Hey guys! This week I wanted to focus on something I believe many of us will enjoy putting into practice- outdoor date ideas! Tired of your same routine? Wanting to add more excitement to your relationship? These ideas should help! Whether you’re from a small town (like me) or a large city, you’ll find at least a few ideas in here that appeal to you. Many do pertain to the fall season, however many can also be implemented year-round.

The first idea I have (and LOVE) is making a bed in the back of a truck. This could also work on the ground, but it wouldn’t be as enjoyable (at least for me personally) due to more bugs being on the ground. My boyfriend actually surprised me with this idea about a month ago. It was so simple, yet sweet and unexpected. He isn’t the most creative guy, but is very handy. I believe he initially saw this idea on Pinterest or something similar. He ended up taking memory foam mattress pads (he started out with one and decided it wasn’t soft enough) and laying them in the bed of the truck. He then added two or three blankets he purchased and wrapped them around the mattress pads, leaving one to where we could get under it if it was cold outside. He purchased two regular sized pillows and a body pillow to place behind them, which made it a LOT more comfortable. The finishing touch was adding battery-operated fairy lights to the upper perimeter of the bed of the truck. For extra thought, he purchased a light-up speaker that changed colors and connected it to his phone via Bluetooth. He waited until sunset, drove us to a nearby park with a lake, and backed the car up so we could sit in the bed of the truck and watch the sunset by the water. The result was absolutely astounding. My breath was taken away. The gesture was so thoughtful, and the fact that he kept it a surprise made it that much more special. Of the five years we have been together, this is one of my favorite memories together.

My next idea is rather simple, but can still be fun and memorable. As I said before, I come from a small town. While there isn’t much to do, we are fortunate to have at least four parks within a ten mile radius from where I live. My boyfriend and I actually had our first “official” date at Morrow’s Meadow, a park in Yorktown, IN, when we were 14-years-old. If you’re looking for an affordable but nice date, a walk in the park is perfect on a nice day. I love being able to slow down and take a break from reality, and nature helps me do so. While the parks we have aren’t anything extraordinary, they help us live in the moment and remember how incredible the world is. If you’re looking to add additional value or romantics to your walk in the park, a picnic is always nice. Just grab a few blankets, maybe some pillows, and your favorite foods. Try to avoid foods that will spill easily or perish quickly. If you’re in a hurry, you could always grab your spouse’s favorite take-out or fast food. I personally think homemaking food makes the experience more authentic, but you’re welcome to do what best suits you personally. Lastly, if a picnic doesn’t sound enjoyable to you, a great addition to your walk in the park could be bringing your dog(s). They love exploring nature, and almost always add humor to everyday situations. You and your spouse could walk your dog together, or if you have different dogs, you could do a play-date at the park. Parks can be utilized in so many creative ways, the limit of how you can make an ordinary day extraordinary is only limited by your creativity and imagination.

Next, a Hoosier staple, at least in my native experience, has always been catching fireflies (or as we locals call them, “lightning bugs”). Growing up, my family and I would grab jars and catch the creatures as they lit up the night. This is definitely more of a summer activity, but it’s special nonetheless. So many times life moves too quickly, we get too stressed, and forget to live in the moment. What better way to cherish your life’s blessings and create memories than by bringing back this childhood favorite with your spouse? Just because you age doesn’t mean you still can’t be childish at times. In life, it’s the small things that count. Maybe make a bet to see who can catch the most lightning bugs. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition. Make sure there are holes in the lid of your jar, so they don’t suffocate, and remember to release them after you’re done for the evening.

If you and your partner are particularly adventurous and/or physically active (aka in shape), great date ideas for you include hiking and swimming. As I mentioned in a previous post, Mound State Park in Anderson, IN is a great location for Ball State students and those around Muncie. The park has an outdoor pool that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the hiking grounds are open year-round. The park has a river running through it, and if you hike to it, the view is breathtaking from all angles. Again, this really makes you slow down and appreciate your spouse and the moment you’re living in. Even if you aren’t the most fit, the trails at this particular park aren’t too extreme, and the two of you could always go anyway and laugh at each other being out of breath as you attempt to navigate your way through the woods. Sometimes getting lost and doing something you aren’t the best at is what makes the best memories with the person you love the most.

