Outdoor Dates to Spice Things Up!

My husband and I connect best when we are outside being active. Maybe it is because the kids usually fall asleep in the Chariot so we can actually speak without being interrupted. Maybe the distractions are so few in general that our minds can actually work. Mostly we just feel more alive, more free and more able to love without being bogged down by life. Whatever it is, most of our “dates” happen outside…and the kids are usually not that far off (it’s a tough place to find a babysitter!) I’ve recently dubbed our Chariot the “Date-mobile” only because we count the time where the kids are at least sleeping (thanks to the Chariot) “our” time.

In honor of Good Ol’ Valentine’s Day this week, here are a few of our best “outdoor date” suggestions (with or without the kids!):

Pack the wagon (sled, wheelbarrow, etc.) with a picnic, dress appropriately for the weather and head to the nearest park for an outdoor meal. Intimidated by a winter picnic? Remember you can bring ICE CREAM and it won’t even melt!
Go skiing together (use your own version of a “Date Mobile” if needed)
Rent snowshoes (or use your own if you have them) – usually found cheap at many outdoor stores – and explore a new trail. Don’t worry about a destination – just take the time to talk and connect.
Go on a moonlit ski
Bundle up (warm clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, etc.) and head to the back yard after the kids are asleep for a little star gazing. They always seem brightest to me in the winter!
Go sledding. Want to be even more daring? Go sledding in the dark. Headlamps rock for this.
Hold hands and go on a walk. Outside.
Try something new together. Climbing, swimming, hiking, geocaching, skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
Sit on the deck (patio, blanket, rock, etc.) and drink a glass of wine (hot chocolate, lemon water, beer, soda, etc.)

Some more ideas from some of our favorite bloggers:

Surprise Your Sweetie With a Romantic Camping Trip (A Little Campy)
How to Plan a Nature Date with Kids (Go Explore Nature)
Take a walk or hike and then go eat fish tacos
Plan a Family Hike
The 5th Date: Getting Outside with Your Spouse (OutsideMom.com)
Ideas for Outdoor Dates with Little Kids (OutsideMom.com)
Grab a coffee and a friend and go walk and talk
Love, Life, and a Good Burger: A Made for Adventure Marriage (Kid Project)
Plan a Mother-Daughter Hike
Outdoor Date Ideas to Keep the Adventure Going Strong (Bring the Kids)
Go out for Breakfast then Take a Walk
3 Ideas for Dating Your Alaskan Spouse (KTDontheGo!)
Personalize It (Walk Simply)

In case you haven’t gotten something for the love of your life yet to celebrate an outdoor Valentine’s Day, check out the 12 Bar Gift Box from Mazama Bar. It may be a bit late, but shipping is free through February 14th and the wait is worth it. We LOVE these bars. You can read our previous full review here.

A few of these links are affiliates. Thank you so much for clicking through them to make your purchases – it helps offset the cost of this blog in a (VERY VERY) small way! You can find my full disclosure here. Some of these pictures were taken from the Mazama Bar website.