Favorite date ideas?

The last time I went on a real date I took her to the Seattle Aquarium, and it worked out well. Dinner is also pretty decent, but pick somewhere you can sit and talk without having to worry about people around you. Avoid the movies, unless you want to just sit there, and not talk. Not usually the best way to get a second date. Also make sure to keep an escape route handy. If the date gets scary, head for the door - no regrets.

No movies, no bars and no clubbing. I always went with the dinner and dancing. I found a nice resturant with a band that plays soft music and took alot of my dates there.

Meet for a late dinner. Then a drink. Then home. Conversations should be the main entertainment.

I vote for the rockclimbing or the short hike. Personally, however, I would opt for climbing on real rock rather than the gym. Climbing is so much more fun out of doors, and the scenery and general ambience is much better than at a sweaty, crowded gym full of poseurs. There are great opportunities to talk and interact with both hiking and climbing, and rockclimbing in particular will give you some insight into how the girl reacts to new situations (assuming she's not experienced in climbing.) If you're doing the hike, make sure to pack a nice picnic lunch. If you're doing the rock climbing thing, make sure to pick a very easy climb, that she will likely be able to get up. Best of all would be to combine all three, an easy hike to a rock climbing spot, followed by a picnic. Then, take her home to your place and cook her a wonderful meal. Make sure your house is clean, especially the bathroom. I don't know where you live, but a picnic and concert at an outdoor music venue are also a lot of fun. I grew up in the D.C. suburbs, and some of my best dates ever were at Wolf Trap, a beautiful outdoor theater. A nice, elegant dinner on the grass (with a traditional wicker picnic basket, crystal, linens, etc.) followed by an evening of beautiful music in an outdoor setting, with stars and dancing fireflies. Wonderful. Live theater is also a favorite. Dinner and a play is usually so much more appealing than dinner and a movie. A day at a go-kart track can also be a lot of fun. I'm talking about real kart tracks, not the lame amusement park tracks. Go karting, eat hotdogs, talk and have fun. Go to a street market if there is an interesting one near you. Buy stuff to cook for dinner, look at the various wares, talk.

You guys have some good suggestions, but I submit that activities that are good for normal dates (for lack of a better term) do not necessarily translate to blind dates. Neither of you have any idea if there will be a spark between you, and it's generally pretty evident right from the beginning. If you see her, know it's not meant to be, and are then stuck with a 3 hours of rock climbing or hike and picnic, well, you're assed-out. Even dinner is a bit of a commitment. I prefer dessert, especially if you can find a place that only serves dessert - there are a few in New York and at least one in Boston. It's casual, low-key, a bit unexpected, and the girl gets to eat chocolate without feeling like a pig. If things don't click, you're out 35 mins and 20 bucks. If they do work out, you can go out for drinks afterwards. Easy peasy lemon-squeezy, you know?

I like PeterMetro's idea. As someone (now engaged, yes, I know, just in case you are reading) who went out on a *lot* of first dates, simpler is better. First of all, you have not idea what her interests *actually* are. She could have told you she liked rockclimbing because she thought you were interested. Or she might hate the theatre, just like you do (well, I'm projecting here) and you'll both have a crap time - plus she'll think that you are Frasier Crane. Second, the more elaborate and longer a date is, the more potential for a really, really, bad date. It's nearly a law. A nice short desert lets her indulge her sweet tooth, for you to decide whether you want to head out dancing, talking, or whether you should wish each other a wonderful life and go on your way.

Great topic idea. I often find myself without any clue what to do for a date. I think dinner and movie/play is a classic idea, but also kind of overdone. Seeing a movie as the only part of the first date is often a bad idea, unless you enjoy sitting for two hours without getting to know her at all. Add dinner before that, however, and you've got two hours where you can converse at dinner, and then two more hours to just enjoy eachother's company at the movie. If it's spring/summer/fall, and you live by a pretty park with botannical gardens or the like, I suggest going for an afternoon walk for a casual date. Planning a picnic around this is also a great idea. If the park has a pond with paddleboats for rent, I suggest this. For something more 'intellectual', go to the museum/art museum/aquarium in your city. Even the small historical museums found in smaller cities are great places to visit. After you go on a few dates and are at the stage where you can 'hang out' together at your place, I suggest this for a very nice afternoon or evening activity. If you have a "Half Price Books" in your area (or any other used book/CD store) visit them and look for some CDs. The locations by my house always have many racks of $1 and $3 CDs. You can find many great current CDs there, as well as some unknown ones. I suggest picking up several by artists that you have not heard of - usually I look for ones with interesting cover art or song titles - it's a great way to discover new artists. Go back to your place, open a nice bottle of wine, have some snacks, and chat while listening to your new music. Seeing a ball game is also nice, but can be expensive for a first date. I'm taking this girl out tomorrow night - we're friends but I found out she likes me, so I know her slightly but haven't dated her before. Anyway, I can't think of any good ideas. This will probably be an evening date. All I can think of is a movie, but I don't want to do that for a first date. Please, help me out.

Seems a little random, I don't see what that has to do with anything else you said.

Well, I meant that if you're on a limited budget, and your date/girlfriend enjoys music, you two can have a great afternoon together discovering new music while chatting and enjoying some wine or something. This is something that tends to work better if you've been dating a while, or are boyfriend/girlfriend, rather than as a first date. It's just a fun and relaxing activity.

Well, I meant that if you're on a limited budget, and your date/girlfriend enjoys music, you two can have a great afternoon together discovering new music while chatting and enjoying some wine or something. This is something that tends to work better if you've been dating a while, or are boyfriend/girlfriend, rather than as a first date. It's just a fun and relaxing activity.[/quote] I get it now, I just couldn't see the link to the dating before.

Any blind date should just be over lunch or a cup of coffee. I would avoid night time activities. It should be a screen date not a high-pressure, gotta-entertain-her-or-else kind of situation. Why go through all the time, effort, and money if the two of you don't hit it off well over a cup of coffee and some basic conversation?

Anything low pressure is fine. I always like to bring the girl into my world for a first date. Usually I'll call a few numbers and invite them all to a party I'm throwing in my apartment. I tell them it's ok for them to bring friends along as well.

I agree with Vero.  Due to the fact that you have never met her, I think he should do something quick and inexpensive.  I think coffee is the perfect activity.     I agreed to a blind date a few years back and it was a disaster.  Initinally, we agreed to meet for dinner, but I subsequently decided it was a bad idea.  Instead we met for drinks and I it turned out to be a good decision.

bump this up. Anyone have any more cool ideas for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th dates? Lets hear them.