5 Unexpected Date Ideas to Try Tonight

Right now day dates work better for us than evenings because our four-month-old can get fussy right before bed. I actually prefer daytime outings—there’s something nice about being home in the evenings in comfy clothes. When the weather warmed up just enough, Jeff and I dressed up a little (for us) and headed out for a few hours.

We’ve been missing the warm, sunny days Atlanta is known for, so we decided to pretend it was tropical and visit the botanical gardens’ tropical rotunda. Neither of us had been to that part of the gardens before, and it was a delightful surprise.

The rotunda keeps the temperature and humidity high to support the tropical plants, so it’s a great spot to warm up and enjoy a lush, green environment.

We got ready, booked a stylish ride with Uber Black, kissed Hayes goodbye, and left. Choosing a ride instead of driving made the date more relaxed—we didn’t have to stress about parking (which can be tricky in Atlanta) and we could both enjoy a drink while out.

With the new Uber Rewards program, requesting an Uber Black earns 3X points. Uber Rewards has four tiers and you move up tiers faster the more points you earn. Plus, you get $5 in Uber Cash for each 500 points earned. That Uber Cash can be applied to rides and Uber Eats orders. If Uber Rewards is available in your area, you’ll see a sign-up prompt in the Uber app. If it hasn’t launched in your city yet, you can join the waitlist to be notified when it becomes available.

So where will you go while you’re racking up points with Uber Rewards? Here are five unique date ideas that are actually fun and easy to plan:

1. Take a cooking class. Learning to cook together is practical and fun. We’ve been meaning to do this to help us eat at home more, instead of ordering out—still on our to-do list.

2. Try something creative and out of your comfort zone. A glass-blowing workshop or a pottery class makes for a memorable experience. Jeff attended a small glass-blowing session for work and brought home a paperweight he made—after seeing that, I wanted to try it too. A private lesson for two can be a great way to shake up routine dinner-and-a-movie dates.

3. Visit a museum. Daytime museum visits often come with discounted tickets and fewer crowds, unless school groups are visiting. Exploring exhibits together can feel surprisingly intimate and romantic.

4. Spend time at a botanical garden. This is clearly a favorite of ours. Gardens offer a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of walking, and great spots to have meaningful conversations while you wander.

5. Do something playful that brings back childhood fun. Mini golf, an arcade, or a trampoline park gives you a chance to be silly and playful together—perfect for lightening the mood and making new, fun memories.