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Outdoor and active date ideas

Some of the best conversations happen while you are moving. This list collects outdoor and active ideas: hikes, bike rides, kayaking, climbing, sunrise walks, a game in the park, a picnic with a view, swimming in a lake, and evenings spent stargazing away from city lights.

They suit warm weekends, holidays and couples who like a bit of effort with their date. Many work in every season with the right clothes, and plenty need no equipment at all.

Choose a level that is fun for both of you, so nobody ends up just trying to keep up. A shorter route with a good view usually beats an ambitious plan that leaves one of you exhausted.

  1. 1.Mini Golf RematchPlay a round of mini golf, keep score honestly and let the loser buy ice cream afterwards.
  2. 2.Open-Air Cinema NightCatch a film at an open-air cinema with a blanket, a flask of tea and something sweet.
  3. 3.Music Festival DayPick a one-day music festival, plan which acts you each want to see and swap at least once.
  4. 4.Tennis or Squash MatchBook a court for an hour and play a few sets, even if neither of you really knows the rules.
  5. 5.Water Park DaySpend a summer day at a water park or lakeside beach and try every slide at least once.
  6. 6.Spontaneous Train Day TripTake the next train to a nearby town you have never visited and explore it without a plan.
  7. 7.Ice Skating DateGo to an ice rink, hold hands while skating and warm up with mulled wine or tea afterwards.
  8. 8.Countryside Horse RideBook a beginner trail ride at a stable and explore the countryside on horseback together.
  9. 9.Explore a New NeighbourhoodPick a neighbourhood you never go to and wander its side streets, parks and small shops together.
  10. 10.Long Walk Without PhonesLeave the phones at home and take a long evening walk with three big questions to talk about.
  11. 11.Bouldering SessionTry a beginner bouldering session at a climbing gym and cheer each other up the easy routes.
  12. 12.Zoo Day with FavouritesSpend a day at the zoo and each pick one animal to watch for twenty minutes without rushing.
  13. 13.Riverside Bike RideCycle along a river or bike path, stop somewhere nice for a snack and ride back at sunset.
  14. 14.Stargazing Away from the CityDrive away from the city lights on a clear night, lie on a blanket and find a few constellations.
  15. 15.Campfire AfternoonFind a place where fires are allowed, cook sausages on sticks and stay until the sun goes down.
  16. 16.Flower Field Photo WalkVisit a lavender or sunflower field in season and take slow, unposed photos of each other.
  17. 17.Market Haul PicnicBuy bread, cheese and fruit at a local market with a small budget and picnic in the nearest park.
  18. 18.Amusement Park DaySpend a whole day at an amusement park and ride the one thing that scares you most.
  19. 19.Airport Plane SpottingFind a spot near the airport fence, watch planes land and guess where each one is coming from.
  20. 20.Hot Air Balloon RideCelebrate a big milestone with a sunrise hot air balloon ride and toast when you land.
  21. 21.Night in a Forest CabinBook a small cabin in the woods for your anniversary, hike by day and play cards by the fire.
  22. 22.Plant a Tree TogetherPlant a young tree in a garden or join a tree-planting day and visit it every anniversary.
  23. 23.Anniversary Sunrise HikeStart your anniversary by hiking up a nearby hill in the dark and watching the sunrise with coffee.
  24. 24.Sunset Hilltop ToastCarry a bottle and two glasses up to a viewpoint and toast as the sun goes down.
  25. 25.Rowing Boat on a LakeRent a rowing boat for an hour, take turns at the oars and drift in the middle of the lake.
  26. 26.Geocaching Treasure HuntUse a free geocaching app to find three hidden caches nearby and leave a small trinket in one.
  27. 27.Kayaking AfternoonRent a double kayak for an afternoon and paddle along a quiet river or lake shore.
  28. 28.Train for a 5K TogetherSign up for a local 5K run a few months away and do the training runs side by side.
  29. 29.Pick Your Own BerriesVisit a pick-your-own farm, fill a basket with berries and turn them into jam at home.
  30. 30.Lake Swim and SunbatheFind a clean lake or river beach, swim out together and dry off on the grass with snacks.
  31. 31.Themed Photo WalkPick a theme like red doors or old signs and each shoot ten photos of it on a walk.
  32. 32.Sledding AfternoonAfter a good snowfall, find the steepest safe hill nearby and race each other down on sleds.
  33. 33.Trampoline Park SessionBounce for an hour at an indoor trampoline park and try to land at least one flip.
  34. 34.Same Sunset, Two PlacesGo outside at sunset on the same day, take a photo of your sky and send it at once.
  35. 35.Walking Phone CallTake a long walk around your own neighbourhoods at the same time and describe what you see.
  36. 36.Workout Together on VideoDo the same free home workout video while on a call and cheer each other through the last minute.

Plan for the slower one

Pick a route or activity that matches whoever is less experienced, and treat it as time together rather than a workout. Bring snacks, take breaks for photos and leave time to sit somewhere nice at the end. The goal is a good memory, not a personal record.

Have a rain plan

Outdoor plans depend on the weather, so keep a backup in mind: a café near the trailhead, a covered market, or a cosy plan for home. Knowing there is a plan B makes it easier to commit to the outdoor one.

Keep your date list in Our Story

Save the ideas you like in the app, with photos and a map so you can see what is close. Mark a date done when you have been, and add your own photos so it becomes a memory you both keep.

Date night ideas