Five First Date Ideas that are Affordable and Fun

American culture is car culture. First dates can be challenging. Cities and suburbs are planned with commuters in mind. Restaurants cater to drivers by providing drive-thru windows. Getting the parents’ keys is a rite of passage for most American teenagers. Buying your first vehicle a memorable moment in the lives of most young adults. Since the automobile’s invention, it has been used for dating and for romance. With that in mind, here are five great first date ideas for affordable adventures with the one you love, and your date.

Everyone wants their car to look its best, and even the smallest towns have a car wash where you can have the exterior and interior professionally cleaned. Want to have a fun hour in the sun with your date? Plan to wash your cars together. Pick up a bucket, soap and sponges before hand, or bring your date to the auto parts store with you. Pick a sunny day when you know there won’t be any rain spoiling your work. Hose the cars down, soap them up, and hose them off. It can really be a playful, fun time with someone you love, and it is a good relationship building exercise. After the cars are cleaned, drive them to the local ice cream parlor to reward your hard work.

(Estimated cost – $20-35.)

Getting out in nature is always good for the mind, body and soul. Plan your excursion by searching online for local parks that offer picnic areas and hiking trails. After you eat, a vigorous hike is great for digestion. Remember to select foods that won’t go bad in a few hours, or pack them in a cooler instead of a backpack or pic-i-nic basket. In addition to food and beverages, make sure you bring chairs or a blanket to lay on the ground and portable music, to set the mood. Camping requires more preparation, more gear like tents and sleeping bags, and a campground or private land to camp on. If you’re bringing alcoholic drinks, make sure you have some bottled water as well, since alcohol can cause dehydration.

(Estimated cost $25-60, depending upon drink selection.)

There are few moments as romantic as being out under the stars. The fresh summer air and the night-time breeze act as natural aphrodisiacs. To sky-gaze correctly, you need to seek higher elevation away from the “light pollution” of bright city street lights and cars. Pick a night when there is clear weather in the forecast, and find a large hill to drive up outside of town. A quick internet search will provide star charts for your trip. Just remember that you need a view of the sky for the specific time of the year; the stars change with the seasons. There are even apps for your mobile phone that will display the star charts for the area of the sky it is pointed at. That is the best way to locate constellations and planets in the sky. With a little planning, you will look like a junior astronomer to your date.

(Estimated cost – $10 to 20 in gas money and more if you bring snacks.)

Dating is a great way to get to know not just your partner, but yourself. A real relationship test is your first trip together. You’re going to be together for hours or sometimes days in a row, and if there is friction in the relationship, it can be exposed while in a strange city. Change is always stressful and you really find out who people are when under stress,. It’s not advised that you take a trip with someone unless there is already a romantic connection. If you select the wrong travel partner, you may be miserable, so chose carefully! Road trips are a fun, low cost way to travel, even on weekends. If you have already exhausted local date ideas and destinations, have a talk and see what road trip ideas come to mind. Is there a larger city with in a few hours drive from your home? When thinking of places to go, remember to think about museums and parks that interest you, or concerts, festivals and conventions that are coming up. Make sandwiches and bring bottles of water to save money on the drive. Plan your driving route with the use of online maps, but do so before your trip and PRINT A HARD COPY. You never know when your cellphone may lose coverage along winding country hills. It only has to happen once for you to be immensely grateful you printed your maps before hand.

(Estimated cost – $50-150 or more, depending upon distance and destination.)

Perhaps the most traditional “date” idea on the list, drive-in movies are experiencing a resurgence in America. Instead of old, crackly speakers that you would set in your window, the audio track for the films is broadcast on an FM signal locally, so you can enjoy high quality digital sound on your car’s speakers. There is something timeless about enjoying a movie outdoors on a summer night with your sweetheart. If they get cold, use that as an excuse to get closer! Most larger cities have one or two old drive-ins still in operation. They are usually a family owned business that will appreciate your patronage. Just don’t hide several of your friends in the trunk, like I did when I was in high school.

(Estimated cost – $15-40.)

As you can see, there are many affordable activities that you can enjoy with your sweety AND your automobile. America is a mobile society, and when you combine your passion for someone you love and the freedom a car offers, it can be magical. Memories formed on the road will last a lifetime. Adventure awaits. Happy Travels!