Creative Date Ideas for the Young and Young at Heart

Valentine's Day is coming up fast, and the last thing you want is for your partner to think, 'Dinner and a movie, again?' Don't get stuck in a rut with your dates; keep things fun and interesting by mixing it up a bit. Go on an adventure - do something unexpected and wild, romantic and memorable. We've put together a list of the kind of dates you'll be telling your grandchildren about. You can use them year-round, and they might even inspire you to come up with a list of your own ideas.

1. Many couples have thought of watching the sun set together, but what about making an exciting pre-dawn trip to a beautiful outdoor spot to watch the sun rise? Hills, mountains and beaches provide great views, but you can do this practically anywhere. Bring a picnic breakfast and cook it over a campfire, enjoying some hot delicious food and warm beverages together.
2. Pack a cooler, a map, and some walking shoes and go on a weekend road trip to visit oddball roadside attractions in your area. RoadsideAmerica.com is a great guide for checking out all kinds of offbeat museums, monuments and mystery spots that may have been right under your nose for years. Don't forget to bring a camera - you won't want to be without one when you come across such gems as Miniature Golf in a Funeral Home, the Sock Monkey Museum or the Cathedral of Junk.
3. If you know another couple or two who'd like to join in on the fun, plan a scavenger hunt. Give each team a phone book, a Polaroid or digital camera, a notebook & pen, a map, and a list of things you want them to find or collect. To make sure it's fair, you should have a non-participating party come up with the list. Each item on your list can have a different point value depending upon difficulty - for example, a game token from a movie theater might be worth one point while a picture of both team members sitting on a kiddie ride outside a grocery store is worth five. For a higher level of difficulty, each item on the list can be presented as a puzzle or riddle.
4. Get in the car and drive in a direction you've never gone. This is a really great way to get to know your area in a new way; take a road you've never been down, and see where you end up. You might get lucky and find a great scenic drive, a perfect picnic spot or a breathtaking view. Make sure you have a map and a full tank of gas so you'll be able to get back home easily.
5. Go to your local chamber of commerce and gather brochures for activities and places to visit in your area. Chances are, you'll find there are a lot of things you never even knew about, that provide great opportunities for creative dates. Apple picking, canoeing, ice skating, and horseback riding are just a small sampling of the kinds of activities you might find.
6. Gather up some seeds, shovels and hoes and plant a garden together. You can choose a spot in your own yard, a community garden, or do it as an act of charity for a family in need. It will be really special to come back in the future and see how everything you planted has grown!
7. Get one of those fun little mini-golf kits and play in the snow. Make sure the balls are brightly colored so you won't lose them! Playing at night is even more fun - flashlights and the moon reflecting off the snow will give your surroundings an otherworldly feel. Bring along some hot cocoa or another warming beverages.
8. On a clear night, plan on having a picnic anywhere you'll have a good view of the stars. Bring a book of constellations (and a flash light, so you'll be able to read it) and find them in the sky together. Enjoy some chocolates and a bottle of wine or champagne, and bring a picnic blanket so you'll stay warm and cozy.
9. Take a class together for something fun like photography, dancing or cooking. Most community colleges have what are often called 'continuing education' courses where you can learn a fun new hobby that may even turn into a serious passion. You'll have a great time developing prints in a darkroom or learning how to make a perfect flambe.
10. Pack a picnic lunch and see the sights from a whole new angle on a hot air balloon. Chances are you'll have a company no more than an hour away that provides this service, and it's less expensive than you might think. This is definitely an impressive date, and would make a great surprise - it might even provide the perfect opportunity to pop the question!