Fun things to do with your partner in winter

As the winter months settle in, your romantic autumn dates centered around apple picking and bush walking must come to end. When it’s cold, an indoor date night sounds inevitable, but there are definitely ways to make romantic winter dates (both indoor and outdoor!) something you actually look forward to every year.Winter date nights can be a night in, like movie nights (try these romantic date night movies), indoor picnics, and game nights.

You can also learn something new together just about anywhere online while staying indoors. Sign up for a knitting session, learn a new language, or even tap into your culinary expertise with a cooking class or study the history of wine together. You might even stay indoors for a fun winter date night of bowling, rock climbing, or taking a fitness class together. But if outdoor activities are definitely still on the table, we love active dates like heading outside for a stroll or weekend getaway. And if you’re more into going out on the town for date night, a fun cider tasting or night out at the newest restaurant is sure to do the trick. If winter date night calls for a special event, snag tickets to your local sporting event, theatre, jazz club, comedy show, and more. Your special someone will appreciate how thoughtful you are to plan a romantic evening just for the two of you, and you’ll grow closer knowing you got to experience something together.

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1) Visit a museum

There’s a museum for every kind of interest, so whether you love impressionist art or natural history, grab your babe and explore together. And if you think you’ve seen every museum in your city, check your local paper for upcoming special exhibits that may pique your interest and encourage you to return to a frequented place.

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2) Have an indoor picnic

Order take-away, pop a bottle of wine, light some candles, and lay out a blanket for a romantic indoor picnic. For a little extra fun, play your favorite album, put on your favourite movie, or ask some thought-provoking questions to get the night going.

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3) Head to the theater

From live plays to your local movie theater, get tickets to see the hottest show in town. Make things interesting and put one person in charge of the show and the other in charge of snacks.

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4) Take a cooking class

In-person and online cooking classes are available for a night of chopping, sautéing, baking, and laughing with your love. From an evening in Tuscany with pasta-making classes, to a romantic steak dinner for two, there’s a class (and menu) to meet your tastebuds. Plus, you’ll have a blast learning something new together.

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5) Get tickets to a game

Buy some tickets to watch your favourite AFL or NRL team this season. You’ll have a blast cheering your favourite team on together from somewhere other than your couch.

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6) Have a cider tasting

Or wine, beer, or other drink that you find delicious! Head to your local bottle shop, brewery, winery, or bar with a wide variety of drinks to try the latest selections. You can even create a bracket for your favourite sips and crown one winner at the end of the night.

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7) Take an online class

Is there something you and your special someone have always wanted to learn? From knitting or origami, to learning a new language or more about wine, there’s an online class out there ready for you to learn together.

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8) Go to a comedy show

Get tickets to a local comedy show for a night of laughter and fun with your significant other. Many bars, restaurants, or theatres host comedy events throughout the season, and tickets tend to be cheap with a minimum spend on food and drink.

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9) Have a game night

Snuggle up by the fire and grab your favourite board game or puzzle for a cozy night in with your plus one.

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10) Plan a movie night

Create a themed movie night to watch films all by the same actor, holiday favourites, or the top movies from the year you were born. If you don’t know where to begin, write down your favourite movies on slips of paper and put them in a jar, then select your movie night lineup randomly for the evening.

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11) Paint together

Grab your paint brushes and canvases, because it’s time to get creative. Feel free to join a painting class, paint freehand on your own, or set out to paint a room in your house together. The more laughs, the better.

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12) Jam out at a jazz show

The hottest club in town is the jazz club, and you can visit with your loved one for a night to remember. Check local listings for bars, theatres, and event spaces that may host live music and set a date to visit for a night of music.

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13) Try a new restaurant

That new restaurant that just opened or the cuisine you heard about you’ve never tried before is perfect for winter date night with your babe. Make a reservation to try the new spot, or order take-away and decorate your dining room for an extra special night in.

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14) Go antiquing

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and antiquing can be an exciting way to explore things that others have given away. You’ll find old books, furniture, and entertainment you can enjoy together.

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15) Go bowling

For an active, indoor activity, bowling can be a fun way to get competitive with your significant other while playing an energising game. Set a bet on the end score—loser washes the dishes for a week.

16) Stay at a B&B

No time for a getaway this winter? Grab your loved one for a weekend stay at a local B&B or rental for a few nights. Book a cabin stay or romantic inn for a change of scenery and a relaxing break you’ll cherish for years to come.

17) Volunteer together

Find a cause you’re both passionate about and get out there to help! You can clean a park, volunteer at an animal shelter, or serve food at a homeless shelter. There are endless opportunities to do good during your time together.

18) Make dinner together

Plan a perfect theme (is it pasta night?), curate the menu (would red wine pair best?), take a trip to the supermarket to stock up, and cook a full meal together. You’ll have a blast trying a new dish and sitting down to enjoy it together.

19) Visit a game arcade

Go old school with pinball machines, Pacman, and more at a local game arcade. Don’t have a place that offers adults the opportunity to play? Set up an at-home video game night for a chance to get a little competitive and have fun.

20) Window shop

Check out a furniture store to plan your imaginary beach house, visit a cookware store to dream up your perfect kitchen, or even head to your favourite clothing store to pick out outfits for each other to try on. There’s no pressure to buy—the experience is all you need.

21) Take a workout class

If you’re an active duo, sign up for a workout class that excites both of you and gets you pumped for date night. You can head to a studio together for your sweat sesh, or take a class online from your living room.

22) Explore an art gallery

Museums are fun, but sometimes visiting an art gallery to see local artists’ work can be an extra special experience. Chat with the staff to learn more about the collection, and explore different types of work you may have never seen before.

23) Try rock climbing

This indoor winter-friendly activity is fun for those who miss adventurous hiking and outdoor activities in the warmer months. Plus, there’s an element of trust involved that can help bring you closer to your date!

24) Visit the aquarium

For the animal lovers out there, zoos can be a little chilly during the winter months. Your local aquarium has all the fun of learning about new animals, without the epically cold temps. Stay warm inside and gaze at a whole sea of creatures you’ve never seen up close before.

This article originally appeared on prevention.com

First published: 3 Jun 2022

Tags: mind