10 Best Frugal Romantic Dates for Summer

There is a reason why the summer fling is such a popular idea; summer is an ideal time to go on romantic dates. The relaxed feeling of summer, the opportunity to get outdoors and the plethora of things available to do during the summer months all combine to make it a terrific season for spending hours and hours getting to know (or to become re-acquainted with) someone that interests you. And what’s really great about summer dating is that a lot of the activities that you can enjoy are cheap or free!

Whether you’re looking for a short summer fling or you want to get intimate again with someone you’ve been with for awhile, here are some of the top summer dates that combine romance and frugal living:

1. Take long hikes in beautiful scenic areas near you. Summer is a beautiful time to just get outdoors and walk around with someone. The weather makes it easy to leisurely meander through state parks and nature areas for hours upon hours. You can use this time to have lengthy getting-to-know-you discussions or to daydream aloud together about the life that you want to have one day. Alternatively, you can simply enjoy some quiet time together, pointing out the various sights and sounds that you don’t normally have the time to appreciate during the other busy seasons of the year. This lack of distraction brings you back to the simple pleasure of just enjoying someone else’s company.

2. Go on a couple of rides at a local fair. Amusement parks and local fairs are really romantic dates for a lot of people because they bring back the romance of your high school and college days. The problem is that these dates can get expensive. A trip to a theme park just isn’t worth the cost for most frugal adult couples. However, it’s possible to enjoy some of that same sense of silly adventure without spending so much money. Head to a local fair that has no entry fee. Set a budget. Take your time picking out just one or two rides that you want to go on and a few games that you want to play. By drawing out the time that you spend making your selection, you can soak up the fun of this kind of romantic date without spending a lot of money. Don’t forget to kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel!

3. Volunteer at a farm together. Summer is one of the best times to volunteer at a farm because there are so many great crops to pick during the summer. Many of these crops are fruit crops that grow on trees which are easy for even the inexperienced farmer to pick. You can go on a volunteer vacation or merely spend a day at a U-Pick farm. Getting back in touch with the land together can be a great way to spend a date with someone you enjoy being around. And at the end of the day, you can go home together and dine on the delicious foods that you’ve picked. Perhaps there will even be some aphrodisiacs in your basket of goodies!

4. Find your area’s free outdoor movies, evening concerts and plays in the park. Most places have at least a few of these events during the summer. You can pack a picnic dinner and enjoy some free outdoor entertainment. Ideally you’ll choose a play or movie that’s got a romantic story line but something light-hearted and funny would work as well. Snuggle up together as the sun goes down and the chill comes back into the air and you’ve got a date that you’ll wish will never end.

5. Take advantage of sunsets and full moons. Nights are cold throughout most of the year but they’re fairly comfortable in most places during the summer months. Take advantage of this by doing things that revolve around sunsets, stargazing and moonlit nights. Picnics under the stars, dancing under the moon and watching the sunset together from a scenic vantage point are all activities that are high on the romance scale and easy on the budget.

6. Go to sports events at the local park. Forget the expensive games at the actual ballpark; head to the local park and watch a youth game instead. Sharing a hot dog or an ice cream cone is a great way to revive an old romance. Head over to the swings and push each other on them. Climb a tree together and watch the game from there. Alternatively you may want to enjoy some cheap sports activities yourselves – the batting cages and the driving range are both affordable summer options for active dates.

7. Indulge in some kids’ activities. There are tons of great cheap summer activities for kids. We don’t think about doing a lot of them as adults but some of them can be really fun as silly dates for a frugal couple. Pick up some sidewalk chalk and spend a few hours together creating a sidewalk mural or writing love poems to each other on your driveway. Get into your swimsuits and play in the sprinkler together or have a water balloon fight with another couple that you know. Kids know how to have fun and fun is what great dates are all about!

8. Take a train ride. Summer vacations can get expensive but they don’t have to be especially if you make the trip itself the purpose of the vacation. There isn’t any form of travel that’s more romantic than a train so take a train ride together to a nearby destination. Alternatively, take an inexpensive road trip to nowhere in particular. Enjoy the journey together.

9. Build your own outdoor kitchen. A lot of couples are happiest when they’re working on a project together. An outdoor kitchen is an ideal project for summer since you can enjoy barbecues together while you’re working on it. This project can get expensive if you’re not careful but if you work on choosing frugal designs and materials to build your kitchen together then you can create a special spot that will provide romance for many summers to come.

10. Spend the day in bed. Summer doesn’t have to be active. In fact, one of the best things about summer is that it’s a time when people kind of expect you to stay home and have some lazy days. Spend a whole day in bed together. Get a stack of magazines, a few good books or a handful of DVDs. Eat popsicles and fresh fruit all day. Have tickle fights. Make out a lot. These dates are sometimes the best dates of all!

If you liked this post then you may also be interested in our post on 30 Creative Date Ideas That Don’t Cost a Lot of Money.

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