Fun Date Night Ideas for Parents

Are you looking for an exciting “date-night”? Don’t get stuck with the same old night out. Find fun date night ideas in New Jersey with our 100+ ideas for date night!

Whether you’re looking for good first date idea or planning a casual date with your spouse, find the best couple things to do on a date right here. We know you are familiar with the traditional idea of dinner & a movie, but here are some different ideas you might want to experience together to strengthen your connection, love and appreciation for each other.  It's always good to try new things to spark the relationship. 

There are tons of NJ dates that are classic things to do & some unexpected ideas you may want to try out. You can find date ideas near you easily... & for every interest/activity possible! Shake things up a bit with these unique and fun date ideas to do with your sweetheart.

For a more relaxing date experience: 

• Spa Time for 2, a couples massage is a great date night idea! Or a couples facial, or foot reflexology...
  

• Beach Picnic...grab a blanket and treats and wiggle your toes in the sand. Link to our guide to NJ Boardwalks where you can find lots of entertaining once you're done with the beach. 

• U Pick at a Farm. Ever been to a Lavender Farm? Stroll the 10 rolling acres of this unique lavender farm including U Pick lavender in Morganville, NJ. Here are other U Pick locations to choose from.

• Romantic Sunset Cruise? Spirit of New Jersey, River Lady, Cape May Whale Watch, Lake Hopatcong Cruise, Cornucopia Cruise Line, Vista Yacht Cruises, Atlantic City Cruises, Bateaux New York, and City Cruises New York to name a few. Trip Advisor has a great list.

• Try a Sushi Cruise!  Located alongside the Hudson River, this cruise provides a dining experience with NYC skyline views. Considered a hidden gem in Bergen County and the sushi is among the best in the area. 

• Visit a winery for wine tasting. This is a great way to explore and learn, and sip!  Did you know that there are over 50 wineries in our state? Great way to spend an afternoon. Crossing Vineyards and Winery, White Horse Winery, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Tomasello Winery are among a few. Terhune Orchards' winery offers Sangria (made with fresh farm fruit) Weekends in August where you can enjoy  live local music in the winery orchard Friday, Saturday & Sunday! U Pick peaches, blackberries, flowers too (only in season).

• Go on a walking tour or a food tour.

• Leisure Hike...here's a list of some great outdoor trails so you can be close to nature...The Great Outdoor Guide to Parks, Nature, Trails and Gardens. Try a short hike. Here's a list of top 15 short hikes 

• Go Tent Camping among NJ’s mountains, forests, rivers and lakes...link to the best tent camping places in NJ

• Live Outdoor Concerts...during the summer there are so many free summer concerts near you. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic of wine and cheese. Or check out the websites of NJ PAC, NJ State Theatre, PNC or Prudential Center for upcoming performances. 

• Drive-In Movie Theater...there's Warwick Drive in Theater.

• Pick up a new sport together. Pickleball with another couple. Almost every park now has tennis and pickleball courts. For the winter, go snowshoeing or snowmobiling? If you love Golf or trying to learn, date night at a driving range. It's easy and fun, and will get your heart going. Try the new golf simulators opening up everywhere. They are a great gathering place for friends equipped with bar, music, and snack menus.

• Be in front of water! It's always soothing to be looking out into the ocean, lake or even a pond. Walk along a Jersey Shore beach. Explore a different beach (here's a guide to jersey beaches); dine along side the water; paddle board in the bay; throw a fishing rod in for a catch; row boat in a town lake or park that offers this.

• Peaceful Paddle in some of NJ's best kayaking spots.

• Fruit & Vegetable Picking at a farm or browse a local Farmers Market and support the farmers...here's a list.

• Art Gallery Tour or a Museum Stroll. Pick from our list of museums and historical sites that are worth exploring. Many are free.

• Pottery Painting, Sip and Canvas Painting or try making Glass Art Fusing together.
  

• Take in the awe of a Planetarium. NJ State Museum, Raritan Valley and Liberty Science have special shows.

• Go to the Symphony. New Jersey Symphony has a great variety of performances. 

Feeling adventurous & want to try something new? 

• Helicopter Tours of NJ & NYC 

• Indoor Skydiving at iFly is like real flying, but much safer!

• Parasailing at Point Pleasant or Jet Ski around the Jersey coast and New York City at these 2 locations for Jet Ski in Keyport and Jersey City

• AHOY, ME HEARTIES! Go on a Pirate Voyage and enjoy an hour of swashbuckling fun and laughter

• Whale Watching at Belmar; fishing off a pier, or boating on the bay

• Horse-drawn Carriage Ride or go Horseback Riding 

• Ghost Tour / Trolley Tour / Scavenger Hunt ... Princeton has one! 

