Ten Best Places for First Dates
You exchanged phone numbers and managed to get a first date, now where do you go? When you plan a first date you should think about ease of interaction and getting to know the person. You want your first date to be:
1. Safe Date: You want your date to feel at ease so it should be a public place that is well lit with people around.
2. Quiet Date: The whole purpose of your date is to get to know each other and it is difficult to do this shouting over loud music in a night club or with people bumping into you.
3. Fun Date: A place that is cool or has something unique that gives you conversation topics to start with.
4. Quick Date: The purpose is to get to know if this is someone you want to have a long date with. You don’t want to be stuck on a long date with someone that just isn’t right for you. So plan on keeping it short, no more than 2 hours. Some ideas for great for a first date quick, fun, safe and allow you to converse without shouting:
1. Coffee at a local coffee hangout. Starbucks is a great place but you may want to find a unique coffee or tea place that isn’t part of a chain.
2. Miniature golf or par 3 golf. This limits you to an two hours.
3. Roller blading after work
4. Hiking/walk in a well trafficked city or suburban park that you can meet up
5. Breakfast/brunch on a Sat morning
6. Free day at the local art or science museum.
7. If you both have dogs, take the dogs for a walk at a dog park.
8. Meet at a bookstore. You can talk about books and grab coffee or soda too.
9. Set up a tennis game or bike ride.
10. If you both have an interest in something such as art galleries or antiques, set up a Sat morning to go do a gallery or antique stroll.
Stay away from any activity involving alcohol on your first meeting. You want to have all your senses as you get to know this person’s character and safety. Nightclubs, wine bars, and pool halls are too easy to all of a sudden have 3 or 4 drinks by the end of the evening and an unfocused conversation and false chemistry brought on by the alcohol. Plan on meeting up where you plan the date. Don’t offer to pick up your date if you just met online or at a local bar or event. If you are having a good time you can ask your date to do plan another time together.
