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Outdoor Date Ideas: Fun Activities You’ll Want to Try This Summer

Published on May 17, 2022

Rear View Of Couple Hugging On Top Of Hill On Hike Through Countryside

Are you looking for exciting first date ideas? Or have you officially run out of things to watch on Netflix? Whether your relationship is new, or you’ve been together for a while, we’ve put together a list of fun outdoor date ideas to help you get some fresh air and deepen your connection.

Fun Outdoor Date Ideas for Any Couple

From renting a paddle boat to packing a picnic, there’s something for everyone on this list:

1.     Plant Something Together

Choose a few plants from a garden center and get digging! Gardening comes with a whole host of benefits and will make you both feel accomplished. If you don’t have any yard space, visit your local community garden.

2.     Go for a Stroll in the Rain

Put on rubber boots, hold hands and make a game of jumping in all the puddles. Best of all, most people steer clear of the rain, which means you’ll feel like you have the place all to yourself.

3.     Take a Nature Walk 

Walking in nature is a natural mood booster, so this is one of the fun outdoor date ideas that’s good for your mental health, too. Find a nature reserve, take your time and point out wildlife to each other.

4.    Go to an Outdoor Farmers’ Market

Sample local goods and pick out some good-looking produce. Cook a healthy dinner together afterwards. 

5.     Visit the Zoo    

A young couple on a date at a petting zoo.
Photo by jb325/Adobe Stock.

Cute animals, need we say more? Take the time while you’re there to learn about conservation efforts in your area. 

6.     Go for a Hike 

Be active together on a local trail. There will be plenty of adventure, exercise and lookouts, so if you’re looking for the perfect photo opportunity, this is one of the ideal fun outdoor date ideas.

7.     Pack a Picnic

Bring a bottle of bubbly and finger foods. We recommend building a charcuterie board together for your picnic.

8.     Stargaze

If you want your fun outdoor date ideas to be super romantic, drive to city limits and lay on top of your car, snuggle under a blanket and gaze up at the stars.  

9.     Get Ice Cream

There’s nothing quite like ice cream on a hot day. Find a spot with outdoor seating, pick a few different flavors and share.

10.  Pick Berries

Couple's hand holding blueberries on background of sunny mountains grass and hills.
Photo by sonyachny/Adobe Stock.

Visit a berry orchard and pick a bucketful of your own berries, which is very satisfying. Use the berries in homemade pie or to garnish cocktails. Or both.

11.  Watch a Drive-in Movie 

Find a drive-in movie theatre near you. Get cozy in the car and watch a classic like Jurassic Park. This is one of the fun outdoor date ideas that’s both retro and fun.

12.  Go Camping

There’s nothing quite like sharing a tent to get closer. And we’re not just being pun-y. Being in the woods together will deepen your connection.

13.  Rent a Paddle Boat

Water + paddle boat = romance. This is a great way to bond and explore a lake in style. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Lather each other up before you go.

14.  Bike

Play tourist in your own town by renting bikes and doing a self-guided tour. Riding together will strengthen your calves and your relationship.

15.  Try Outdoor Yoga   

Two beautiful women with long hair doing yoga in nature on a sunny summer day.
Photo by Julia/Adobe Stock.

If you’re looking for fun outdoor date ideas that will get your heart pumping, try out an outdoor yoga class. Enjoy the view of each others’ butts in downward dog.

16.  Play Tennis

Find a court in your community and channel your inner Serena Williams. You can also try pickleball or badminton.

17.  Float Down a River or Go to a Lake

Rent an inflatable raft and float down a river near you or take a dip in your local lake. Always pack water, sunscreen and lifejackets for rafting.  

18.  Go to an Outdoor Concert

Groove to some live music at an outdoor concert. Who knows, you could discover your new favorite band!

19.  Watch the Sunset

What could be more romantic in a list of fun outdoor date ideas than driving to your favorite lookout point and watching the sunset together? 

20.  Play Mini Golf

Boyfriend teaching to his girlfriend how to putt at a mini golf club.
Photo by oneinchpunch/Adobe Stock.

Enjoy some friendly competition on the putting green. Stipulate that the loser must buy the winner dinner! 

More from our dating series:

Lead image by Monkey Business/Adobe Stock.

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The Author
Silvia Pikal is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Alberta. She loves following her curiosity wherever it takes her, telling stories about the making of a ghost opera or the latest developments in health care. Her fiction and non-fiction have been published in dozens of magazines, a short story anthology and most notably, on Blindman Brewing beer cans. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s going on adventures with her husband, Derek, and their spunky rescue dog, Mala.