11 Experiences as Creative Date Ideas for Couples

Planning a date is a major part of fulfilling, healthy relationships. Whether you are looking for creative date ideas for your partner, friend, or family, determining the right gift is one of the most challenging things we can do for the people we love. 

Buying things can get rather old in a marriage, can’t they? 

As birthdays and holidays roll around, most of us immediately think of shopping at busy malls or browsing online stores for hours for great date ideas or creative date ideas. 

The likelihood of finding a truly unique, thoughtful gift for someone is rather low when you are searching amongst products produced by the thousands and tens of thousands. 

Related Reading: The Importance of Date Night in a Marriage and Tips to Make It Happen

Why are date ideas important in a relationship?

One of the wrong notions about planning a date is that it is associated with materialism. However, your creative date ideas in the relationship can be non-materialistic as well and it will still help convey your emotions on love. 

But why are planning dates with your partner so important? Let’s find out:

• They help convey feelings of appreciation
• They help express love
• They  are perfect embodiment of celebration
• They provide the couple a quality time
• They let your dear ones know you care about them

Related Reading: Romantic Indoor Date Ideas for Couples

11 Fun creative date ideas: experiences as gifts

It comes as no surprise that one of the most valuable ways to grow a marriage is by stimulating it with new experiences and adventures, which is exactly why you should be taking advantage of any giving opportunity as an opportunity to do something together. 

So, how to plan a date? 

Here are 11 experiences that will show them why they’re so special to you.

1. Take a trip

Perhaps one of the most creative date ideas, but also the most flexible, a trip can be a wonderful way to spoil your partner. A smaller budget might just mean dinner and an overnight stay in a nearby town. 

Airbnb is usually the most cost-effective option, though you may decide to spend a little more on a fancy hotel. This can be an amazing gift itself, and you may not have to travel far for it. 

The main objective of such creative dates is to get away together, and there are so many options to do so. Experiencing new places and environments together is one of the best ways to grow closer, express love, and create memories together. Don’t underestimate a good trip!

Related Reading: Reasons Why Couples Who Travel Together Stay Together

2. Have a spa date

A popular opportunity for a gift experience is a scheduled and pre-paid spa date. Most women already love visiting salons and spas, and if you give them a special opportunity to do so, they are likely to be excited at the opportunity to experience it with their partner. 

Even men who may have never been out for a massage, manicure, or pedicure will find amusement and enjoyment in receiving such an experience as a gift. 

The experts at SNS Nails report that many men visit a salon for a pedicure for the first time with their partners as part of an outing, and end up coming back regularly as a way to care for their feet and relax.

Nearly every spa offers a ‘couples massage,’ where two people are side by side in the same room during the massage.  

A full-service spa as well will allow you to use the facilities for the day when you book just one treatment, so you can enjoy the pool, sauna, or steam room together as well.  Who doesn’t love a professional massage?

3. Go kayaking or canoeing

Wherever there is water, there will also be opportunities to rent water vessels like kayaks and canoes. Many people prefer kayaks for their stability and maneuverability, but canoes can be fun, too. 

This can be one of the special and creative date ideas due to the fact that many of them can be shared, which means they require teamwork, trust, and communication. You might learn something new about your partner once you’ve paddled along with them for a day. 

Of course, there is no limit to the numerous sites and wildlife you might spot during your waterway adventures together.

4. Attend a play, opera, or lecture

In our technological age, many people go their entire lives without ever visiting a play, opera, or lecture outside of their childhood field trips or university courses. 

For many gift-givers, the thought of buying tickets to a concert (or even a comedy show) comes to mind before a play, opera, or lecture. 

However, these cultural activities that are less common offer valuable experiences that you and your partner could really enjoy. 

Plus it’s a fantastic opportunity for you and your partner to dress-up and admire one another’s elegance and appearance. Not to mention, these events can be moving, thought provoking, and extremely memorable.

5. Take a class together

Classes and courses are extremely versatile because you can probably find a course to suit just about any interest. Does your partner look back fondly on a ceramics course they took in college? 

Surprise them with a pottery class at a nearby ceramics studio. Do they always mention wanting to open a bakery? Enroll in a baking course. Dance lessons. Writing. Tennis lessons. The ideas are endless.

One “class” that you’ll seldom hear about is called academic auditing, and it very well could be a special fit for you and your partner. Sit in on a university course without receiving grades or participating in a degree program. 

