Hello, local single person here. A while back I pitched writing this piece on Summer Date Ideas in hopes that I would no longer be single by the time I sat down to write it. Tough luck — it looks like the world enjoys a cruel self-inflicted joke. But as I am not actually going on dates, I have more time to daydream about them. Oh, to be young and [not] in love.
Instead of Bar Hopping:
Craft a New Identity on a Speakeasy Hunt
The PG, but 21, version of a scavenger hunt. The most ironic part of a speakeasy is that it is easily found on the internet. Take on new identities, fake names or adopt an accent as you enter a hidden world. You can even up the ante and pretend to be strangers, one person designated to pick the other up at the bar.
Instead of Paint and Sip:
Visit a Fine Arts Museum and Share Your Favorite Tunes
Ah, yes, we love a cultured duo. Buy a headphone splitter and share your favorite songs with each other as you walk around — create a playlist that will pair perfectly with the museum you are headed to. Fine arts? Go with classical. Contemporary? Try EDM. What matters is that you dress up and admire the arts or laugh at the pieces that do not make sense to you. Plan what you would buy for your hypothetical home if you had unlimited funds. My favorite part of any museum trip is yelling, “I COULD HAVE MADE THAT!!!” while walking through the contemporary section. Make sure you check out the gift shop — the true heart of any good museum.
Instead of a Walk Around the Park:
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Bar Crawl
The makers of Pokémon Go! are back with a new augmented reality mobile game that launched this June. No one gives these guys enough credit — they got more kids to play outside than any parent ever could. Grab a partner, head to your local bar scene to look for Portkeys, and combine two of the United Kingdom’s favorite pastimes: drinking and Harry Potter.
Instead of Attending a Theme Party:
Go Roller Skating in Costume
Let’s roll back the clock. Sometimes all you need to spice up an everyday routine is a hint of nostalgia. Race each other — last one there is a rotten life partner! (And has to buy pizza.) If you are feeling especially groovy, you can go dressed in your best ’70s themed gear.
Instead of Netflix and Chill:
Head to a Board Game Café
When you have retired from the world of nightlife and have made your way into the trenches of adulthood, it is often hard to find things to do. But Friday nights in have an expiration date, and there are some nights you just want to leave your home. Boardgame cafes have been popping up around the U.S. as the best of all worlds — human connection, nitro cold brew and destroying the ones you love in a healthy game of Catan or Scrabble.
Instead of Karaoke:
Hit a Comedy Show … and Perform
Do you ever look around the room and realize you settled down with someone who is simply not funny enough? Before that sends you into a did-I-make-a-mistake spiral, Google comedy shows in your area. Allow a professional to remind you of what it is like to actually laugh out loud (LOL, as the youth say) together. If it is an open mic night, double dog dares your partner to get up on stage.
Instead of a Hike:
Try Out Kayaking
An arm workout, trust exercise and perfect date wrapped into one. You can relax and enjoy nature’s view, or you can treat this like the regatta. Either way, you are guaranteed to have a good time. Bring a waterproof polaroid camera to capture the memories!
We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.