• Luxurious Day on the Golf Course. Great for couples! Best sport to pick up especially as you get closer to those golden years. 

• Couple Dance Lessons. Great fun and exercise, and it could be super social. 

• Bike Ride Tours
  

• Day at the Amusement Park ... remember the rollercoaster ride?  

Stuck At-Home Date Night Ideas 

Movie Night Under the Stars in your back yard. Bring your blanket, pillows, drinks, dessert, and pitch a tent or bring the citronella candle to ward off mosquitoes. You can watch a movie on a nice large-screen laptop under the stars or get a projector and hang a white bed sheet for a grand movie experience. Of course, this is weather dependent!

Virtually Travel Together - Have you always talked about traveling the world? Take this time to plan now. Research amazing new countries, cities, and towns on the internet. Then schedule it and go! 

Plan one or two dream vacations together. If you're not afraid to think ahead about a year, you may want to book tickets and take advantage of current specials. There's no better time than the present. 

Cook a special dinner together. Select a favorite recipe and enjoy a nice evening cooking together then reaping the rewards of your hard work once finished. You can even challenge yourselves to a cook-off! Better yet, sign up for online cooking classes from the comfort of home.

Cocktail hour at home!  Mix some specialty cocktails. Set up a tasting night too, with hors d'oeuvres. Dress up and get fancy.

Try a Paint and Sip night. Feeling artistic? Get out your canvas, paints and paintbrushes, simple paper and crayon, or purchase a Henna kit or skin paint. Designs are everywhere online, and virtual classes abound

Stir it up and make it a fondue date night. Whether it’s a cheese fondue or chocolate, make it a delicious night together.

Game Night! Do a puzzle together. 1000 piece puzzles can last a while. Set it on a designated table you won’t need for a few weeks and find those matching pieces until you reveal the final picture. Add wine and cheese, music, candles, and conversation.

Meditate or Exercise together.  Whether you like yoga, Zumba, boxing or more, you can find those videos on YouTube. Pick a channel, choose a video, and have fun going through it together. Getting that heart rate up or relaxing with meditation is a great moment for couples to share together.

Start a fire outside in your fire pit and roast marshmallows. Snuggle up with a blanket and admire the stars, or just watch the fire light up the night with some marshmallows while sipping on your favorite drink. I find staring at a flame so soothing, and it's so warm. This is always a favorite thing to do. 

Take online ballroom dance classes.  Get those bodies up close together as you learn the dance of love. 

DIY project together. Is there something about your house that has always bothered you which you wanted to change or improve? Now’s your chance. Challenge yourself to a home improvement project, build storage for your garage, or fix something that is broken. Complete projects together while improving your home.

Flip through old photos and reminisce about your pre-kid life. Remember those days when we took actual photos, printed them out and created albums? It’s time to dust off those photo books and go through them to remember how it all began!

Shoulder, foot, and back ... massage. There’s nothing quite as special as a touch, which is why this classic idea is always a good one. Get some nice smelling oils, candles and music and take turns massaging your partner.

Garden together!  Pick out a tree, flowers or veggie-plants from your local gardening store, pick out a good spot, and start planting. Then sit back and admire your work with some nice cool, iced lemonade or something stronger. Every time you see it in the future, you will be reminded of this great time together.

Treat yourselves for a coffee break. Create a serene, backyard sitting area with a little shade to enjoy coffee or tea outdoors, quietly together. Or take it on the go, and walk around the neighborhood. Even if only for 10 minutes, make it an undisturbed, meaningful moment together.

Lounge around in your backyard beach. Get out the beach chairs and the margaritas, some music and enjoy relaxing together. Go one step further by creating an area for some sand and a blowup, tiny pool to dip your feet in!

Sleep in and have Breakfast in Bed.Take turns letting your partner sleep in and wake them up gently with their favorite breakfast in bed!

Be a tourist In your own Town. You never know new stuff what you'll find.

Go for a spin in your car. We are all antsy and rearing to get out again, however, we must still remain safe, so maybe a drive to the beach, or a park, or around your neighborhood or town might put be just what we need. Crank up the music, open the windows, the sunroof or convertible top. Now with so few cars on the road, and much less traffic, it’s definitely more pleasant to take a drive.