It can be difficult to come up with alcohol-free dates to have a good time with a woman. Considering how ubiquitous alcohol is in our society, finding the right place to enjoy a sober fun time takes a bit of creativity and forethought. So what are the best sober date ideas out there that still guarantee a good time?
In this article, we’ll take a look at date ideas where you don't need to consume alcohol, as well as some common issues when coming up with alcohol-free dates.
Common Issues when Coming Up with Alcohol-Free Dates
Coming up with sober date ideas is not as easy as it seems. For those who prefer not to drink and those who are currently sober, consider the following aspects when looking for fun dates without alcohol:
Temptation to drink
If you associate alcohol with a good time, chances are you may have a difficult time engaging in fun without a social lubricant. Worse, if you have an alcohol problem, you should deliberately steer away from any places that serve alcohol.
Whether you or your date choose not to drink, be aware of each other’s triggers that increase the likelihood that you will imbibe.
This is complicated when you choose a date with a meal, where most restaurants offer adult beverages. If you are newly sober or simply don’t want to chance giving in to temptation, choose fast casual restaurants like Panera Bread, Zoe’s Kitchen, or other local joints that don’t serve alcohol.
Getting her loose and relaxed
Alcohol is renowned for its ability to suppress inhibitions and make it easier to seduce girls. So what do you do when booze is off the menu?
First, you’ll need to bring your A-game and really connect with your date. Whereas consuming booze together often leads to a drunken hookup, being sober doesn’t have that same leeway that an intoxicated girl. Make her feel comfortable and establish an emotional connection.
Second, you will need to provide excitement and stimulation on a date. Normal experiences may seem boring without alcohol. For example, a nightclub might lose its allure when you’re not intoxicated. The same goes with bars, where you may not want to endure the drunken ramblings of fellow patrons. While booze is an easy default, being sober means that it will be hard to hide if you’re boring or shy.
Therefore, plan activities that wow her and offer something new in her life to create a lasting impression. You will also want to feel confident in these spaces, so you may need to do some research and even go ahead of time to ensure that it’s a guaranteed good time. While a woman will typically forgive a boring date if she’s vibing with you, it certainly increases your odds to have an activity that introduces her to your exciting world.
Some Great Sober Date Ideas
Now that we have established what the most common issues are when choosing a sober date destination, let’s take a look at 12 sober date ideas to have the best time ever!
1. Grab a cup of coffee
When it comes to alcohol-free dates, you can’t go wrong with a coffee date.
While coffee doesn’t have the same intoxicating effects that alcohol has, drinking a cup of joe may make you more extroverted and feeling “up” than usual. The beauty of a coffee date is that if you’re really hitting it off, you can easily go for a walk to speak more privately in another place.
Also, coffee works year-round. Choose a refreshing iced coffee in the warmer months to cool off, or go with a piping hot coffee in the colder months to get the blood flowing just right.
2. Explore farmers’ markets
Nothing says “community” more than a local farmers market. Women love farmers’ markets because there’s better quality food and beauty products that you can’t get elsewhere, as well as a warm sense of community that women appreciate.
The beauty of a farmers market is also when they’re held - sometimes during the week or early mornings on the weekend. This means that you can parlay the date to other activities or a venue change, such as going back to your house to cook your fresh produce (and maybe get more intimate if you’re hitting it off).
Depending on the size and quality of the farmers’ market, there may be tons of entertainment and opportunities to enjoy one another’s company. Plus, any one of the vendors offers you an opportunity to pick up a gift that she can cherish.
Best of all, farmers’ markets are a wholesome environment and the people there are generally amicable to young couples who shop local.
3. Hike a trail
Being surrounded by nature is intoxicating in and of itself, so why not go hiking for your next sober date? Hiking is a great sober date idea for a number of reasons:
- The endorphins that are released through physical exercise lead to better feelings all-around.
- Drinking booze on the trail is generally frowned upon.
- You can take pictures to capture your time together (and give her something to post on her social media pages).
- You have the option to choose a populated path to make her feel more comfortable (important for first dates).
- Plus, if you’re really hitting it off, it’s not hard to sneak off to a remote part of the trail and have more fun!
