While the winter is great for warm and snuggly date nights at home, springtime is my favorite season because it opens the door to so many more possibilities for me and my husband to connect. As parents of two young kids, it’s easy to make excuses as to why my husband and I can’t go on dates. Whether it’s lack of childcare or trying to save money for XYZ, something inevitably comes up. But the warmer spring weather reminds us both to take a step outside and enjoy time with each other while we can.
Dating your partner is important in a healthy relationship, and in order to be the best mom and dad we can be, we need to invest that time back into ourselves—even if one kid sometimes tags along during our outings. For couples looking for spring date ideas, here are a few to try out as the weather warms up!
20 Spring Date Ideas for Parents
1. Watch Live Music
Now that everyone is out and about more, that means more opportunities to see live music! Catch your favorite artists on tour at concert venue, discover a new favorite artist at a local concert hall, or find live music at a local restaurant or bar. No matter which route you choose, dancing and singing to live music with your SO may be the perfect way to unthaw from a cold winter.
2. Plan a Gardening or Landscaping Project
If you enjoy hiking or other outdoor activities, you may really enjoy gardening with your partner or planning a landscaping project. You could pick a flower that is special between the two of you or find a tree you want to nurture and grow. Whether you have a huge yard, a big garden, or just a flower pot or two on a small balcony, gardening can allow couples to work together, practice patience and care, and is a nice way to get out of the house and do something different than just dinner after the kids go to bed.
3. Head to the Botanical Gardens
Spring means that everything is starting to bloom again. See the beauty in action at your local botanical garden. Stroll hand in hand with your partner for a slow and relaxing date that’s sure to get your mind off of your to-do list.
4. Have a Drive-In Movie Date
Pick a movie you want to see and pack snacks in your car for a romantic date night with or without your children. If you don’t have access to a babysitter, this is an especially convenient option for parents of younger children who fall asleep easily in the car. When my children were very little, we would grab a coffee and drive around town until our babies fell asleep and enjoy an evening together out of the house. On nice nights, you can pop them into a carrier and watch the big-screen movies without worrying about interrupting others in a theater. If your baby starts to get fussy you can easily take a walk, nurse them, or rock them to sleep.
5. Plan a Picnic and a Hike
Family hikes are amazing, but they can also be a low-budget date option. A lot of couples with children don’t often have the time or energy to simply enjoy things like a walk in nature, so dates like these are really nice to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy one another’s company. Try to ditch your phones in your bag for the outing, and use the child-free time to talk and make out like teenagers on the picnic blanket.
6. Go Brewery or Winery Hopping
Even if you didn’t realize it, there’s probably tons of breweries and wineries in your area waiting for you to explore them. Take an afternoon Uber-ing to several different spots to try a few flights of new brews or vinos. A quick Google search may even turn up a tour service that will take you around to several spots for the most convenient experience. Be sure to grab a bottle or six pack to take home with you.
7. Watch a Baseball Game
Spring is all but synonymous with baseball, and there’s no better way to bask in the warm weather than trying to catch a fly ball. Grab some seats, cheep beer, and ballpark food for a perfect spring afternoon.
8. Go to the Farmers Market
As we come out of hibernation, so do all of the fruits and vegetables we’ve been missing all winter. As it gets warmer out, we get to welcome back farmers market season. Instead of your usual grocery store run, make a fun date out of errands by starting at the farmers market. Grab all of the produce you need for the week and spend a weekend morning pursuing all of the unique vendors.
9. Try Mini Golfing
Get the competitive juices flowing by a good old fashioned game of mini golf. The perfect date to make you feel like kids again, you’ll get to enjoy a day outside and share lots of laugh over who has the worst swing. This is another great option to consider if childcare isn’t an option—bring the kiddos along for some family fun!
10. Watch the Sunset at a Rooftop Bar
Now that most of the wintery gray clouds are behind us, it’s the perfect time to revel in a beautiful sunset. Find a rooftop to head to one night, grab some drinks and take in the view with your partner. This is the perfect opportunity to bust out a fancy outfit that hasn’t seen the light of day since fall and feel all of the romantic feels.
11. Get Active
Getting active with your partner can be a perfect way to get fun and flirty with one another after being buried under a pile of diapers, dirty laundry, and other tedious day-to-day activities. Whether you are super athletic or just getting started, you can have so much fun practicing during beautiful spring days. From golfing to climbing to bike-riding, active hobbies are a great way to connect physically with a partner, and enjoy an opportunity to flirt as you encourage—or playfully heckle—each other as you learn.
12. Have a Patio Date Night
As the snow melts, more and more restaurants will be opening their patios for patrons once again. Take advantage of sunny afternoons on the patio by snagging a coveted lunch or early dinner reservation at the spot you’ve been missing for months. Or, try somewhere brand new to see if you can’t find a new place to add to your regular date night rotation.
13. Take a Bike Ride
Get physical while enjoying the warm spring weather with a bike ride. Find your local bike trail and see how far you two can go. Be sure to pack snacks and some water so you make the most of your day outdoors.
14. Go to an Amusement Park
It may feel wrong to go to an amusement park without the kiddos, but what better way to bring out your inner child? Spend a thrill seeking afternoon catching ride after ride, playing fun games, eating way too much fried food, and hopefully going home with a fun prize. You may enjoy it so much that you head back with the whole family next time.
15. Take a Class Together
There’s no time like spring to start a new hobby. Find something you both find interesting and sign up to take a class together. Think cooking, photography, or pottery. Not only do you get to pick up a new skill, but you’ll bond with your partner while doing it. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to keep practicing something together long after date night comes to a close.
16. Go to the Zoo
A walk in the zoo is an accessible idea for many couples. There are plenty of places where you can sit down and relax at your own pace and it is kid-friendly for those without childcare. Zoo dates are especially great for new parents who need to get out of the house, and have a baby who does great in the stroller or baby carrier. While romance can be difficult to enjoy when children are underfoot for some couples, for others, nothing is more special than making memories with a loved one and seeing how they care for their children.
17. Go Horseback Riding
Feeling adventurous? Spend an afternoon with animals in a new way by doing a horseback riding excursion. Many stables offer 1-4 hour trail rides where you’ll ride horseback through the countryside. Some rides even end with a traditional cowboy dinner for an added experience. Find one in a nearby town for an activity you’ll want to do again and again. And don’t worry, most of the time no experience is necessary!
18. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you’re feeling like taking your relationship to new heights, why not do so literally? See your city from a new point of view through an out-of-this-world experience like a hot air balloon ride. Many come with a champagne toast, making it the perfect romantic experience.
19. Spring Clean Together
Even if you hate spring cleaning, there’s a way to make it fun! Send the kiddos to their grandparents’ for the day, turn up the tunes, and be productive while reconnecting with your partner. You’ll both feel accomplished by the end of the day and ready to indulge in some well deserved take out and drinks.
20. Try an Escape Room
Nothing connects couples quite like working together. Put your heads together to solve puzzle upon puzzle at a local escape room. You’ll both feel so proud of yourselves and each other when you successfully complete it—a sense of appreciation you can take with you when you head back home!
