The days (nights) of staying up till wee hours are over and you’re looking for a more refined partner. Here are four solid date ideas for 30-somethings.

---

Things change as we age. We all know that. Sometimes we don’t really notice until we take a step back and examine things—but they do.

The way we approach relationship issues changes; we gather a little perspective on life and love, and hopefully a little maturity, too. We pray we gain a little more mercy and grace for others, but also tend to put up with less from undeserving parties.

The way we look at what’s important in life often shifts between decades of our lives. Parties and social gatherings we once centered our lives around in our 20s are often superseded by quests for lasting relationships in our 30s. All of this shifts again at 40, 50—and so on.

Because people change over time and so do their interests, it’s no surprise that dating activities also change as we get older.

Admittedly, I’m a 20-something. I’ve written about date ideas for 20-somethings because it’s where I’m at in my life. But I’ve also dated (maybe a few too many) 30-somethings. Our date ideas differed. And I’m going to turn those differences into something that may help others.

Here’s what I would do if I were currently in my 30s (with hopefully a little more pocket change and perspective on the world):

Go outside.

If you’re looking to get to know someone quickly and efficiently, there are a few tried and true methods—like putting yourselves in a position where you have to talk to one another. Go for a picnic. Do some stargazing. Go fishing. As we approach spring and then summer, many parts of the country will be warming up and provide the perfect setting for a great date—free from distractions.

Swap a dinner date for a day date.

I’d say the biggest change from 20 to 30—and honestly, even 21 to 25—is our capacity for staying out late. I just don’t enjoy it the way I used to, or as often. Three a.m. is really late; and then I feel like I’ve wasted the entire next day sleeping in… and who has time for that with only two days of weekend at our disposal? So, switch it up. Go for a day date instead—go to brunch, visit the zoo and maybe grab some ice cream on the way home. Maybe visit a museum in the afternoon and grab a glass of wine after. The possibilities are truly endless—and there’s no hangover the next day.

Get dessert instead of drinks.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of appreciating the things I enjoy most in life—like a perfectly baked chocolate chip cookie or a delicious scoop of gelato. I will almost always choose either one of these things over a drink. So, skip the drinks altogether. Meet your date for dessert. You’ll have a great conversation with a little nostalgia (because everyone has favorite desserts and memories that go along with them) and—again—no hangover!

Act like a kid.

As we get a little older, it’s sometimes easy to forget to play around. So—literally—play around sometime. Take your date and hit the batting cages, play some mini golf or go to a theme park. Acting like a kid takes the pressure of impressing someone completely off the table. You either hit the ball or you don’t. You scream on the ride or you don’t. Either way, you don’t have enough time to craft an answer or worry if you’re presenting yourself perfectly. With that out of the way, you’ll get to know one another a lot faster.

Whatever your date of choice—just make sure you both have fun.

And avoid a hangover.

(I’m experiencing they get worse as we get older. I know, it was hard to pick up on that detail.)

 

[image: via Travis Swan on Flickr]