Be forewarned that women may be intimidated if you choose an off-the-beaten-path trail, strenuous hikes, or places that don’t have good cell phone reception.
4. Go for a picnic
As one of the most classic date ideas, having a picnic is a great choice when you want to have a memorable time, show off your talents, and be sober. Simply choose a sunny, warm day, leave the wine out, and bring some goodies.
Picnics do require some planning and forethought. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Bring a blanket to have a dry area to sit on the grass.
- If you’re a decent cook and have a small camping stove, you can easily prepare a quick meal or heat up something you prepared beforehand. Even a grilled cheese and tomato soup is a perfect choice for colder days when the sun goes down.
- Choose a semi-secluded location for some privacy.
- Bring a board game like Scrabble to stoke her competitive instincts.
- If she’s physically active, frisbee is a fun game to burn some calories.
- If you’re artistically inclined, bring a portable instrument (ie. guitar or ukulele) to provide some entertainment for your date, paints to capture her portrait, or some poetry to read to her.
5. Walk through a cemetery
If you’re looking for great aesthetics, plenty of solitude, and an unorthodox sober date idea, then going for a walk through a cemetery is a must.
Here’s my experience:
Cemetery dates were my go-to when I lived in Portland, OR, which features an excellent sober date destination at the Lone Fir Cemetery (between 20th - 26th Avenue, SE Stark Street and Morrison Street). Perfect for solitude and spookiness, I would bring my musical saw to woo women who loved the excitement of a place like this. Once the day visitors had left, we had the place to ourselves to climb trees, dodge a security patrol, and talk about macabre topics. Great for goth, artsy, and punk girls!
6. Visit a museum
Though some museums serve alcoholic beverages, being in the refined atmosphere of a museum lends itself to sobriety. Chances are your city has at least one museum, and the off-days are often reduced price or free.
Explore a strange, unusual, or quirky museum together to have a great time, pick up a memento at a gift shop, and enjoy each other’s company surrounded by art and/or oddities. Museums give you the opportunity to display your knowledge or learn about what type of things she likes.
7. Go out for ice cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream? Leave the booze out and grab a sundae with your date. Plus, you can showcase how your tongue handles some tasty cream in your hand - and don’t forget to share licks or bites of what you’re enjoying!
8. Food trucks
Food truck culture has exploded across the nation, so why not take your date to a food truck?
If your city or town has a number of food trucks in your area, expect to find some exotic food to eat. Be sure to share your dishes to get intimate and make it more than just another meal. Also, there are usually some street performers to spice up the festivities, making it an accessible event no matter what her tastes are.
9. Go stargazing
Looking for a fun sober date idea at night? Go stargazing and marvel at the natural wonders of the universe. If you’re looking for fun dates that don’t involve drinking or spending a ton of money, this is it.
Stargazing is a great activity for dates, especially if you have a great knowledge of astronomy and astrology. The vastness of the universe makes for a great way to ask her those romantic existential questions, and you may even be able to wish on a shooting star.
Planning ahead makes stargazing that much more fun, especially if a meteor shower, a lunar eclipse, a blood moon, or a lunar halo is expected.
If you’re looking for a fun shortcut, you can watch as the International Space Station (ISS) passes over your town at night (Here’s a list of apps you can download to plot the time and direction of the ISS).
10. Theme park
Who needs alcohol when you’ve got rollercoasters? Taking your date to a theme park is a great way to have hours of fun all day and enjoy making memories that will last for years. Plus, you can show off your skill at sideshow games, watch a performance, and get her in the mood for romance.
11. Miniature golf
Add some competitiveness to your repertoire of sober date ideas with a fun game of miniature golf. Best of all, you can place bets to up the stakes - especially if you want some sexy rewards if you win!
12. Volunteering at an animal shelter
If you and your date are animal lovers, then making a date of volunteering at an animal shelter is a fun idea that beats hanging out in a bar! Whether you are walking dogs, feeding animals, or helping shelter pets find a new home, volunteering is a rewarding experience that stokes a woman’s natural maternal instincts. And who knows, you may even walk away with a pet to take home!
As a precaution, be sure to call ahead to make sure that they are currently accepting volunteers and that you can work with your date. After all, no one wants to be shoveling poop while the other is filing paperwork.
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