40 Outdoor Date Ideas that Don't Involve Drinking

Outdoor dates seem to take the fun to a whole new level, don’t they? Enjoying each other’s company at home, at a restaurant, or at the bar is great, but there’s something extra special about boosting your connection in the great outdoors. And it’s not just your relationship that benefits from being outside — your physical and mental well-being does too!

Research has shown that spending just two hours per week in nature leads to better health. Here are some of the main benefits of spending time outside:

• Lowers your blood pressure
• Reduces stress
• Increases vitamin D levels
• Puts you in a happier mood
• Improves symptoms of depression
• Helps you focus better
• Reduces symptoms of ADHD
• Helps you heal quicker after an illness or surgery
• Improves sleep
• Helps relieve aches and pains

And there’s more! Since boredom and stress are two of the biggest reasons romantic relationships start to go downhill, spending time outdoors can help get you back on track. If you and your partner are craving more excitement in your relationship or seem to be arguing more than usual, an outdoor date might be just what you need. (Of course, outdoor dates are great for the happiest couples, too!)

Feeling stressed in your relationship? Download Relish and get in touch with expert coaches that can help ease the tension and get your relationship back on track. Try your first week for free!

And there’s a bonus: studies have shown that all of the benefits of being outside (exercise, vitamin D, stress reduction) are all things that can increase libido. Yep, an outdoor adventure with your partner can even help in the bedroom!

Luckily, outdoor dates aren’t just reserved for the warmer months. There are outdoor date ideas for every season of the year! And guess what? They don’t have to involve booze. Whether you go apple picking in the fall or build a snowman in the winter, there are outdoor date ideas to fit every personality and relationship.

So, without further ado, here are 40 outdoor date ideas you can plan for every season:

Winter Outdoor Date Ideas

1. Go See Some Holiday Lights

Take a walk through your neighborhood or find a drive-thru light display. You can get inspiration for your own display, or simply take in the sights. There’s no better way to get yourselves into the holiday spirit!

2. Decorate Outside Together

Get those holiday decorations out of storage and decorate the outside of your home for the holidays! Decorating is always better when you have someone to do it with, so make sure to have fun with it.

3. Pick Out a Tree

Find a local vendor and pick out the perfect tree to decorate. If putting one up isn’t your thing, then just take a walk through the trees and point out the best ones. After all, who doesn’t love the smell of fresh Christmas trees?

4. Find an Outdoor Skating Rink

Ice skating is one of the most fun ways to enjoy the cold weather! Find a local outdoor rink, hold hands like your teens at a roller skating rink, and help keep each other from falling. (Who knows, maybe you’ll be twirling like Tara Lipinski by the end)

5. Build a Snowman

Channel your inner Elsa from Frozen and build a snowman! Find funny props and laugh your way through dressing it up. Hat and scarf? Sunglasses? Clown wig? You decide.

6. Sip Hot Cocoa By the Fire

Grab a blanket, start a fire, and cuddle up while you sip hot cocoa. Watch the sunset and enjoy a chilly night under the stars.

7. Go Sledding

Have some child-like fun and go sledding together! Bundle up, have a race, and make bets on who wipes out first.

8. Take a Moonlit Walk in the Snow

Sure, it’ll be cold, but that’s just more of an excuse to hold each other close! Hold hands or wrap your arms around each other and take in the beauty of a calm, quiet, winter night.

9. Run a Race

There are plenty of charity races that take place during the wintertime! Whether you choose a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon, you’ll have fun training together while contributing to a good cause. The best part is they are typically run/walk races, so if you can’t run the whole way, it’s totally fine!

10. Make S’mores

S’mores are delicious, messy, goodness! Light a fire, grab some sticks, roast marshmallows, and make them extra gooey. It may not be the sexiest food, but it’s certainly the yummiest.

Get even more date ideas, take therapist-approved quizzes, and get personalized relationship help with Relish! Download the app and unlock your 7-day free trial.

Spring Outdoor Date Ideas

1. Walk in the Flowers

Find a local flower field near you (wildflowers, perhaps?) and take a stroll. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy the warmer weather while taking in all of the beauty spring has to offer. (Maybe you can pick some for each other too!)

2. Play Mini-Golf

A little friendly competition never hurt! Set the stakes and play a round of mini-golf. Maybe the winner gets to pick the next date! (Or maybe they get to pick something a little more intimate…wink)

3. Go for a Bike Ride

If you don’t own a bike, you can always rent one! Ride through a park, by the water, or around the neighborhood and enjoy the fresh air.

4. Enjoy Some Stargazing

Lie in the grass or on a blanket and point out any shapes or constellations you see! (And maybe make a wish on a star?) Side note: it’s also a great spot for an old-school make-out session.

5. Have a Picnic in the Park

Find a shady spot in the park, lay down a blanket, and enjoy lunch together. It’s a great opportunity to talk and catch up, or sit and read a book. (People watching is also fun.)

6. Go for a Nature Walk

Warm weather, green trees, and blooming flowers make for a gorgeous nature walk. Find a local nature path or park and soak in the scenery. See how many different flowers, bugs, leaves, and animals you can find.

