Even though the holiday season is upon us and things are going to get busy, that doesn’t mean you and your spouse or the person you are dating should skip date nights. This time of year, it’s especially important to stay connected.
Now that the warm days of summer are over, the weather is getting chillier, and snow will soon be on its way, you may be thinking about holiday date night ideas.
This list should get you started on some great, affordable options for date night:
1. Watch Your Favorite Holiday Movies
Holiday movies are one of the best parts of the holiday season. Hallmark, Great American Family, and Lifetime all have tons of Christmas movies playing this time of year. Of course, watching your favorite classics like Holiday Inn, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Santa Claus are fantastic options too.
Another fun way to enjoy holiday movies is to go see one on the big screen. Check out your local movie theaters (chains and independents) to see if they will show any Christmas movies on the big screen. Most of the time, they show the classics.
2. Go Out for Gourmet Hot Cocoa or Coffee
Nothing beats the cold like a gourmet coffee or hot chocolate. This time of year, you can find all kinds of great flavors, like white chocolate, peppermint, snickerdoodle, gingerbread, peppermint mocha, and eggnog. Instead of going to the chain shops, search for independently-owned coffee shops in your town and try them out. They will appreciate your business, and you may find your new favorite coffee house.
I love going to independently-owned coffee shops. We have one down the street that makes the best French toast latte ever!
3. Get Holiday Desserts
Go out to a restaurant for a special holiday dessert. You will find some decadent treats on the menu that you don’t normally make at home. You may even want to search for places in your town that serve only desserts and check them out.
Another idea is to go to your favorite donut shop or your favorite ice cream parlor for a yummy treat. Or some dessert fondue at a fondue restaurant.
4. Bake Cookies Together
Baking is part of the holidays, so why not do it together? Make sure you decide which recipes you want to make ahead of time and gather all your ingredients. Put on some Christmas music and bake your hearts out. When you’re done, enjoy the fruits of your labor with a cup of coffee or milk.
(As you are gathering recipes, think about who you want to share your goodies with in case anyone has allergies. This way, you can change a recipe if needed.)
5. Trim the Tree
This can count as two date nights. One night you trim your tree together and the second night you help your boyfriend or girlfriend trim their tree.
As you’re decorating, talk about traditions and the ornaments you are putting on the tree. Some people have ornaments that are passed down through generations, some have ornaments that hold special meanings, and some ornaments we buy just for fun. I bought my husband a sloth ornament a few years ago for fun because he loves them!
6. Snuggle on the Couch
Take some time out of the hustle and bustle and relax with each other. Curl up on the couch with some cozy blankets and have a long conversation, take a nap, or watch a movie, or binge a few episodes of a favorite TV series.
7. Have a Cider or Eggnog Tasting
This is a great way to spend date night. Look up recipes and make two or three kinds of cider or eggnog. You can find all kinds of flavors to make, and don’t forget all the extras like whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, or sprinkles. If it’s a date night with a girlfriend/boyfriend, be sure you bring a thermos or two so you can take home some of that gourmet goodness to drink the next morning while you’re eating breakfast.
8. Wrap Presents Together
Wrapping Christmas gifts can be a long, tedious, and annoying task, so why not have a wrapping date night? Gather all your gifts and help each other make them beautiful to present to their recipients. If you have any odd-shaped gifts, you can brainstorm on the best way to wrap them. Just make sure you don’t bring the gifts you’ve bought for each other! Take stock of all your supplies before you begin so you don’t run out of paper, tissue paper, or everybody’s favorite thing to run out of—scotch tape. Consider adding different-sized boxes and bags to the mix to make wrapping easier.
9. Surprise People with Goodies
If you have a baking date night, schedule another date within the same week to surprise your neighbors with treats. Wrap them up pretty and go make someone’s evening.
Another option if you have an overabundance of goodies is to make packages for your mail carrier, your favorite barista at the coffee shop, your favorite bank teller, the server at the diner, your favorite grocery cashier, the UPS or FedEx driver that delivers your packages, your child’s teacher, your veterinarian, etc. Think of all the people you see regularly who make your life easier. Your generosity will make them happy, and they’ll be thrilled to have some treats to eat.
10. Drive Around and Look at Lights
I love to drive around and look at the lights in my neighborhood during the holidays. Every display, no matter how big or small, is fun to look at. People are so creative and put on fantastic displays. This makes a great date night idea.
When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, there were two streets in Duboistown called Spring and Summer Street and they ran side by side. Every year, all the houses on each street would decorate their houses and yards for Christmas and you could drive through and look at them. My parents would take me every year. It’s still going on all these years later, which I think is awesome. My best friend takes her dogs every year to see the lights.
You could do this on several date nights during the season and go explore the lights in the surrounding towns. Some towns have Christmas tree lightings on the square. You could go see them light up the town tree and then drive around and look at lights in a new neighborhood. This will bring a sense of adventure as you explore someplace new.
Winter date nights can be just as fun and exciting as they are any other time of year, despite the snow and freezing temperatures. There are all kinds of activities to do indoors like trimming the tree, baking cookies, game nights, karaoke nights, a movie or TV marathon, etc. Date nights can also consist of outdoor activities like taking a walk in the snow, going ice skating, or walking or driving around the neighborhood to look at the lights.
So start planning what you want to do for your date nights this winter and look forward to a fun time together.
Photo Credit: ©DGLimages
