If you are reading this, then you are probably looking for ideas for the next 2 dates that you will go on. It can be hard to think of a good, original date idea that you and your crush will both enjoy.
Getting the first date is tough enough and now you have to plan either a second or third date. Give yourself a pat on the back for getting another date with the person that you are interested in. When it comes to dates, eating out at a restaurant is always an obvious choice. But what if you want other options and ideas for a second or third date?
Below you will find many different kinds of date ideas. From the romantic to the adventurous, you will love these suggestions. Keep on reading so you can choose the date that is perfectly suited for you and the person that you are dating.
Second Date Ideas
The 2nd date often comes with a lot of pressure and expectations. At this point, you and your date might want to get to know more about each other. During this state, you might start to ask more questions and she might ask you more questions about yourself as well. On your 2nd date, a lot more information will come to the surface.
During the 2nd date, you might also get more of a sense of how much chemistry there is between the two of you. For this reason, it can be nice to arrange a 2nd date where there are occasional excuses to touch one another even if that just includes holding your dates hand or putting your arm around them.
Here are other examples. If you go for ice cream, you can spoon feed each other samples of the flavors that you ordered. If you and your date decide to go to an amusement park together, you can hold hands during some of the rides.
Because you might want to be a little more hands-on for the 2nd date, try to avoid a group date or a date where you will be in a large group of people. It might be okay to hang out with other friends during your 1st date but during the 2nd date, you should try to spend some time alone together.
Cook dinner together at home instead of going out
Why eat out at a restaurant where it is loud and busy when you can just enjoy the company of your date in the comfort of your home? Even better, choose a meal that you can cook together. This will give an opportunity for the two of you to really interact, talk, flirt, and bond as you prepare a delicious meal that you can enjoy together.
Order takeout and eat at home
If cooking is really not your thing, do not worry. You can also order food from a restaurant and enjoy it at home. Remember that eating takeout at home by yourself is different than eating takeout at home with a date.
For your date, you will want to tidy up your home. Make the space a little romantic. You can do this with plenty of candles on the table.
Amusement park
Amusement parks are great for a 2nd date. You can play carnival games and see who wins the most stuffed animals or you can sit side by side on rides like Ferris wheels and roller coasters. Then, when you are hungry you can share a classic amusement park snack like a huge helping of cotton candy.
Rent bikes and explore
In many big cities, you can now rent bikes and go exploring. This makes for a great idea. Alternatively, if you do not live anywhere with bike rentals, you and your date can ride your own bikes if you have them.
Escape Room
Put you and your date’s heads together for this 2nd date idea. Escape rooms are a huge trend now and you can pick from a wide variety of themes and levels of difficulty. When you sign up to do an escape room, you and your date will have a certain amount of time to follow the clues to get you out of a locked room.
Go on a picnic
Take your meal outdoors when the weather is nice and lovely. Bring a suitable blanket, a picnic basket, and good picnic food. Some simple ideas for a simple picnic meal include sandwiches, fruits, and other easy finger foods. Don’t forget drinks and dessert as well. Find a nice park to picnic in and enjoy your second date.
Go on a scavenger hunt
Doing a local scavenger hunt together will give you and your date the opportunity to work as a team, and it will also give you a chance to spend time together as a couple. You can either print out a scavenger hunt list online or sign up for a professional scavenger hunt.
Go for ice cream
To really make an ice cream date fun, try to order something other than your usual flavor. Share your ice cream with your date and enjoy your sweet treats.
Discover a new neighborhood together
There is something both romantic and adventurous about discovering a new area together. At the same time, you do not always have to hop on a plane to do this. Instead, make a date out of walking around a neighborhood that is new to both you and your date.
You can decide to do your research on this neighborhood or you might choose to just go in blindly instead.
Play mini golf
Mini golf is a classic date idea that would be great for your 2nd date. You and your date can compete one on one to see who will win your round of mini golf.
Go bowling
Bowling is another great 2nd date idea. Get your own lane so you and your date can knock some pins down together.
Visit some food trucks
These days, food trucks have more than just hot dogs. Go to a spot where more than one food truck can be found and order some things that you and your date can share. If you can, find a nearby bench so you can sit together and eat.
