9 of the Best Summer Date Ideas: Get Ready for Your Most Romantic Summer Yet!

Happy, smiling couple walking down the beach together on a sunny day and enjoying a popular summer date idea.

Summer is (finally) here and with it the chance to try some of the best date options around. From outdoor movies to amusement parks, from wine tasting to lakeside getaways, summer date ideas are something special – and we’ve collected 9 of the best, designed to make this summer the most romantic yet.

 

9 Fun Summer Date Ideas to Try This Season

When it comes to finding new and exciting summer date ideas, inspiration can sometimes be elusive. To help get you started, we’ve put together a diverse selection of 9 cute options that are perfect for this season. Explore our handpicked list below and embark on unforgettable summer adventures together!

 

1. Taste Some Local Wines

If you’re lucky enough to live in Napa Valley, or another part of wine country, then a day spent sampling the delights of the local vineyards is a perfect summer date idea, especially if you make a short list of your favorite places and spend the day cycling or horse riding between them. Stuck in the city? Find a local bar that offers wine flights (and, ideally a sunny summer patio), and get that delicious winery experience closer to home.

 

2. Have an Outdoor Movie Night at Home

Summer brings the chance to put a fun, outdoor twist on the classic dinner-and-a-movie date idea. Many cities put on open-air screenings, but it can be even more romantic to set up a DIY date night at home. Hang a sheet in your garden or from your balcony, grab a projector, and get cozy. Not sure what to watch? Whether you want to be thrilled by the likes of Jaws or sing along with the likes of Grease, we’ve picked five of the all-time-best summer-related movies:

 

3. Take a Midweek Lakeside Getaway

No American summer is complete without a relaxing break at a lakeside cabin. Heading to lake country is one of the more romantic summer date ideas too: think bonfires, breathtaking views, and long, languid evenings together. What’s not so romantic, however, is lake country traffic, so avoid traveling on holiday weekends and instead, take time off from work mid-week for a spontaneous couple’s vacation.

 

4. Hire an Open-Top Car and Hit the Road

Want to make the lakeside getaway even better? Make the journey just as good as the destination. From the Pacific Coast Highway to Colorado’s Pikes Peak, America boasts some of the world’s most scenic drives. Make the most of them this summer and hit the road! To really do it in style (it is a date, after all), hire an open-top car and live out those Route 66 road trip fantasies for a weekend.

 

5. Host a BBQ Together

With the 4th of July looming, it’s nearly time for the ultimate summer staple: grilling outside. This can either be a romantic summer date idea for two, or a bigger gathering that you host together. Make sure to plan great food, great drinks, and pick a great place so you can end the night in a really romantic style – snuggling up to your date while you watch the fireworks.

Don’t forget, a BBQ is the perfect, chilled occasion to introduce a new partner to friends and family or even as a fun double date idea. We’ve even made a summery Spotify® playlist to get the party going: with romantic songs, reggae hits, and huge, feel-good summer jams, it has something for everyone!

 

6. Enjoy a Food Truck Date

Don’t care to play head chef? Then let someone else cook for you with a food truck date. This is a great date idea to save for the summer, especially in America; after all, if there’s a line, it’s far nicer to wait together in the sun rather than in the snow! If you’re not sure which truck to head for, download a food truck app like Street Food App, pick different locations for your starter, main, and dessert, and go food truck hopping around town.

 

7. Try a Retro Summer Date Idea

Remember how summer date ideas used to be? In the break from high school or college — when you didn’t have the money (or the ID!) to spend your date nights at upscale, romantic bars and restaurants — you had to get creative. And it was fun! Relive those days by picking your favorite retro date: a cute mini golf or fun fair date, a day at the zoo, an afternoon at the amusement park, or a classic night at the drive-in. These all have that winning flash-back factor.

 

8. Plan a Date at an Observatory

The long, sultry nights of summer are perfect for a date night spent stargazing. If you’re in a town with an observatory, look out for a summer events schedule – many observatories offer evenings that combine drinks and live music with a closer look at the stars. None near you? No problem! Look to see if your local university or club rents telescopes, or simply spread a blanket on a nearby hill and spend the evening lying with your date, gazing at the galaxy.

 

9. Pull Out All the Stops and Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

When you’re dating someone you really want to spoil, sometimes you need to go all out. And what better way to do just that than with a picturesque hot air balloon ride? One of the most romantic summer date ideas there is, a balloon ride has it all: sweeping views, a thrilling, bonding, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you time it right, a champagne breakfast to share in your sky-high love nest as you watch the sunrise. If you’re looking for date ideas in a city like Miami, this one is hard to top!

 

Make Meaningful, Lasting Connections With These Summer Date Ideas!

There you have it, a compilation of 9 fun summer date ideas to embark on this season! Whether you opt for an adventurous outdoor activity, a cozy and intimate experience, or an exploration of flavors and creativity, these ideas will give you the opportunity to cherish the moments you spend together and create a meaningful, long-lasting relationship.

Read More: Try our list of the best free date ideas for love that doesn’t cost a thing

About the author: Sophie Watson

See more articles written by Sophie Watson