Dates can already be stressful, but throw in the curveball of their costs, and, well, they can feel more anxiety-inducing than they’re worth. It’s normal to want to “wow” your date with a solid first impression, but the good news is that they don’t need be super expensive. You can surprise your date with something unique and budget-friendly, and that isn’t just going for a walk in the park.
Attend a Pride event at your local museum
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You can celebrate Pride and learn about contributions from the LGBTQIA+ community at your local museum. Many museums host a series of events, workshops, discussions, and performances throughout the month of June and beyond, including the Met in New York ($30 admission fee), the Minneapolis Institute of Art (free admission), and the WNDR Museums in both Chicago and Seattle ($38).
Ping Pod is bringing ping pong back
Ping pong is making a comeback. Ping Pod are 24/7 ping pong pods that are popping across New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, with plans for more locations in Miami and Boston. Pricing ranges from $15-$50/session depending on demand.
Candlelight Concerts
Everyone knows a little candlelight can add a lot of romance. Tack that ambiance onto a night filled with heart-swelled music, and you’ve got yourself a fancy date for less than $50. Appearing in over 100 cities, Candlelight Concerts are unique candlelit performances featuring a wide variety of themes and genres: classical, jazz, pop, movie soundtracks, ballet, among others. Tickets vary but most fall within the $30-$50 range.
The Friends Experience
If you’re both fans of the old network sitcom Friends, you can check out the Friends Experience, which basically transports you to the famous ‘90s sitcom with sets, props, costumes, and tons of photo ops. The unique experience travels throughout the country (and the world) and is now in New York and Brussels, and will soon open in Detroit, Birmingham, and Long Beach. Tickets start at $49.50.
Take a ghost walking tour
If your date loves true crime podcasts and creepy Netflix docuseries, inviting them for a ghost walking tour in your city might be up their alley (and an excuse to hold hands). A number of ghost walking tours will take you to various buildings where paranormal activity has been reported, while also sharing bits of history along the way. Some notable tours include the Greenwich Village Ghost Tour ($39), the Chicago Gangster and Ghosts Tour ($35) and the Dallas Terrors Ghost Tour ($25).
Your local science center
Love is all about chemistry, so it makes sense to explore and learn more about it with your new date, along with other science-y things at your local science center. From unique events to after-hours socials, lectures, discussions, community science projects, and pub nights, there are a number of ways to connect with your date while learning something new. For example, try Fairy Tales After Dark at the ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum in Ashland, Oregon ($20) or the Social Science events ($30) at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno, Nevada.
Your local botanical garden
The sights and sounds of nature are practically the original aphrodisiacs. Many botanical gardens offer a slew of events, from gardening workshops to oral history tours to meditation hours that could add just the right dose of uniqueness to your date. This is an especially great idea if they’re a budding green thumb. You might consider the Power of Trees Exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden ($18), the Trolls Save the Humans Exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden ($26.95), or experience Chiluly in the Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden ($20-$25), which at night features cocktails and live music.