Post a Favorite Date Idea & Win a Date Night Gift Basket for Two

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Sep 28, 2011

Valentine's Day may be months away but that doesn't mean a great date can't happen tonight, this weekend or this month. Whether you're single, dating or married, it's always a good idea to have a few solid date ideas in your back pocket for the right occasion.

Dinner and a movie is a classic. But even the classics can use an update every once and a while. And, for many of us, a free hour, afternoon or  evening  is incredibly precious. So let's make sure that time is best infused with fun, excitement and a little bit of romance.

The SheSpeaks Team has put together 5 Great Date Ideas that are pretty easy to put into action. But we want to hear from YOU. What date ideas make it on your Top 10 list? What have you dreamed about? Or what great date did a friend go on that you wished someone would do for you? Let's share our Best Date Ideas and create a fantastic resource for SheSpeaks members to turn to whenever a little inspiration is needed.

And your efforts won't go unrewarded. Post a great date idea below and you'll be entered to WIN a Romantic Dinner for Two Gift Basket. A second lucky winner will receive a Picnic Backpack ($50 value) and a third winner will receive a Best Romantic Classics 100 CD.The contest will start Wednesday, September 28th and will end Tuesday, October 4th at midnight EST.

 

5 Date Ideas:

1) Spend an afternoon in an orchard

You probably haven't been to an orchard since you were a kid. Or if you have kids, you haven't enjoyed the experience alone. Take advantage of the fall weather and drive into the country together and pick some fresh fruit, take a hay ride, and get some apple cider. Then go home and bake a pie together!

Not sure how to find your local orchard? Try this website http://www.applejournal.com/trail.htm

2) Bring it Indoors

Sometimes after a long week, the only place you want to be is home. That's ok. Bring the romance indoors. Pick up some delicious dessert, place a blanket and pillows on the living room floor, light some candles, dim the lights and put on some relaxing music. Don't forget to turn the TV and cell phones off and you'll be transported to your own personal paradise.

3. Get your hands dirty

Take a class together! Cooking in the kitchen alone may not be that much fun, but doing it together can be a wonderful exprience. Sign up to make sushi, croissants or chocolate truffles. If you want out of the kitchen, try a pottery or dance class. The point is to get out of the house and try something new... together.

4. Stargaze

A star-lit sky can be incredibly romantic. If you live where the city lights won't get in the way, pack a picnic with wine, cheeses and sweets and find a great place to look up at the stars and enjoy the fresh air before cooler weather arrives. If you're near a city, don't worry. Visit your local planetarium. The view can be just as amazing. To find your local planetarium... http://www.planjam.com/planetarium.html

5. Build something you can play with

Take a trip to your local hobby shop and pick out a project you can work on together. Maybe build a boat, a rocket or a kite and then take it out for a spin once you're finished.

 

Now it's Your turn. Tell us your Great Date Ideas!

And, if you have skills in the kitchen and have great date night recipes to share, please check out and add them to the new Recipes section on the SheSpeaks website. Visit http://www.shespeaks.com/recipes

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sassafras by sassafras | Monroe, NC
Oct 01, 2011

On the nights with a Full Moon we get take out and have an evening picnic and listen to love songs on the i pod.

Naddez by Naddez | COMSTOCK PARK, MI
Oct 01, 2011

Take a hayride & snuggle in together in a blanket (during the ride).

jimmiss71 by jimmiss71 | MT HOLLY SPGS, PA
Oct 01, 2011

Our favorite date nights involve not spending a penny becuase right now thats all we can afford but it doesnt mean we dont have fun. We take turns making the plans to make our dates day as special as can be. Our most recent date fell close to my birthday and I got an at home spa treatment from the man of my dreams. (my hubby!) I got a massage and a foot rub and he also painted my toes! Even though it wasnt the best job, it was alot of fun. Then we watched a movie and fell asleep on the living room floor. Sure it wasnt luxurious but it was memorable and fun!

LaurasLegacy by LaurasLegacy | Columbia, MD
Sep 30, 2011

Well, my fiance is an amazing man, I never have to hint about what to do or how to treat me. My favorite date thus far was to a concert at the Strathmore, afterward we enjoyed a meal at Cheesecake Factory, which is our favorite place to eat together, then we walked around National Harbor, holding hands and talking about everything, we sat and he massaged my feet while we talked and watched the moon's reflection on the water. I danced on my toes like a ballerina and he pretended to place the tiara on my head then twirled me around and held me in his arms under the moonlight as the breeze enveloped us. The night was enchanting!!! He will be home from Afghanistan on Friday and I am so excited. I plan to treat him to breakfast then a couples spa day, then to our favorite place to walk and talk, then it will be a limo ride through Maryland, Washington DC and VA; back home for his favorite dinner and another enchanting night. He deserves every bit of it!!!

