Fun Date Ideas
LMents of Style uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain hyperlinks and buying a product, you may help me make a small commission off your purchase. It's links like these that keep this site going. Thank you for your support!
What is it about quarantine that that makes me write all the things I had been meaning to write about? Iāve had a ādate ideasā topic in my blog drafts for a whileā¦ over a year actually. While it was intended to be a piece about date ideas in general, Iām transitioning it to be a post regarding date ideas during a pandemic, but they will still be relevant after āshelter-in-placeā is over. Heck! They might even just save you money AND gain you extra points on the dating scene.
I know a lot of people are having to quarantine alone or just feel lonely during this time, so note that you can do these things with friends too! Bestie date, girlās night in, roomie hang out, you name it! Itās never too late to reach out, so if there is someone youāve been missing lately, tell them! You never know unless you ask!
Iāve divided this post into 3 sections: at-home ideas, outdoor activities, and virtual hang-outs. Keep reading to learn more. Enjoy!
Me: Knit Midi Dress (old, similar here and here) | Gigi Pip Rancher Monroe Hat (use discount code ELLEMULENOS10 for 10% off) | Hip Optical Batista Sunglasses (c/o - get $10 off with discount code ELLE10) | Cariuma Sneakers (c/o) | Leviās Denim Jacket | Senreve Maestra Handbag ( get $50 off with discount code ELLEMULENOS)
Nick: Bonobos Short Sleeve Shirt (old, similar here and here) | Burgundy Shorts | Vince Sneakers | Ray-ban Sunglasses
At-Home Date Ideas
Things you can do in the comfort of where you live, for relatively cheap too!
Travel Night - I actually mentioned this on an instagram post during the early stages of quarantine and wanted to re-mention it, as it is my favorite idea! We love to travel, but obviously havenāt been able to. Have a vacation that had to be cancelled or maybe you are saving up for one? Pick a place and make that the theme for the evening. The first time we did this, we threw on Italyās Top 50 playlist and made homemade pizza. We drank Italian cocktails / wine and watched Roman Holiday. You can also do travel courses or take advantage of free virtual museum access, where you can truly learn about the culture.
Game Night - My family LOVES to play games as do some of our best friends, so we have been exposed to a lot of fun games! The problem? Not all games are suited for 2 players. Here are some of our favorites that can accommodate less people. Mancala is one of my childhood favorites. Iāve played regular Code Games (not duet) and enjoyed it! My favorite newer games are Quiddler and Otrio (kind of like Tic-Tac-Toe). Heads up is always great, though I grew up playing the paper version, before it was made into an actual game you could buy in a store. Banangrams is a really fun one too and can be played faster than Scrabble. (Which I also love!) Side note - some of these classic games can be purchased in fun versions like Disney Yahtzee or Harry Potter Chess, and so on. Itās a great way to merge two passions and make buying an older game worth it!
Cards (double solitaire, speed, gin rummy, 21, 13, Crazy 8ās, War, Poker)
Puzzles (bonus, make a custom photo puzzle of the 2 of you)
Nostalgia Night. This can really be what you make itā¦ Maybe you re-watch the movie you watched on your first date OR you teach her how to make your momās lasagna. What is nostalgic for you as a couple? What can you share that is intimate like a grandmaās cookie recipe? The options are endless for this one and it has the potential to be really special.
Something New. This is another option that can be personalized! You can either both learn a new skill (ie starting sourdough or even making a new recipe together) OR try something that your partner loves that you donāt . One afternoon I let Nick teach me how to play Rocket League! We spent a couple hours on it and it was actually fun. At least now I can relate to what he says when he mentions boosting or flying. Hah!
Dress up. I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt today and Nick was like āwow! you dressed up today.ā Usually Iām still in my sports bra and leggings as I havenāt worked out yet, but this obviously got me thinking. Have a āFancy Fridayā or even have a themed night where you dress up in decades or like a character from a movie you are about to watch. Another fun twist on this is to pick out each otherās outfits! It can be just as fun, but less messy as the whole ālet your boyfriend do your makeupā video trend. You might even find out what your significant otherās favorite outfit of yours is!
Indoor picnic. Build a fort or a magical Mediterranean tablescape. Add candles or mood lighting, grab take-out or cook it yourself. Do it together or build it as a surprise. So many options!! Can even bring the games into this option too!
Questions. You know, deep questions that you may not ask otherwise! This is one of our favorite things to do among friends, but Nick and I enjoy it with each other too. You can each write questions and take turn drawing them from a bowl; however, some prompts exist on the internet too! Thereās also a boxed sets versions like Our Moments Couples Edition (they have kids and family versions too) or The Hygge Game.
