Great date ideas for couples who love the outdoors

Adventure is an essential ingredient in any love potion. And once you’ve bonded over your mutual love of the outdoors, it's time to keep it fresh by taking your outings up a notch. Even if you don't have the funds to travel to new places, make your regular outings feel brand new with these dating tips for relationships that thrive outside.

Bring Snacks

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Why does food taste so much better on the trail? Even a day hike is more romantic when it's topped off with a picnic, even if it’s not fancy. On hot days, you can freeze fruit like blueberries and raspberries to bring on a long hike. By the time you reach the summit, they’ll be just defrosted enough to enjoy. If it’s cold out, a flask of wine or whiskey or thermos of coffee can feel like the ultimate luxury.

Get Cookin'

If you have access to a grill or fire pit, make good use of it. Pinterest is ripe with boards featuring delicious and easy campfire recipes, and Buzzfeed has a good collection, too. Cooking together is a great way to bond, plus cooking outside is an extra challenge to tackle together. Cabela's sells a soft cross-body cooler that's not too bulky to take on a hike. Or, if you want to keep it super simple, just go with s'mores (and isn't chocolate is a natural aphrodisiac?)

Play Like Kids

Water balloon fights, watermelon eating contests, Frisbee, Twister, checkers, a bean bag toss: Get silly together. Plus, a little playful competition can be sexy. You can include a group of friends and organize an event or grab a few squirt guns and head to the park on a Sunday afternoon; either way, you’re sure to giggle away any relationship rough patches.

Get Artsy

Take a small but nice pad of drawing paper (less than $20 at a craft store) with you on the trail for a great activity to do once you reach the summit. Don’t forget the pencil sharpener and a good eraser, and don’t get too caught up in how good of an artist you are. The point is for you to both have a keepsake to remember the moment together.

You can trade off working on the drawing. It’s an exercise used in many creative college courses. If one person gets stuck, hand it off to your partner to work on for a while. Then switch again until you are both satisfied or you’re running out of light. It’s frustration-free collaboration that lets you think creatively as individuals while working together to reach a common goal. Then: Frame it. Happy Valentine's Day. You’re welcome.

Music Festivals

TThey’re not the cheapest option, but they are once-in-a-lifetime events. These music extravaganzas have line-ups that make music lovers quiver (Kendrick Lamar with Stevie Wonder in Vegas?!?!), but the camping option that many offer is nothing like pitching a tent in a state park. Be sure to research what you’re allowed to bring, how to prepare for inclement weather and other common festival do’s and dont’s. Daily Mail has a pretty good list to get you started.

Watch the Sunset

Yeah, the sun sets. It happens every day. It’s cliche. But picture this: You just got home from work. You're both expecting another night in. Netflix is all cued up. And all of a sudden, you tell your honey to get in the car — if we don’t go this second, we will miss it. Get in the car and drive to the closest vantage point where you can watch the sun disappear beyond the horizon and you can be (relatively) alone. Tell your partner you just wanted to celebrate another day, happy, together. Bring chocolate. Timing and spontaneity are everything with this one. Your partner is sure to be touched.

Whatever you choose to do, its my hope that you will have loads of fun that will bring the two of you much closer.

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