Everyone knows that summer is the sexiest season, thus making it the best time to date and meet new people. The weather is perfect, the clothing is minimal, and there’s no limit to what you can do, both indoors and out. In fact, one of the best things about summer date nights (or day dates because, this is prime time to soak up the sun) is that there are So. Many. Options. When the weather is nice and the vibes are right, even the simplest of activities suddenly seem date-worthy. Sexy beach days? Check. Fresh cocktails somewhere (anywhere!) outside? Check. Actually…doing anything outside because the weather is so nice you can’t stand to be indoors for even one second?! Triple check! Yes, winter may have the monopoly on coupled-up cuffing season cuteness, but trust: Summer is the time to really turn up the heat on your dating life.
So if you’re in need of a little inspiration on how to make the most of this fabulous time of year, look no further than these 30 (yes, 30!) summer date ideas. Whether you’re trying to have some flirty fun in the sun or are really looking to stay cool in the AC, actually, there’s something for literally every kind of summer vibe.
1. Head to a County Fair
Summer is the season for outdoor festivities, county fairs included! Tickets for these usually run pretty affordably, and you're guaranteed hours of delicious foods (hello funnel cakes!) and cute games. (Bonus points for your date if they win you a giant teddy bear.)
2. Or an Arcade
Let your competitive sides come to life with an arcade date! Pros: It's indoors, there's AC, it's on the affordable side, and with enough tickets, you might just win a prize. (Up the stakes by making it a sexy one the winner can claim later. 😉)
3. Visit a Botanical Garden
Embrace being outdoors with a trip to your nearest botanical garden. Even if neither of you has a green thumb, botanical gardens are beautiful places to spend an afternoon, and who doesn't enjoy looking at gorgeous flowers?!
4. Go Tubing Down a River
One of the biggest joys of summer: Spending time in water, of course! If you live near a natural lazy river, find a tubing company that offers excursions. They’ll have tube rentals and professionals nearby to guide you along. Some even let you bring your own snacks and drinks, so you can float along the river sipping on your fave bevs.
5. Visit Your Nearest Water Park
Another beloved summer activity: Water parks! Get your adrenaline pumping with giant slides and make it your mission to check off every single one on the park map. Don't forget your sunscreen and you're guaranteed a fun (thrilling!) date.
6. Check Out Your Local Brewery
There are breweries everywhere! Find one close enough to drive or Uber to and spend the afternoon sampling a flight or learning how beer is made.
7. Check Out an Aquarium
Want to get indoors? Visit the nearest aquarium for something a little different. Plus, what better way to soft launch your partner on Instagram than with an aesthetic shot of them in front of a giant blue tank?
8. Have a Summer Cocktail-Off
Whatever your summer drink of choice—Aperol spritz, limoncello martini, or classic summer sangria—sharpen your at-home mixologist skills and challenge each other to a summer cocktail competition. In need of a little inspo? Here are the summeriest, spritziest beverages we’ll be sipping all season long.
9. Bake Some Sweet, Summery Treats Together
While you may think of fall and winter as prime-time for baking, summer actually has some of the best sweet treats, in our opinion. I mean, lemon bars? Key lime pie? Literally anything blueberry? Bonus points if you make a day of it by picking your own produce at a farm (or hitting up a nearby farmer’s market) and bringing it home to bake your dessert together.
10. Do Something on a Boat
Like, literally anything, on literally any boat. Harbor cruise, dinner and/or drinks on a docked ship—hell, even just catching the ferry somewhere instead of driving or hopping on the subway can be a fun way to spend a sunny day with your summer love/crush. Life (and love) is just better on the water, you know?
11. Summer Movie Date!
Movie dates are a classic for a reason. Make it a double feature and watch a movie they pick, plus one that you pick. Plus: free AC and comfy seats. Say less.
12. Better Yet, Catch an Outdoor Screening
Your local parks department might host a outdoor movie nights! Do some digging and see what they offer. If not, find the nearest drive-in movie theater and make it a night! Pack a bunch of snacks for ultimate date vibes. Still struggling? Set up a projector in your backyard, or download a Netflix movie and take your laptop to your nearest park for an outdoor movie picnic.
13. Play Mini Golf
Looking for a cute throwback date that’ll spark some nostalgia? Find your nearest mini golf course. Make it extra competitive by promising a prize/sexy reward for the winner.
14. Hit Up Some Food Trucks
Sometimes open-air venues will host multiple food trucks at once, so you can sample everything from the best street hot dog in town to a unique ice cream flavor you've never had before. Food trucks are truly best enjoyed in the summer (these are just facts) so take advantage!
15. Go to the Pool
Find a pool, any pool! Well, I mean, maybe don’t just go pool-hopping in strangers’ backyards. But if you have access to a pool (public or private!) a sexy pool day is always a great day date option.
