activities that can make a great dates << previous page

Whether you've just met the potential love of your life or you've been married for decades, how you spend your time with that special person in your life is important to the state of your relationship. And great dates don't just happen! They are created by people who put in some time and effort to make them great. Boring dates can often be the result of a lack of forethought, planning and effort. Be creative. Plan. You'll find it's worth the effort! Finances are not the critical factor in making a great date. A good plan and the desire to enhance your relationship are the real keys.

Fall and Winter Activities

  • View the changing colors: arboretums or anywhere along the North Shore or the St. Croix
  • Hayride
  • Horseback riding
  • Climb the bluffs in Red Wing
  • Blueberry picking
  • Visit an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch
  • Attend one of the numerous athletic events throughout the Twin Cities
  • Ice skating
  • Sledding
  • Sleigh ride
  • Snowball fights, snowman building
  • Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, hiking trails
  • Indoor roller skating, rollerblading
  • Christmas tree cutting, decorating
  • Christmas carolling
  • Comedy Sportz/improvisation shows
  • Bowling
  • Attend one of the numerous options for theatre productions in the Twin Cities
  • Bake cookies or other goodies
  • Browse a bookstore. Get some coffee and read/discuss interesting books/magazines
  • Research and plan a dream vacation at the library or bookstore
  • Take interest in and share each other’s favorite hobbies.
  • Plan a party together with a unique theme.
  • Take time for a leisurely conversation at a local coffee house
  • Cooking classes
  • Make a fire and some hot cider and play a game
  • Do a Bible study together
  • Science or art museums
  • Attend a concert
  • Go to dinner at a location that plays live music
  • Go to the Minnesota Science Museum in St. Paul
  • Make holiday cards to deliver to a nursing home together
  • Serve at a homeless shelter together
  • Share childhood photos
  • Interview one another's parents together
  • Invite a couple whose marriage you greatly respect out to coffee and ask them about their relationship
  • Read a book or series of articles out loud together
  • Pick up a relationship book like "Love & Respect" and spend time discussing what you read
  • Write out five things you appreciate most about the other person and share your lists with one another
  • The Como Park Conservatory
  • Research some of things that are especially important or fun to your date and incorporate them into an evening together

Spring and Summer Activities

  • Fishing
  • Walk, bike, roller blade or skate around one of the great Minnesota lakes
  • Kite flying
  • Picnics
  • Tour each of your childhood hometowns
  • Swimming
  • Boating, canoeing, jet skiing, sailing, waterskiing
  • Drive to Duluth and stroll the boardwalk.
  • Barbeques and picnics
  • Valleyfair or another amusement park
  • Go-carting or mini golfing
  • Water parks
  • Paddleboat cruises down the Mississippi River
  • Visit historical sites at Red Wing or Stillwater
  • Attend summer town festivals
  • State Fair
  • Fourth of July parades, fireworks
  • Athletic events
  • Golf or tennis
  • Horseback riding
  • Hot air ballooning
  • Train trip
  • Apple picking, strawberry picking
  • Sculpture Gardens in Minneapolis
  • Climb the bluffs in the Red Wing/Lake Pepin and Winona areas
  • Minneapolis RiverCity Trolley Tour
  • St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail
  • Take time for a leisurely conversation at a fun restaurant with outdoor seating
  • Gardening
  • Concerts at the Lake Harriet bandshell
  • Take a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka
  • Hike the Minnehaha Falls trails
  • Select a scenic spot that is a couple hours away and go for a long drive
  • Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
  • Visit Gooseberry Falls or other Northern Minnesota locations and hike the trails
  • Pack a picnic of some of your date's favorite foods and find a romantic location to enjoy it (for example: Baker Park Reserve, Minnehaha Falls, Theodore Wirth Park, Hyland Park Reserve, Como Park, Twin Cities lakes trails)
  • Go on a scenic hike, take lots of photos and later create a small memory album/journal of your day togethers

Do you have some uniquely fun relationship-building activities to add to this list? Thanks for emailing your suggestions.

“Get to Know Your Date” Questions
Whether you’re going on your first date, or you’ve been married for 35 years or more, you’ll be surprised what you can find out by asking. So, head for a quiet coffee shop and start up some great conversation to deepen your relationship with questions like these:

  1. When I was a child, I wanted to grow up to be:
  2. My first job:
  3. My favorite book and/or movie:
  4. My favorite childhood memory:
  5. A favorite song:
  6. Hobbies and interests:
  7. My idea of fun is:
  8. My ideal vacation:
  9. When I have important decisions I:
  10. My passion in life:
  11. During my lifetime, I'd like to:
  12. My patience is tested when:
  13. I love to eat at:
  14. A lesson God is currently teaching me:
  15. My favorite Bible verse:
  16. I would like to learn how to:
  17. My favorite meal is:
  18. The best thing about my job is:
  19. The most challenging thing about my job is:
  20. The last time I cried was:
  21. My spiritual gifts are:
  22. Three of the greatest “simple pleasures” in life:
  23. When it comes to romance, I:
  24. The person who knows me best is:
  25. The thing that most amazes me about God:
  26. God has really given me a heart for:
  27. One thing I’m pretty good at is:
  28. One of the most difficult times in my life:
  29. My favorite dessert:
  30. My favorite ice cream flavor:
  31. Two of my favorite things to do:
  32. One of the funniest movies I’ve seen:
  33. One of the most fun adventures I’ve been on:
  34. One thing I like to splurge on:
  35. One sure way to encourage me:
  36. An experience that God used to teach me a lot:
  37. A description of two of my closest friends:
  38. Something I appreciated about my parents:
  39. Something I like to do to encourage people:
  40. A brief description of my journey with God:
  41. What it was like to grow up in my family:
  42. My biggest challenge with finances:
  43. The nicest thing someone recently did to encourage me:
  44. Something that makes me really happy:
  45. Something I like and dislike about where I'm currently living:
  46. What I learned from a past relationship:
  47. The kind of clothes I'm most comfortable in:
  48. A trip I'd love to take:
  49. One of my favorite days I've experienced:
  50. How I imagine my life to be in 5 or 10 years:

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