7. Go Strawberry Picking

Is there anything better than fresh strawberries? Check out a local strawberry patch, pick the best ones, and use them to make something delicious. Maybe a strawberry shortcake or strawberry smoothie?

8. Attend a Local Festival

Look up the upcoming festivals in your area and check out as many as you can! Spring weather is perfect for supporting local events.

9. Go for a Hike

Hiking is a great way to exercise while enjoying each other’s company. Pick a trail nearby and map out how far you want to go. Bring food for a picnic and take selfies in front of the gorgeous backdrops.

10. Do Some Outdoor Dining

Find a restaurant with an outdoor patio and enjoy some food and sunshine. Try a place you’ve never been to before and definitely splurge for some dessert!

With the Relish relationship coaching app, you can text with a qualified relationship coach for one-to-one advice on communication, conflict, intimacy, and more. Try our award-winning app free for one week!

Summer Outdoor Date Ideas

1. Go to an Amusement Park

Get your adrenaline pumping on some amusement park rides! (Your inner-kid will thank you for it.) You can also play some carnival games to try and win one of those embarrassingly large teddy bears.

2. Watch the Sunset

Whether you sit in the backyard or find a bench in the park, there’s something extra romantic about watching the sunset together. Bring a cup of coffee, sit close, and prepare to pucker up after the sun finally sets.

3. Watch an Outdoor Concert

Live music is fun, but live music outdoors? Even better! Find a band you both like and dance the night away.

4. Go Camping

See if you can stay away from “glamping” and do some full-on camping! Pick out a tent, bring only the essentials, and have a bonding session in the wilderness. To really get the full experience, try leaving your phones off the entire time! (Easier said than done, we know.)

5. Watch a Baseball Game

Baseball, hot dogs, the cheer of the crowd on a warm summer night...enough said! You don’t have to be a baseball fan to love the excitement of a baseball game.

6. Rent a Paddle Boat

If you’ve never tried paddle boating, this could be a fun opportunity to try something new! Find a local paddleboarding company near you and make it happen.

7. Find an Outdoor Yoga Class

Yoga helps you relax, clear your mind, and give your body a much-needed stretch. Outdoor yoga is incredibly calming and beneficial for every skill level! Who knows, it might be awesome enough to deserve a weekly session.

8. Go to the Beach (Or a Pool)

Hit the local beach or take a drive to somewhere new! Go for a dip, build sandcastles, collect seashells, and work on your tan. If there isn’t a beach nearby, you can always lay out by a local pool (or your own, if you have one).

9. See an Outdoor Play

Local theater groups will often put on performances outdoors when the weather is nice. It could be a fun alternative to a traditional movie date!

10. Go on an Ice Cream Crawl

Just swap out “beer” with “ice cream!” Map out some popular ice cream spots and sample some from each place. If they’re all within walking distance, even better!

Has date night become non-existent in your relationship? There may be something bigger going on. Download Relish for therapist-approved quizzes, customized lessons, and communication with expert relationship coaches to help get you back on track. Try it free for one week!

Fall Outdoor Date Ideas

1. Sit Around a Bonfire

Light a bonfire and play some music. It’s the perfect setting for slow dancing in the moonlight!

2. Visit a Farmer’s Market

You can’t think of fall without thinking about a farmer’s market, right? Pick out some fresh fruit and vegetables, try food from the local vendors, and check out the retail shops. There might even be some live music!

3. Go Pumpkin Picking

Choose a local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect Halloween pumpkin. Grab some apple cider, take your time, and don’t forget to take pictures.

4. Catch a Football Game

Football season is in full swing during the fall, so why not catch a game? Live games are a blast even if you’re not a huge football fan. Choose a professional game or go cheer for the local college team.

5. Check Out the Fall Leaves

You can look at a foliage map to see the best areas around you to look at fall leaves. Make a day of it! Dress in your fall best, talk a walk through the changing leaves and grab a bite to eat when you’re done.

6. Play Frisbee Golf

The good thing about Frisbee golf (also called disc golf) is anyone can play, regardless of athletic ability. Think of golf, but with a frisbee — see how many times it takes you to throw it until you hit the target. See if there are any frisbee golf courses around you and make it a friendly competition!

7. Go Apple Picking

Apple picking just screams “fall.” Fresh apples are delicious and using them to make an apple pie or apple cider is even better!

8. Carve a Pumpkin

Sit on the porch and make a jack-o-lantern! Choose whether you want a traditional face, an animal, something funny, or a design all your own.

9. Try Horseback Riding

If there is a local horseback riding location near you, give it a try! Sure, you might be sore the next day, but it’s sure to be a memorable experience. (And if you pretend you’re cowboys for the day, we definitely won’t judge.)

10. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Whether you plan it out yourselves or find one online, a scavenger hunt is a chance to see how well you work as a team. See how long it takes you to complete it!

Being outside comes with an array of benefits, and outdoor date ideas are perfect for taking advantage of them. Not only that, but an outdoor adventure can help strengthen your connection and bond. If you need to switch up date night a little bit, give one of these outdoor date ideas a try! Your relationship (and overall well-being) will thank you for it.

If you’d like more fun and excitement in your relationship, download Relish to learn more about how to make it happen! Get full access to our expert relationship coaches, therapist-approved quizzes, and more. Download the app for your 7-day free trial!