A lot of times the first few dates with a new guy are fun but not exactly conducive to really getting to know each other. Clubs are loud, restaurants have lots of other people around, and other activities like concerts or baseball games don’t allow for intimate chit chat. If you and your guy would like to have a date that actually allows you to talk to each other, why not try out a few of the simple ideas below?
Explore a Hobby
If you have a hobby in common, that’s perfect, but if you don’t, try to find one you would both be interested in learning. Whether its skiing, pottery making, bird watching or cliff climbing, if you have a common interest than you can spend lots of time together researching, learning and practicing together. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other better while on a date, and also a great opportunity to discover you have absolutely nothing in common.
Volunteer
This is an excellent way to get to know each other better. Find an organization that you both feel is worthwhile (a get to know you exercise if ever there was one), and then spend a Saturday afternoon volunteering. This could be anything from helping to build a house for Habitat to Humanity to walking dogs at your local animal shelter. Finding out what matters to each of you and then taking the time to help out on a date is a great way for you to get to know each other better.
Cook a Meal
Sit down together to discuss, plan, and then prepare the perfect meal. From salad ingredients to wines to dessert, you will get to know each other and find out all kinds of information about each other, too. Maybe you both love (or hate) Thai food. He’s allergic to walnuts and you hate red wine. Can you even stand to be in the kitchen together? Do you grocery shop well together (this is important!) You two will know each other very well after this date.
Have a Picnic
Similar to cooking a meal, this will help you get to know each other as far as food and wine likes and dislikes, but it will also give you plenty of time to talk, face to face, and get to know each other better. Whether you have your picnic in a park or on a rooftop, planning a simple meal and then spending an afternoon talking and eating is a great date for learning more about each other.
Explore Nature
Use this simple date to take a hike or just walk through a park. Whether you choose a well known nature trail or just wander through a local patch of green, you will get to know each other better as you get away from crowds, electronics (cell phones off, please) and other distractions. You will also learn if one of you is a nature nut and the other can’t stand to be outside for more than five minutes. This is a great date for focusing on each other and just talking.