Learn together. Book club, podcast, documentary, you name it! Most of the time I prefer this, but quarantine has me wanting fiction over non-fictionā¦ There are some fun fiction options though too! Nick loves the TV show Scrubs (where our cat Elliotās name came from) and Donald Faison and Zach Braff recently came out with a podcast called Fake Doctors, Real Friends, which goes episode by episode, so you can watch the show and learn behind the scenes info! Nick has re-watched it almost 20 times now and he is STILL learning. I know there is a similar podcast for The Office too! Doing something like this allows you to talk about something other than COVID or your work day (or lack there of). It also gives you a common goal!
Crafts. Growing up, my mom always had crafts! Just doing something other than sitting on your couch and watching TV is something! Maybe itās making an herb garden together, finally doing something with all the corks you have collected, or gathering wood to build something together. Maybe you grab a sketch pad and both draw each other? Clothes optional?! LOL. This idea is very open ended with lots of opportunity!
Outdoor Date Ideas
These may or may not be quarantine safe depending on where you live.
Go for a drive. This has been one of our favorite ways to get out of the house. Going to the grocery store isnāt really fun anymore. (lol) Find a nice neighborhood or lake to drive around. It will be like looking at Christmas lights, minus the lights. Hah! We had not driven Mullholand Drive (a famous street in LA) and have now taken the time to do so, thanks to quarantine. Itās the ultimate social distancing, as you donāt even have to exit your vehicle! We also love to just cruise the PCH, which really isnāt fair to mention, as not everyone has a road like this that is accessible.
Itās also fun to take a day trip! Early March (before shelter-in-place), Nick and I took a day trip to Santa Barbara! We hiked, had a picnic, went downtown, and saw the ocean. So fun and worth the 1.5 hour drive.
Picnic or camp in your backyard or camp. We donāt have a backyard, but we do have a patio! We also have a good grass patch in front of our apartment that works well for picnics! My parents camped in the backyard in a tent for fun, followed by a big campfire breakfast. Make the most of it!! It can be fun and for sure a pretend vacation or getaway.
Drive in Movie. These are so fun, nostalgic, and perfect whether you are having to social distance or not. We have one about an hour drive from LA and we had them about the same distance when we lived in Dallas too! Bonus if you find one where you can bring your own food and drink in ;)
Hike. We have a lot of trail options in Los Angeles, but there are quite a few near Dallas too. Itās an easy way to get fresh air and limit your distance between others and your cell phone. Hah! Bonus if you pack a lunch!!
Check the season. What fruit is available for picking? Right now it is blueberry and strawberry season and most U-Pick farms are still open to the public. Last fall we went apple picking near LA and it was so fun! Look for seasonal things like ice skating and such that arenāt something you can do all the time, as these things make the best memories and are often pretty budget friendly too!
Virtual Date Ideas
Great for long distance relationships, extra cautious social distancers, and even friends in different states!
E-games. There are so many games that you can play online or Facetime in other people!
Jackbox Games (The party pack has games like Quiplash and Fibbage. We typically play them on the TV, but you can play them on Twitch too. It does cost money, but it is a one time fee.)
PS4 / Twitch / XBOX / Computer Games (Nick loves to play Rocket League with his friends and catch up with them via phone at the same time!)
Heads Up App (You can download it on your phone and play anywhere! May work best if you have 2 devices like a laptop and a phone, so you can call on one and use the app on the other. Also great game that travels with you, as long as you have your phone!)
Trivia Online (There are some places hosting trivia virtually, but it would be a fun thing to look up and quiz each other too!)
Movie night. Watch the same movie, starting it at the same time. Netflix has a āpartyā option too, where you can virtually watch in a group!
Eat the same thing. Make the same food or order the same meal and eat it together over FaceTime. If you want to have the element of surprise, make sure you know what your s/o is doing and order them food to their door and have a surprise date! Could be easy as Pizza or as special as the food you had on your first date.
Date in a Box. Mail them a box with their favorite things ie Trader Joeās gummies, loose leaf tea, a candle, and a photo of you, so they can have an āin-personā date night with you anytime they please!
Virtual Tasting. Nick did a virtual beer tasting the other weekend and it was so cool! $42 for 10 full sized beers, and an online tasting to go with it. it was local pick-up only, but I know a lot of wineries who are doing something similar and shipping product. You can even go out and buy the same wine(s) and taste them together over the phone!
Virtual Concert. So many celebs are having these on TV specials and Instagram Lives, but you could also watch a recording at the same time, together / apart.
Last weekend, we visited the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in California. (where these photos were taken - note no poppies were harmed!) We were a little late for the super bloom, but it was still fun! About an hour and fifteen minutes from our LA apartment, it was worth the drive! It got us out of the house and we got to experience another side of California. This coming weekend, we plan on renting a convertible from Turo, packing a lunch, and driving the PCH. Open fields and ocean air is good social distancing for me, PLUS they are things we have wanted to do before the pandemic even occurred.
Be creative with your time together, but honestly any effort will be appreciated. You donāt have to come up with some grand gesture. Just show love! Any fun ideas I should add to my list? Let me know in the comments below. XOXO
Like what you read? Click here to subscribe to my weekly newsletter. I recap the week and share recent posts you might have missed!
