Year-Round Love: Fun Date Ideas for Each Season!

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Date night — it’s what many couples look forward to at the end of the week when they can finally get a break from working or parenting the kids and spend quality time with their significant other. Any quality time is great to spend with your partner, but it’s no secret that sometimes date nights can get repetitive. Going out to dinner or catching a movie can get expensive, and even a bit boring, especially if these are the only types of dates you and your partner go on.

However, during seasons where the weather is extreme, like freezing Winters or sweaty Summers, these typical dates may seem like your only options. The good news is there are more options out there — you just need to get creative and gear your date ideas to the season! This blog will highlight some fun date ideas designed to match the weather and vibe of each season so that you and your partner can feel connected and look forward to fun activities no matter what time of year.

The Importance of Quality Time

Before we jump right into the date ideas, let’s touch on the importance of quality time in relationships. A study on love languages showed that 40.8% of individuals preferred quality time as their love language [1]. That is almost half of the participants, denoting that quality time is an important factor when discussing satisfying relationships. 

Quality time looks different to each individual. It could look like eating dinner together, distraction-free. Or, having a great conversation on a drive together. Or, it can look like a planned date each week. No matter what type of quality time you prefer, there are a few things that stay the same [2]: 

• Undivided Attention: Whatever you are doing together, make sure you are giving your partner your full attention. This means no taking calls, daydreaming, or taking alone time. 
• Active Listening: Make sure your partner feels heard by implementing your active listening skills. This means making eye contact, nodding or verbally affirming them, and facing towards them when they speak. It also means adding to the conversation without interrupting and asking thoughtful questions.  
• Staying in the Moment: You should feel present when spending quality time with your partner. If you are an anxious person, it may be difficult to not think about future worries or plan for what’s next, but try your best to give your partner this quality time without distraction. Remember, it’s about the quality of the time you spend together, not the quantity. Although, if you can spend a long time together, this is great too! 

Fun Date Ideas for Each Season 

• Summer:

• • Beach Day: If you haven’t already planned a fun beach day this season with your partner, now is the time! Spending time picking out snacks and drinks, setting up your beach chairs and towels, laying out in the sun (don’t forget the sunscreen), and swimming in the ocean together promotes both relaxation and entertaining quality time. Not to mention, most beaches are attached to a boardwalk, where the two of you can take a nice walk, get some yummy food to eat, and even maybe play some boardwalk games. 
  • Outdoor Concert or Drive-In Movie: Planning and seeing if a music artist you both enjoy is playing an outdoor concert near you is a great idea for summer. You can both enjoy singing and dancing to their music together and making lasting memories. A similar idea is seeing if a drive-in movie theater is playing a movie favorite of you and your partner, or a movie you both have been wanting to see. 
  • Miniature Golf: This date idea is great for healthily competitive partners. Playing mini golf together is a great bonding experience and makes for great quality time together. You can make things interesting and place rewards for winning, such as “Winner gets to pick where we eat after,” or “Loser has to wash the dishes all this week.” It’s all about some healthy and mutual competition! 

• Winter: 

• • Ice Skating: This activity is perfect for Winter when the weather is super chilly. Indoor ice skating rinks are a great opportunity to either teach your partner how to ice skate or to struggle to learn together while grasping onto each other to save your falls. No matter what your skill level, it usually ends up being fun for everyone! There may also be outdoor ice skating rinks available, depending on where you live, which are also enjoyable. Just make sure to bundle up!
  • Game Night: On days/nights where it’s just a little too cold to leave your house, indoor game nights are a wonderful option. Crack open your favorite board or card game and play with your partner. Again, placing bets or rewards are always fun ways to make the game more competitive and incentivizing, as long as you both agree!
  • Holiday Lights Tour: Research if your area has any holiday light tours, which you can typically purchase tickets for or simply drive/walk through for free. Light tours are beautiful and make for lasting memories with your partner during the holiday season.

• Spring: 

• • Park Picnic: I’m sure you’ve seen the aesthetic photos of park picnics on Pinterest — it’s time to make it happen in real life! Go to the store together and pick out a basket or bag of delicious picnic foods, like sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and beverages, and then go to your favorite park. Remember to pack a blanket for you and your partner to lay on, and then enjoy the food and conversation together. Check the weather beforehand to ensure it is not raining or way too hot. 
  • Hiking: Spring is a great time to spend quality time outdoors, as it is typically not too cold or hot. Research hiking spots near you, whether at an established trail or a woodsy area near you and plan a hike for you and your partner. Remember to wear comfortable athletic clothing and bring plenty of water.
  • Flower Picking: Many establishments sell flower-picking tickets to people during the springtime. Take advantage of this and go on a date where you and your partner can each pick a bouquet for each other, and spend some quality time walking and talking while picking. Not only will you have a lovely time, but you’ll have a gorgeous bouquet or two to bring home and remind you of the date! 

• Fall: 
  • Apple or Pumpkin Picking: This is one of the best dates year-round, in my opinion. Visiting an apple orchard or pumpkin patch — or both — is full of amazing opportunities for quality time. Pick bags of apples together, take cute fall photos, and choose a perfect pumpkin to paint or carve when you get home. Usually, orchards or pumpkin patches will also sell fall-themed foods that are delicious, like caramel apples or pumpkin donuts, which is always a plus. 
  • Candle Making: This is a great activity to do during the spooky season. You can look up a DIY recipe and make some scented candles at home with essential oils and wax, or see if there is a class you can sign up for nearby.  
  • Nature Walk: Nature walks are most beautiful during the Fall, with all the changing colors of the leaves on trees. Take advantage of the scenic foliage and plan a leisurely walk with your partner on a date. 

The possibilities of fun dates year-round are endless; get creative and plan for some loving quality time!

To discuss how therapy could help you during this season of your life, please contact me or schedule your free 15 minute consultation.

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