Holiday season: Strategies for memorable date nights

Metro Creative Services

Whether a couple is going out for a first date or has been in a relationship for years, date nights are opportunities to spend time together and connect. Dinner and a movie is a classic date night, but couples looking to shake things up a bit can explore some fun alternatives to make connections more memorable.

According to Jaime Bronstein, a licensed relationship therapist and author of the book “MAN*ifesting,” couples should never stop dating one another, no matter if they’ve been together for five minutes or 50 years. That’s because a relationship can become stale otherwise.

Here are memorable date night ideas to inspire fresh interactions.

•Head to the roller rink. Remember those days as a preteen and teenager making circuits around the rink? Relive those fond memories by lacing up your skates and heading to the nearest roller rink. If you have an ice rink close by, that’s also an option.

•Attend a sip and paint/craft event. Couples can get creative by booking a session at a crafting venue. Couples can paint a picture or create a wood art project in two hours or less. Not only will the date be memorable, but you’ll also go home with a finished project that can remind you of the night for years to come.

•Do a restaurant crawl. Who says a dinner date has to be static? Rather than restrict yourselves to one establishment, make an evening of trying food from a variety of local restaurants. Try appetizers at one, dinner at another and dessert at a third. Enjoy a nightcap at a bar to finish off the evening.

•Tour a gallery. Find an art gallery or pop-up art installation and enjoy what’s on display. You also can spend time exploring the exhibits at a local museum.

•Try an escape room. Head to an escape room and test your collective abilities to solve the puzzle and make it out in time.

•Plan a philanthropic date. Find a charity that speaks to you both and then arrange to volunteer together in some capacity.

•Hunt for antiques. Make a day of visiting antique shops or exploring yard sales to see if you can find treasures.

•Take a winery tour. Local wineries may offer behind-the-scenes tours or even “meet the vintner” events. Go together for a new experience.

Couples can make date nights more exciting, engaging and interesting if they think beyond dinner and a movie.