Colin and I set a goal this year to go on a date every week. I’m happy to report that so far, we've met that goal just about every week this year. Some days, it’s just been chicken nuggets and checkers in the park (see above) and others it’s an actual planned event. There are two main things that we found made all the difference:
1) Each week on Sunday we have a little meeting that we've been calling “Sunday Session” where we go over plans for the week, set goals, give feedback, etc. During that meeting one of us asks the other what they want to do for a date that week. Then we write it down. That part is pretty simple.
2) One of the many, many, lists that I keep in OneNote is a date idea list. Often, just thinking up what to do next is half of the work of actually doing a date night (unless you just want to get a redbox and ice cream AGAIN). Keeping a list on hand has helped us at least have a springboard for a new idea. As I think of more ideas, I add to the list.
I’ve included my list below just in case anyone might find it useful. A lot of the things on there are Utah specific, but if you don't live in the area I’m sure you could find similar things in your own hometown.
This list is really just a dumping ground for ideas once we come across them. It is still very much a work in progress. If you have any good ideas that you’d like to contribute to our list, we’d love to hear them!
Out and About Dates:
· Third Friday Gallery stroll in SLC
· Look at model homes or go to a home show and dream
· Paint at a paint-your-own-pottery place
· Sign up for a coking class at Harmon's—books and bites
· Indoor Climbing Gym
· Racquetball
· Ice-skating
· Thrifting and Garage sales
· Ride the ferris wheel (Scheels--Sandy)
· Stop at a bakery and pick out treats
· Bowling
· Bookstore/ library date
· Kimball Art Center in Park City
· The Garage in SLC -- Dinner and a show
· Pizzeria 712 in Orem
· Bomdiggitys beefalo burgers
· Heber Valley Cheese Tour
· Historic Draper Theater or Hale Center Theater
· Try to hone photography skills
· Coupon Date! Only do things you have a coupon for
· Visit a museum
· The Metropolitan Opera at Cinemark
· International Cinema at BYU
At-Home Dates:
· Games (Checkers, Chess, Othello, etc)· Back Yard Picnic
· Living room picnic or camping
· Make playlists
· Bake (bread, cookies, etc)
· Crossword puzzle
· Make a unique dinner
· Play "would you rather"
· Use a question jar
· Have a cheese or chocolate tasting
· Make fondue
· Watch a BYU/Utah game--make nachos
· Video Games
· Read books out loud together (Children or Young Adult books are great for this)
· Watch You tube videos
· Movie marathon or try to finish a whole TV series
· Create a year in review
· Take a personality test Jung, True Colors,The 5 Love Languages, and The Color Code.
· Theme Dinner (Mexican, Italian, Greek, etc.)
· Living room Mini-golf
· Work a project around the house
· Plan a trip
Spring/Summer Dates:
· SLC or Provo Farmer's market· Roof Top Concerts--First Friday--Provo
· Rent a tandem bike (or regular bikes)
· Take a gardening class (Utah Conservation Garden or Thanksgiving point)
· Out-door Mini Golf
· Camping
· Hiking (See the 60 hikes within 60 Miles--great book on Utah Hikes)
· U-pick peaches and berries (see U-pick list)
· Try flying a model plane or kite (Draper flight park)
· Feed the ducks
Hidden Garden tour with Joy in the Garden
· Frisbee, Basketball, or soccer in the park
· Hoogle Zoo
· Free Park days
· Redbutte Gardens
· Tubing (Provo Canyon)
· Go fishing (Free Fishing day is June 8th)
· Check out state park passes from local library
· Batting Cage
· Go for a run and then get smoothies
· Movies in the park (almost every town has a version of this offered by the parks department)
· Check out some of the falls (Bridal Veil falls, Stewart falls, Ghost falls--all very accessible)
· Park City Rail Trail
· Alpine Sliding Rock
· Timpanogos Cave
· Kennecott Copper Mine
Fall Dates:
· Hay ride· U-pick apples
· Buy delicious, delicious cider and enjoy (Allred Orchards in Provo, Farnsworth Farms in Sandy)
· Corn Maze (Thanksgiving Point)
· Go to Draper Cactus and Tropicals and pretend that it's summertime
· Drive the Alpine or Nebo loop and have a picnic
· Saratoga hot springs
Winter Dates:
· Tubing (Rock Canyon park)· Christmas Movies (White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life etc.)
· Snow Shoeing (rentals from Outdoors Unlimited--or borrow from a friend)
· Look at Christmas lights (Down town SLC, Spanish fork, Draper Park, Hoogle zoo)
· Santa Run
Day or Weekend Trips:
· Bear Lake· St. George
· Goblin Valley
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