20 Date Night Ideas if You Live in a Small Town
Living in a small town isn’t for everyone. But those who appreciate the best things in life thrive in rural environments. You get to enjoy the bond of a tight-knit community, walk to where you need to go and take life a little easier than you would if you lived in a busy city. There’s little to complain about when you can wake up every morning, step outside to tend the farm and greet your neighbors with a fresh cup of coffee.
But if there’s one downfall of living in rural areas, it’s dating in rural areas. Finding your special someone or taking your new significant other out and about for date night isn’t always so easy when there aren’t shopping and dining centers or a main street nearby.
Finding something to do in the evenings doesn’t have to be impossible. There are plenty of cute date ideas for small towns that you and your love can enjoy and look forward to every weekend.
Searching for late-night date ideas in a small town? Here are 20 options to consider that can be fun for the first date up until you’re in a long-term relationship.
1. Take a Night or Day Trip in Your Truck
Is there anything quite like taking the wide-open road for a drive in your pickup truck? If you’re looking for a small town date night idea that involves showing off your driving skills, plan a late-night drive with your significant other. The trip can be as long-winded as you’d like; make it simple and take a drive to the next town over, or pack your bags for an overnight road trip to a surrounding state.
2. Sign up for a Cooking Class
Whether you consider yourself a seasoned chef (no pun intended) or you don’t remember the last time you turned on the stove, sign up for a cooking class for a delicious date! This is a fun and entertaining way to show off – or brush up on – your cooking skills and create a tasty meal for the two of you to enjoy.
You can find an in-person cooking class near you, or you can sign up for an online class so you can cook right in the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab a bottle of wine and a sweet treat for dessert to enjoy with your fresh cooked meal.
3. Try the Classic Dinner-and-a-Movie Date
You don’t always have to think outside of the box when it comes to planning date night ideas. The classic dinner-and-a-movie date is the perfect option for someone who enjoys a traditional date with their loved one. Wine and dine your date at a favorite local spot in town and then check out the latest movie release at the theater.
If you really want to mix things up, find a nearby restaurant that neither of you has ever tried. You can also go into the movie theater and pick a flick at random. This can make for quite an interesting date and can turn into a fun story to share someday.
4. Go Out for Ice Cream
An ice cream date is just as exciting as an adult as it was as a child, and having someone sweet to share a treat with can be even more thrilling. Visit your local ice cream shop and take your date on a walk through the town. Or, you can grab all of the toppings and fixings you need and make your own ice cream sundaes at home. This can be a smart move if you or your date has specific dietary restrictions like dairy or gluten sensitivities.
5. Visit Your Local Coffee Shop
Sometimes, the perfect date involves nothing more than a cup of coffee and good conversation. Check out a new coffee shop or save a table at your favorite local spot so you can bond over a delicious beverage and bakery treat. This is a subtle way to find out how your date likes to drink their coffee. Save this information in your back pocket; you might need it in the future!
6. Go Beer or Wine Tasting
If you’re looking for a simple way to put the nerves at ease and enjoy a delicious drink or two with your date, go to a beer or wine tasting! There are many breweries and wineries that cater to people who want a sample of their offerings. Beer and wine flights are available to give you an opportunity to try multiple beverages in one tasting.
Since beer and wine are typically served in 12 to 16 ounce pours, a wine or beer flight gives you multiple 4 to 5 ounce pours of different drinks so you can decide which ones you like. This is the perfect date night option because you and your loved one can have fun chatting about your preferences.
7. Challenge Each Other in a Game of Mini Golf
A little friendly competition never hurt anyone! Take your date to the mini-golf course for a round. Find a mini-golf course nearby an ice cream shop or bar so the winner can be treated to a drink or sweet treat when the game is over.
8. Go Ice Skating
Ice skating might seem like the perfect winter date, but it can be enjoyed in the warmer months as well! Find an ice skating rink that’s open year-round, grab a pair of skates and throw on your sweatshirt for some good old-fashioned fun. If you can’t find a skating rink in the area that’s open during spring and summer, save this one for the end of the year.
9. Plan a Camping Trip
If you’re looking for a date night idea that can last well into the weekend, go camping! Most campgrounds open on Memorial Day weekend and close on Labor Day weekend, so you have plenty of time to prepare for and plan a trip in the near future.