16. Have Yourself a Cute Little Picnic Date
Picnic dates are some of the best dates there are. It’s a pretty low-stakes move in that it can be super chill, but you could also really go for it and make it super romantic. Whatever the mood you’re going for though, just make sure to pack the essentials: some snacks (obviously), a portable speaker, wine, a blanket, and sunscreen.
17. Go for a Bike Ride
There are definitely different levels to the bike date. You can be super competitive and make it a workout with your person, or you can have a leisurely bike ride for two. Our suggestion: Bike somewhere you haven’t been before in your area and take in all the fresh air. Just remember you won’t be able to have full-blown conversations with your date, so probs best to do this with someone you know well and not on an early date with a new person you’re just feeling out.
18. Drink, But on a Roof
If icy cold drinks taste better outside than inside, then they definitely taste better on a roof. A roof, like a waterfront, is somehow inherently romantic—maybe it’s the sweeping vista of a city before you or the slight breeze coming off your margarita, but it’s all beautiful and perfect. Head up to a rooftop at sunset for a romantic toast to your future.
19. Take a Low Key Road Trip
A great way to beat any extreme heat is to sit in a car with air conditioning. Pick a nearby spot on the map that you’ve either never been to before or have only ever passed through, and go to it. Maybe the next town over has legendary antique stores or an ice cream shop that looks insanely good on Insta. Whatever the case, exploring a new scene will be a fun bonding activity.
20. Book a Last-Minute Hotel Room
Sites like Hotel Tonight let you book last-minute rooms in swanky hotels at a steep discount, but with a catch: You have to check in that day. Which, honestly, makes this a great move for a sexy, spontaneous staycation. Surprise your partner with a hotel reservation after work and definitely split breakfast in bed the next morning.
21. Plan Your Own Paint-and-Sip in the Park
Gather some watercolor paints and a few bottles of your favorite wine and have your own paint-and-sip date in a park. Make sure you bring a picnic blanket or sheet to sit on, and don’t forget things like paintbrushes and canvas. If you don’t want to deal with paint, substitute it with a drawing material like charcoal. To add a bit more structure to this art session, choose something both of you can focus on and set a timer for 20 to 45 minutes, depending on your preference. When the timer goes off, compare your masterpieces.
22. Explore a Farmers’ Market
Summer might be the only time that going on a date at 9 a.m. on a Saturday is a good idea. Research the time and location of a local farmers market and make sure you and your partner get there before all the good stuff is cleared out. If you’re seeing someone new, this is the perfect time to find out more about them—like if they can’t stand peppers or happen to love kale. Bonus points if you plan to cook a meal together later and buy all the ingredients at the market.
23. Have a Beach Day
If you live near an ocean or lake, plan out a day at the beach. Make sure you bring the essentials, like towels, a beach umbrella, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Spend the day relaxing by the water, swimming, and seeing who can build the coolest sandcastle.
24. Go to an Outdoor Concert
Do some research on local concerts taking place in outdoor venues. Choose a genre you and your partner both like, or take a chance on something new. Once you’ve decided on the show, bring some lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy the music under the stars.
25. See a Shakespeare in the Park Production
What originally started in Central Park in New York City has been adapted by many theater companies across the country. Many local theaters now stage their own Shakespeare productions in open-air theaters, often as community events that are free to attend. Do a bit of research to find out if your town or any neighboring cities are putting on a show, then start planning your sophisticated—yet inexpensive—theater date.
26. Go Berry Picking
While apple-picking dates dominate the fall season, it’s not the only fruit that can lead to a fun day and a cute Instagram. Cherries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are all in season during various summer months, and many farms let you pick them off the vine for a reasonable price.
27. Visit a Vineyard and Do a Wine Tasting
You might have a go-to bottle of wine, but how much do you really know about the different types of wine and what goes best with each? Visit a local vineyard and sign up for a wine tasting. Many wineries will explain the components and different flavor notes of the wine they make as well as give recommendations on what to serve with them. After your crash course in wine, you and your date can explore the grounds together.
28. Go to a Baseball Game
Buy tickets to the closest Major League Baseball game, or find a minor league team with games nearby for a similar ballpark experience. Whether you stay for the whole game or leave after five innings, you can still enjoy the experience of a summer game. So put on your baseball hat, buy a hotdog, and get ready to post an Instagram with the caption, “They took me out to the ball game.”
29. Rate the Best Ice Creams in Town
Become a food critic for the afternoon and go on a hunt for the best ice cream in your neighborhood. Make a scorecard and share a cone at each new place—limit yourself to five if there’s a lot in the area—then crown a winner at the very end. If ice cream isn’t your thing, try this with another food, like pizza.
30. Go to a Bonfire
Bonfires are one of the best parts of summer nights. Attend a friend’s bonfire together or plan your own and invite some friends. You can also decide to have your own romantic night by the fire, just the two of you. Whether you’re planning your bonfire with friends or just your date, don’t forget to include s’mores on the menu.