Another simple date idea is to sit down, put your electronics away, and watch the sunrise or sunset with your partner. As cliche as it may be, I personally love watching the sunrise and sunset. Indiana sunsets are the most beautiful I have ever seen. They have such diverse colors, and I’ve never seen any more vivid than in my home state. Watching the sky turn colors and the sun begin or complete another cycle of what sustains life on Earth reminds me how small and insignificant I am. It also causes me to reflect on my life. I love watching the sunrise and sunset with my boyfriend because it is such an intimate thing to me. It causes us to consider the endless possibilities life has to offer, realize how vast the world is, and makes us incredibly grateful that we were blessed with each other in such a large place. Alongside this, we also enjoy stargazing for the same reasons.

When we were younger (specifically before we could drive), my boyfriend and I would frequently ride bikes together during the warm season. As with many things mentioned previously, riding bikes allowed us to slow down and live in the moment, focus on our surroundings more than usual, and enjoy each other’s company. I found when riding bikes together, I was usually able to forget I was even riding a bike or that there was pain in my legs because his company was such a gift to me I didn’t care about anything else. I wish I could say the same thing about running. I am not a very athletic person, so I wear out easily and don’t exactly have the slender body of a runner. Running is a great date idea if you and your partner are looking to get in shape or keep in shape. However, it’s really just not for me.

Another simple yet sweet outdoor idea is to bird watch together. This can be done at the park, from your car, or even on your own back porch. This is one of my dad and his girlfriend’s favorite activities to do together. The two of them have made it a priority every year that they have been together to make sure their bird feeders and hummingbird feeders are clean and always stocked. They’re fortunate enough to live in the country on a few acres of property and have a lot of trees. While they’re quiet, the birds (and sometimes squirrels) will enjoy the food dad and his girlfriend provide, while they enjoy the peace the birds bring and their beautiful colors and patterns. Dad’s favorite has always been hummingbirds. They have at least four hummingbird feeders and research how to care for them (for instance, adding red dye is dangerous to the birds, and if you don’t clean the feeders out regularly, the birds can become ill). I love that something so simple and inexpensive brings them so much joy, and it’s one of the most precious things I’ve seen from my father.

A great occasional outdoor date is going to zoos. I personally have mixed feelings about zoos due to the unnecessary captivity of animals. However, I understand many have been bred to be more domesticated than they would be in nature. I also find almost all animals very interesting and love seeing their individual personalities. My favorite time of year to go to the zoo is winter because the Indianapolis Zoo has light displays near Christmastime. Many zoos do this, and if you’re interested, I’m sure you can find one near you. Alongside this, I also love going to aquariums. Again, I find aquatic animals fascinating and entertaining. My boyfriend and I definitely prefer aquariums to zoos because we take so much more information away from every visit (since people aren’t generally as educated about marine life as they are other animals). Additionally, we share the same sense of humor, and if you really pay attention to their behaviors, marine animals are very sassy and have individual personalities like people and land animals do.

Another cute date idea is visiting a botanical garden. I absolutely love flowers. They’re so beautiful and have a way of brightening up any day, no matter how bad. Botanical gardens have a way of making one appreciate the diversity of plants, a species many don’t consider nearly as much as others. I always find I learn something new when visiting botanical gardens, and I love learning more about the world alongside my boyfriend. While Christy Woods is on campus, there are also some larger places you can visit near Indianapolis. These include White River Gardens, Garfield Park Conservatory, and the Indianapolis Zoo Hilbert Conservatory.

Lastly, the two of you could go skating or ice skating. Muncie (my home town) introduced an artificial ice skating rink to downtown last winter. It was a major hit, especially with teenagers and younger couples. It is very different from authentic ice, but lacks the risk of falling through, which is always a plus. It is about $10-$15 per person, which is pretty inexpensive when you consider the fact that most of these places allow reentry. This is a cute date idea for couples that are athletic, adventurous, or looking to try something new together. If you don’t like the idea of ice skating, you could always go roller skating through the park, down town, or in your local neighborhood.

These are a few of many outdoor date ideas. Most are inexpensive, if not free. They just require a little creativity or exploration. Nature has so much to offer all of us, and is one of the most beautiful things in the world. Whether you’ve been with your spouse for years, a few weeks, or even if you’re looking for a first date idea, I hope you found something in this article that sparked your interest and inspires your next adventure. If you enjoyed reading this article, please subscribe to our website and check out other posts. We post every week and appreciate your support.

Until next time!

-Taylor