10 Creative Dating Ideas

Creative dating ideas don't have to cost a lot of money. They simply allow you to spend time with the one you like (or love!) doing something out of the ordinary. Painting is a creative dating idea that can be as inexpensive or pricey as you'd like. Paint each other's portraits with a goofy theme involved. Take on a project and paint a room. You could even visit an art class and pick up techniques together.

While anyone can go out for ice cream, it can be more interesting to create your own sundaes. Up the ante by seeing who can create the best ice cream sculpture. Who says you shouldn't play with your food?

If you've been dating for a while, you probably have photos, ticket stubs, and more. Chances are, they're scattered. Take an evening to collect them all and put them together in a collage or scrapbook.

A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. In this case, you can actually help someone too. Come up with a good deed for a neighbor, then see who can complete their portion of the task first. For example, divide a neighbor's leaf-covered yard into sections to rake and see who finishes their half first. The loser has to buy dinner and/or movie tickets to the movie of the winner's choice.

Even if you're well past childhood, some of the best creative dating ideas revolve around allowing yourselves to be kids again. Break out the sidewalk chalk for a game of hopscotch, hop on the swingset at the park, find a shaved ice stand, or have a scavenger hunt.

Go around town with a camera in tow, asking strangers to take pictures of you together in your favorite spots. You could also split up and take pictures of your favorite couple hangouts and things that remind you of one another. Meet back up later to see how your collections compare. You could also use the pictures as clues in a scavenger hunt, combining two creative date ideas.

Go hiking at odd times and enjoy quiet time together alone on the trails. Make it extra romantic by getting out of bed early enough to catch the sunrise with a thermos of coffee in your hands.

You may both already know how to rollerblade, so that would be too easy. However, do you both know how to ice skate? It could be more challenging. Warm each other up when you're done trying to keep your balance on the ice.

Create a CD of your favorite love songs and stuff a picnic basket full of your sweetie's favorite foods. Drive out to a secluded spot and leave the headlights on. Have a picnic under the moon and stars, then crank up the music, leave the car windows down, and dance.

Fall in love more quickly by doing something daring together. Try bungee jumping, rappelling, zip-lining, or skydiving.

If you're both interested in the paranormal or like being scared, horror movies could be too blasé. Instead, try a ghost tour or attempt to spend the night in a haunted house or hotel room.

If one of the most important things in your relationship is creativity, you may be interested in creative ways to say I love you.