cook For Eachother

Either take it in turns to cook up a storm on date night or split the menu with one of you cooking the main and the other prepping dessert. And don’t forget the restaurant quality after-dinner mints and linger over a coffee.

  • Find An Antiques Fair

Try out the local antiques fair, car book market, or farmers market and see what unique finds you may stumble across.

  • Tour A Brewery

It’s not that tricky to find the perfect brewery to tour these days with visitors welcome at many local breweries. Best of all, you get to sample their best stock!

  • Find A Drive-In Movie

If your date night ideas are in need of a retro feel, then go with a drive-in movie. Grab the popcorn, snuggle up and take in a double feature.

  • Go To The Arcade

Arcades may bring you back to your teenage years, but they are still as fun as ever. Hang out at the arcade, go bowling, and cash in those tokens.

  • Have A Breakfast Date

This may be my favourite kind of date considering often the day goes awry and evening plans can be easily scuppered. Head to your favourite café and order the best breakfast. Linger over coffee and switch off from the outside and online world.

  • Watch the Sunset

If all else fails, find a beautiful spot to watch the sunset together. After all, after how many years together, have you ever watched the sun fall away on the day while holding on to your partner.

Geraldine Walsh

Mum of two Geraldine Walsh happily works from home as a freelance writer chatting about parenting, wellness and mental health.

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