nothingnew by nothingnew | ATASCADERO, CA
Sep 30, 2011

Pack a picnic lunch and go on a geocaching adventure. You go online to a site that lists geocacheing locations in your area and find one that fits your interests. There will be coordinates and hints to help find the "cache". It's a very fun treasure hunt adventure for anyone.

alindanielsmama by alindanielsmama | Wheeling, WV
Sep 30, 2011

My favorite date night idea with my husband is: first we start off with preparations, have a drink, get ready for our night. Then we walk, hand in hand, to a local eatery, we'll share a appetizer then have a lively conversation over our meal. After dinner, we walk home, hand in hand. After dinner, we like to cuddle up on the couch, watching a scary movie, so I have to cuddle close to him. When the movies over, we take a shower together and then light candles & put on music, cuddle and make out. My favorite!!

kflo416 by kflo416 | CEDAR PARK, TX
Sep 30, 2011

I love fondue for a date night. It's dinner, but lasts longer than the traditional 1 hour sit down dinner, and it is entertaining. Whether we go to the Melting Pot, or make it at home, it can be a great, entertaining night for just the two of us or a couples' date night!

socialwork4kids by socialwork4kids | ELDRIDGE, IA
Sep 30, 2011

Our idea of a date night is dinner (minus the kids!) and then a peaceful, lengthy shopping trip at Super Target! Pretty pathetic, huh?!? lol! My dream date would be to revisit the resort in Mexico where we had our honeymoon!

Pearltree by Pearltree | ocala, FL
Sep 30, 2011

My husband is into Diners Drive ins and dives with Guy Fiori and we live not far from Jacksonville (about 1 1/2 hrs) where there are 3 diners Guy had on tv, so one day, we hopped in the car and drove the 1 1/2 hrs up to one of the diners, had the greatest time talking to the people in the diner as we're waiting for our table. I was watching these dishes coming out and this one group of ladies were amazed at what they had ordered, I went over and asked, the one lady had never eaten there before the other had. They said anything you order is great. When we finally sat down, we ordered 2 different meals so we could taste each others. It was fabulous. We had such a great time. I suggested we do it again sometime. To date, we haven't but maybe once fall comes we'll try going back to try one of the other restaurants.

elwible by elwible | Bow, NH
Sep 30, 2011

My perfect date night would be going to an orchard/farmers market and buying delicious ingredients to take back home. Then we would put on some music and make dinner and dessert together while catching up and end it with a movie and snuggling!

sweetsmilesliz by sweetsmilesliz | Magnolia, NJ
Sep 30, 2011

1. I like to take a cooking class. You get to have lots of fun and enjoy a tasty dinner afterwards. 2. Volunteer together. You can find out a lot about your date when you help others. Plus, it can be enjoyable and rewarding time. 3. Spend a day at a winery or visit one when they have wine tastings and music festival. You & your date get to enjoy tasty wines and good music. Mellow mood and good vibrations - what a good combination.

jtjalil by jtjalil | Hoboken, NJ
Sep 30, 2011

Go on a city search for the best bloody mary in town! Start the date by searching online for the recommended hot spots for bloody marys. Make a list together of all the places you would like to try and figure out the best route via public transportation to hit them all. Take notes at each spot on likes and dislikes of the drink. Finally, name the winner, head to the grocery store for the ingredients you think are needed to make your own, then go home, make them along with a fun breakfast themed dinner and enjoy the night together talking about the fun day!

Ladysteeler by Ladysteeler | GREENSBORO, NC
Sep 30, 2011

My husband and I have date night once a month in which we we volunteer together. We've had dates at the Food Kitchen, Boys Club, Salvation Army, Green Clean up and more. We have a ball helping others and we look forward to date night each month. It doesn't cost us a dime and we are rewarded greatly. We smile, have fun and enjoy each others company while sharing with others.

Awiii83 by Awiii83 | BEAR, DE
Sep 30, 2011

I like finding a local activity to do together. This weekend we are going to a wine festival together, later in the month we are going to see a play. Sometimes we have a nice dinner at home, we cook dinner and eat with candles lit.

njhousewife247 by njhousewife247 | HAMILTON, NJ
Sep 30, 2011

Always a favorite for my husband and I when ever our kids are away for the night... dinner and a movie BUT we don't go to the movie theater or to a restaurant! We figure we finally have some time alone together so why spend it at a theater or restaurant with a whole bunch of people? So instead we rent a movie from Redbox and get our restaurant food to go... that way we can still have dinner and a movie but in the comfort of home together! We do this at least once a month and love it!