Go rock climbing
Whether you’ve done it before or are doing it for the first time, rock climbing is a great, active date idea that isn’t done to death at all.
Go paddle boating
Going on a boat ride for two can be really fun and romantic. With paddle boating, you will have to work together and you will get to see how you and your date function as a team.
Outdoor movie
Instead of doing the usual film at a movie theater, mix things up a little by going to an outdoor movie showing. It can be a nice and romantic date and you can even bring along a picnic and some blankets so you and your date can snuggle.
Play Frisbee or basketball
There can be something fun about being competitive with your date. Play a casual sport together like Frisbee or one on one basketball. Winner gets to pick the next date idea.
Have a go kart race
No matter what anyone says, you are never too old for go kart racing with your date. Get the adrenaline rushing when you race your date to the finish line on your 2nd date together.
Volunteer at an animal shelter
If you and your date both have a soft spot for animals, then you can spend some quality time together by volunteering at a local animal shelter. Just make sure that your date does not have any allergies to certain animals.
Stargazing
If the weather forecast is looking good and you know somewhere with little to no light pollution, then grab your date and your binoculars and go stargazing. You might also want to bring a nice blanket so you can sit comfortably under the stars. This makes for a great romantic 2nd date.
Go to a food festival
Agreeing on where to eat can sometimes be a challenge, so why not hit up a food festival instead? With so many options to choose from, you and your date will definitely find food that you can both enjoy.
Attend a street fair
Street fairs are full of food, entertainment, and endless shopping. It is a perfect 2nd date idea for you and your crush because there is so much to do.
Ice skating or roller skating
Take your budding relationship for a spin when you and your date go ice or roller skating for your 2nd date.
Go to a comedy show
A comedy show is a nice way to just sit back, relax, and laugh on your 2nd date.
See a concert
For your 2nd date, you can go check out a concert together. A seated concert is more ideal, as it will be a little more romantic than a standing concert. Some genres, like jazz, tend to lend themselves really well to date nights.
Museums
Check out a museum with your date. If art might be a bit boring to you, then do not worry. There are many other different kinds of museums out there that you can try. You can also take a look at a science museum, an open air museum, a maritime museum, and so much more.
Attend an art opening
Explore some original artwork with your date when you attend an art opening for your 2nd date. It can end up being a very inspiring night for both of you.
Visit a psychic and have your fortunes told
Find out about the fates of you and your date when you go visit a psychic for a reading.
Go to a trivia night together
This 2nd date idea is another one where you and your date will find out how you work together as a team. You can either do a general trivia night or one with a particular theme.
Go to a karaoke bar
Whether you can hold a note or are a complete amateur, go try a karaoke bar with your date. If you get stage fright, you might want to have a drink or two first though.
Go line dancing
If you or your date are not the best dancers, you have nothing to worry about. With line dancing, everyone does the same dance moves.
Visit a botanical garden
Admire the beautiful flowers and other plants at a lovely botanical garden on your 2nd date.
Go to a wine tasting
Enjoy a romantic wine tasting for your 2nd date. You will just be sampling a little bit of wine so you won’t really get drunk, but you will be able to loosen up just a bit around your crush.
Go on a ghost tour
For people who are into all things spooky, a ghost tour might be the perfect 2nd date. When you are feeling a little spooked, you and your date can hold hands for comfort.
Zoo or aquarium
Enjoy the beauty of the world’s many creatures on your 2nd date. A zoo or aquarium will have many exhibits for you and your date to check out so you will never get bored.
Play pool
Bring out your competitive nature when you play pool against your date.
Go to a farmer’s market
Head with your date to your local farmer’s market for some fresh food and produce. If you like, you can even pick up ingredients so you can cook a meal together later.
Go to an arcade
Bring out your inner child when you go to an arcade for your 2nd date. From pinball and skee ball to air hockey, there are so many fun games that you and your date can play together.
Go fruit picking
Head into the countryside for your 2nd date and go fruit picking. You and your date will really be able to slow down and just enjoy nature’s bounty together as you fill your baskets with fruit.