Many senior citizens participate in academic auditing, though this can still be an option for couples who are flexible with their schedules and passionate about learning. Couples can often audit together, and it usually isn’t particularly expensive. 

Details vary from school to school, so investigate a couple of campuses nearby you.

Related Reading: First Date Ideas to Make Your Date Memorable

6. Redecorate a room

Redecorating a room in your home or apartment can be an interesting and challenging experience together. Many couples tackle a project at one point or another, but turning it into a gifted experience can make a huge difference. 

Instead of treating it like a chore, it can be tackled like an engaging challenge that allows both of you to work towards a common goal that you’ll enjoy long after you’ve finished. 

The concept of prioritizing this time spent together can minimize the disagreements that sometimes arise. 

Present them with a gift card to your nearest hardware store, a can of paint, or a neat portfolio of interior design concepts; they are likely to be surprised, and depending on their interests, curious. 

Redecorating comes with many other smaller shared experiences, like shopping, painting, installing, and assembling. Spinning it as a gifted opportunity for bonding, shared time, and cooperation can turn it into something much more than you might have anticipated.

7. Book a convention or festival

Is your partner a fan of cosplay, pop culture, or music? Then you’re unlikely to go wrong with some tickets to a convention or festival. 

Sometimes they are held nearby, and sometimes you have to make a trip out of it; both present their own pros and cons. These experiences can be extremely memorable, rewarding, and creative date ideas for married couples. Exclusive merchandise, vendors, and atmospheres are amongst the main draws of these events. 

These are also fantastic places to meet like-minded people who have all gathered to have fun together. Comic Cons, Renaissance fairs, Collector’s events, and music festivals are fantastic examples. 

8. Take a ride

Even though your partner might not be particularly interested in cars, planes, or boats, there is still something to be said about sharing an experience in an atypical vehicle. 

Renting a sports car or hiring a limousine can be events in themselves, and they truly offer nice breaks from the everyday grind. 

Gifting a tour in a helicopter, horse-carriage, or boat can also be a wonderful way to gain new perspectives of the area and simply do something out of the ordinary together.

9. IKEA pilgrimage

This might seem a little peculiar, and it certainly fits into the creative date ideas list, but a trip to the Swedish land of budget furniture can be a gift all alone. Not everyone lives near an IKEA, which means that this can be a great thing to make a trip to do together. Plus, it’s free. 

You’re not obligated to buy anything. IKEA offers an interesting experience to visitors with showrooms, retail (home supplies, plants, stationary, and more), and food in abundance. Furniture has curious Swedish names, and food is served in a no-nonsense cafeteria setting. 

While this might not be a great idea for a holiday or birthday, it could be a pleasant weekend excursion reflecting your desire to spend time together. If you haven’t visited IKEA yet, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

10. Visit a psychic medium

This might seem pretty far-fetched at first, but there is some logic behind this idea. While the credibility and scientific viability of spiritual mediums are certainly worth being skeptical of, this is still an experience that can be interesting for you and your partner. 

Some people swear by their experiences with psychics, while others are convinced that they are simply con artists. There are, of course, many people who simply have no opinion on the subject at all. 

Regardless of the category you fall into, creative date ideas like these can be amusing at a minimum.  At best, it can be powerful and fulfilling. It could be a great fit if it’s the type of thing your partner is into, and you may have simply not thought of it.

Related Reading: Date Ideas for You and Your Spouse to Reignite Your Relationship

11. Support local businesses

Be it the craft brewery down the street, the curious restaurant that popped up on your commute, or an antique store downtown, you can’t go wrong with supporting local businesses. 

A reservation or gift card can be one of the most creative date ideas  and a welcome incentive to go out together and participate in the local commercial scene. Local businesses offer not only unique products and services, but also allow you to connect with the people who are part of your community. 

Wine tastings are a fantastic option if you have local wineries or wine bars. You are even more likely to be close to a brewery, which can also be lots of fun. These are great places to have a few drinks, unwind, and maybe meet some new friends. 

Present the couple date idea with gift cards or a written description wrapped up in a local T-shirt.

Related Reading: What Is Your Ideal Date Night Quiz

Takeaway

These experiences as creative date night ideas or date day ideas are sure to get engraved in your and your partner’s heart. 

The video below discusses activities couples can do at home to spend quality time together. Check it out:

Sometimes, experiences have a way of being etched in the memory more than the gifts. It is so because planning an experience shows your effort for your partner and your involvement in the relationship.

With these creative date ideas, you are sure to surprise your partner to the fullest and infuse a lot of love and positivity into your bond.