Everyone has a different style of camping they like, so be sure to talk this over with your significant other before it’s time to pack your bags. Tent and trailer camping can be the closest opportunities for enjoying nature to its fullest extent, but you can also rent a cabin if you prefer a real bed and running water.
10. Check Out a Free Local Museum
Searching for a cheap date night option? Museums tend to have a day of the week or a certain time of the day that gives you the opportunity to browse for free. This is a great option for a date when you’re looking for something indoors. Visit an art gallery, historic museum or a similar site in the area to broaden your perspective and take a modern approach to learning about something new.
11. Go to an Arcade
Do you consider yourself and your loved one to be young at heart? There’s something so nostalgic about visiting an arcade, and it’s another ideal place for friendly competition! Hit up the pinball machines, challenge each other to a game of air hockey or win a stuffed animal out of the claw machine to give to your date.
12. Walk Around the Park
Another simple and free date option is walking through the park! A perfect date idea for small-town folks, this is a great activity if you and your significant other like to spend time outdoors and soak up the sun. Act like kids and play on the swings, or pack a picnic to enjoy a meal in the sunshine.
If you or your date own a furry friend, consider visiting the dog park. This is a fun way to get your pet out and about while you spend time with your special someone.
13. Arrange a Double Date
Sometimes, going on a date with a group of people takes some of the attention off of you and it becomes less intimidating. If you’re feeling nervous about taking your special someone out on a date but you still want to see them, consider setting up a double date. Find a close friend with a significant other who has similar interests as the two of you. You can plan something as simple as a dinner date or something more intimate like a weekend camping trip. The options are endless!
14. Make a Delicious Treat Together
Getting messy in the kitchen with your loved one offers the perfect bonding moment no matter your skill level. Instead of taking the traditional route and cooking a meal for the two of you to enjoy, mix it up and find an elaborate baked dessert you can make instead. You can still order or cook dinner, of course, but make sure you focus on creating your favorite sweet treat to enjoy with two forks.
15. Go Swimming
Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach or you want to take a dip in the pond out back, you and your date can have hours of fun swimming together. This might have to be a more spontaneous date night idea since the forecast is constantly changing, but it’s a great one to keep in mind when you need something to do on a nice day.
16. Volunteer at the Animal Shelter
Do you and your date consider yourself animal lovers? Animal shelters are always looking for extra help around the place, so why not sign up to volunteer? This is an awesome opportunity to give back to the community, have fun with your special someone, and take care of cute and cuddly furry friends along the way.
17. Go to the Driving Range
If you love a game of mini-golf but you’re ready to take things to the next level without going to a golf course, head to the driving range instead. This is the ideal spot to get a hang of your golf swing and have some fun.
18. Check Out the Shooting Range
Whether you consider yourself skillful with a gun or you’ve never been shooting before, a trip to the range can make for a great date, so long as your significant other is into it. Most places require a reservation for a spot so make sure you do your research before you show up.
19. Find a Trivia Night
Want to test your skills and show off random knowledge? Head to a local bar or restaurant for trivia night! Some establishments will have themed trivia games so you can come fully prepared, or you can walk in with your date and wing it with the rest of the players.
20. Go Thrift Shopping
Thrift shopping has always been popular, but now it’s more trendy than ever. Shopping at a thrift store allows you and your significant other to find great quality items at discount prices. And if you’re not searching for anything in particular, you can still have fun! Thrift stores are filled with unique items that can act as wacky conversation starters while you’re on your date.
Find Your Perfect Match Today
They say there are plenty of fish in the sea, but what happens when you’ve swam with every last one in your local area?
Finding “the one” in a small town can be difficult when you already know the entire community. If you’re looking for a way to meet new people without leaving town, try FarmersOnly.com.
We consider ourselves one of the best dating apps for rural areas. FarmerOnly.com is a collective of people with the same small-town interests, morals and beliefs so you feel confident about finding someone to take on a great date. All you have to do is create a profile, put your personality on display and start talking to potential matches. It’s that simple.
The city folks out there just don’t get it! Sign up for your FarmersOnly.com account today to find your perfect match and start going on fun dates as soon as possible.