Take a cooking class
Learn something new together when you and your date take a cooking class together. Whether you know how to cook or are a complete beginner, there are so many different types of classes out there for you to choose from. From learning about different types of cuisines to learning different cooking techniques, you and your date will have lots of fun on this 2nd date.
You may also like our article: Date Ideas For Under $20.
Third Date Ideas
There is a lot of significance in the 3rd date. It is when things start to get more serious. After all, if you have already gone on 2 dates, then you might want to start talking about what type of relationship this is. Are you and your date just seeing each other casually or are you going to try to get into something more serious and committed?
For some couples, the 3rd date is where things start to get a lot more physical. That is when you start to really see what type of chemistry you have together.
Another thing about the 3rd date is that you will start to really get to know each other. At this point, things start to get less superficial. So ideally the 3rd date will be somewhere where you can get more intimate whether it is kissing or something more, or you will want to have a date that makes it possible for you to really talk a lot so you can get to know each other even more.
By the 3rd date, you will want to be able to let your guard down. Allow yourself to be silly with your date. Express yourselves when you go take pictures at a photo booth together or when you go dancing together for the first time.
At this stage, allow yourself to feel more relaxed around your date. Ideally it will take little to no effort for you to feel comfortable around this person and you will care a lot less about impressing them or accidentally putting them off.
When you have reached the 3rd date, things become a lot more real and genuine and they become less superficial. You do not have to smile and nod in response to everything your date says and you do not have to pretend to like something that you have no interest in. More now than ever, it is important to be yourself.
If you continue to date this person and it is discovered that you pretended to be someone who you are not, then it will make for an awkward situation. Also, by this stage in the game you should already know what kind of chemistry you and your date have. Things should no longer be uncomfortable and awkward.
Go to the movies
Instead of going to a regular movie theater, check out a theater with comfortable luxury seats and food that you can order. It is much more romantic than the usual movie outing.
Visit a drive-in
To put a spin on a movie date, take your date to a drive-in. These days, drive-ins are not as common, so it will be even more of a novelty.
Hit up a photo booth
Commemorate your 3rd date with your crush by hitting up a photo booth together. Now is the time to be cute and flirty. Don’t forget to make some fun, goofy face for the camera as well.
Go dancing
Dancing is always fun and you can both show off your dance moves. You can find a local salsa bar, dance under the stars or just find a place with great live music.
Go hiking
If you both like the outdoors, then you might enjoy going for a nice scenic hike together. You might even be able to sneak in a kiss or two on this romantic hike.
Go to a sports game
Bring your date and root for your favorite home team at a local sports game. You can make a big event of it and even get merchandise and all of the classic concessions snacks to share with your date.
Rent a movie
For an inexpensive but romantic date, rent a movie and snuggle up on the couch with your date.
Have a game night
Have a fun and romantic game night for your 3rd date. From card and board games to video games, you and your date will have many games to choose from.
Have a TV show marathon
If movies are not for you, then you and your date can binge watch a TV show together. Just make sure that it is a show that you both like to watch.
Couples massage
Because massage is such an intimate thing, the earliest that you and your date should go on a couples massage is the 3rd date. Together, you and your date can relax, unwind, and enjoy each other’s company.
Go horseback riding together
If you love the idea of romantic novels, then you might enjoy going horseback riding for your 3rd date. Take your date and ride off into the sunset on horseback together.
Watch the sun set
There is something really romantic about watching the sun set. It is really romantic to watch at the beach but if you are not close to the water, you can also take your date to watch the sun set from a park bench.
Go to the beach
Drive out to the beach with your date where you can rub sunscreen on each other. You can also splash around in the water, build sandcastle together, and bury each other in the sand.
Take an improve class
You can really let your guard down by taking a fun improve class with your date.
Candlelit dinner
Whether you end up cooking dinner or ordering takeout, you can make it a point to set a really beautiful and romantic table for you and your date to eat at. You can use real candles or even battery-operated candles to set the mood.
Don’t forget to pick a romantic playlist for your dinner as well. Smooth jazz and R&B are just a few suggestions that will provide the perfect ambiance for a romantic date at home.
What have you done at your second or third date? Do you have any other suggestions for a great date idea?
