Youth Incorporated Magazine

Imagine you get a match on the dating app or courageously ask your crush to go out, but then you dull all the love when you take them on a coffee date. What a vibe kill with the terrible small talk and awkward, tight-lipped smiles when they could take you to a cafe for the first date. It’s not anyone’s fault really, first coffee dates are so in the spotlight that they are almost common with cafes now. But it’s high time to skip the coffee date and make the first appearance by making it less awkward and more interactive. These not-so-regular date ideas offer opportunities for bonding through shared activities and interests creating forever memories beyond the typical coffee catch-up.

Here are some first-date ideas

1. Nature walk

A nature walk is always a great idea for an outdoor date. Strolling in a park and just being at one with nature eases conversations. It’s a low-pressure date activity and helps to learn more about each other in a relaxed setting. If a solo nature walk is not your thing or may seem intimidating with your new date, many cities have groups that organise nature walks.

2. Go Karting

For all racing lovers, thrill seekers, and adventurous go-karting is a no-brainer. A banter over your favourite F1 team or driver, before you two settle to race against each other seems thrilling. The full-filled experience surely leaves an indelible impression on your date. Go-kart racing makes a thrilling and exciting date idea.

3. Planetarium

Star gazing is a romantic bucket-list experience leaving the city’s light pollution to hide the jewels of the night from human vision. You can experience the celestial awe in a planetarium that is something unreal. There’s nothing more intimate than discussing the secrets of the universe together. A planetarium is a dome-shaped theatre that projects recorded video onto the inner ceiling to stimulate astronomical wonders- be it indoor sky gazing or the creation of the universe. The vastness of space makes one feel minuscule, making the canon event of meeting each other feel surreal. For all the science geeks, lovers of cosmic mysteries, and deep conversations, the planetarium is the one for you.

4. Karaoke

And this is what all love unleashing the inner bathroom singers in you, and vibing together. Let’s be honest, everyone’s a Taylor Swift or Arijit Singh in the bathroom, with shampoo bottles as mics in our hands, in imaginary bathroom concerts. With Karaoke, you can belt out your favourite tunes with someone special, and bond over the shared love for music. You can cheer each other, or get on a cheesy duet. Karaoke is a light-hearted, playful first-date idea.

5. Painting

You can paint something together or for one another. You can exchange your canvas with your date every 10 minutes and see how the final products reflect both your styles. Painting is a creative activity that makes you work together and have fun. Many studios offer paint and sip, which indulge your creative needs.

6. Make a terrarium

A terrarium is a glass jar where you create, a self-sustaining ecosystem- with soil layers, plants, moss, and succulents. It’s like a mini-garden, enclosed within a glass jar. Many terrarium workshops conduct terrarium-making classes you can attend together, or you can make one yourself and collect the materials from your nearest park. There you can build something together.

7. Amusement Park

Blasten up the energy at an amusement park as you hold hands and yell as the roller coaster plummets or savours sweet treats together. It’s a fun and unique way to break away from awkward conversations and create an “Awwful” conversation.

8. Escape Room

The fueled experience is a mysterious first-date idea where you work together and put your problem-solving skills to the test. Race against the time to solve the clues, understand the codes, navigate your way out together from the themed escape rooms and learn about the level of understanding of each other. The sense of achievement will be rewarding.

9. Explore history together

Explore the hidden gems of your city together as you gain knowledge more about historic local delights. Visit museums, old markets, and historical landmarks rooted deeply in tradition. Go full-on desi and immerse in your city’s local history.

10. Read together

Reading always brings clearance in the thoughts. While Embarking on a literary adventure share your TBR (to-be-read list.) Suggest each other books based on the conversations you had and make personalised bookmarks. For all those with a love for reading, it is a great way to bond.

Ditch the traditional and outdated coffee date and try something new for a memorable experience. From bike rides to escaping together, there are a lot of possibilities to spice up your dating life. Explore the cultural experiences by enjoying the great outdoors. These unique alternatives help create a long-lasting impression and make special connections beyond the typical and traditional coffee match-up. So step out of your comfort zone embarking on an exciting rendezvous and make an unforgettable memory for a lifetime.