25 beach date ideas

Whether your idea of the perfect date is active and adventurous, or romantic and relaxing, the beach has something for you. This summer slip on your swimsuit, slop on some sunscreen, and dive right in to these beach date ideas.

My husband and I moved to the seaside community of Eastbourne, New Zealand a little over a year ago, and yet the sight and sound of the sea, a mere block and a half from our house, still brings me as much pleasure as it did when we first came to this place and felt in our hearts that it would be our home.

While our beach is more wild than white sand, there’s something about it that speaks to the soul.

Every day you see elderly people walking along the promenade with their tiny yet ferocious dogs, groups of men casting their lines for fish, and the ferry chugging across the harbor taking commuters into the city.

We were even lucky enough to witness a pod of orcas a few weeks ago.

As the beach is home to such a surprisingly diverse number of activities, it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s the ultimate location for a date. You can get active and adventurous, or romantic and relaxed – or any combination of the above depending on how much time you have.

So if you live close to, or are vacationing at the beach, these beach date ideas will help you enjoy nature at its finest.

Active beach date ideas

If you’re the kind of couple that likes to keep active, check out these active beach date ideas.

Do a 5km run along the beach. My husband loves this one but I have to confess that running for me needs to involve no hills and no difficult terrain – e.g. sand. If you’re made of tougher stuff, this is one of those beach dates that will leave you feeling not just close and connected, but filled with feel-good endorphins from your efforts.

Participate in a morning Tai chi session at the beach. Tai chi is like meditation in motion.

Play beach volleyball. If you’re on a double date at the beach, this one is for you, as you need two players per side (Here’s the rules if you’re keen).

Rent kayaks or paddleboards and explore the coastline together. The kayak rental down where we live also offers safety classes a few times a year. If you don’t have experience, consider something like this before you venture in the water.

Take a surfing lesson. Reduce your expectations of riding the waves like Kelly Slater on your first try and instead see of you can make it upright on the board. It could be the beginning of a beautiful new hobby for you both.

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Adventurous beach date ideas

If you love your dates with a side of adrenaline, you’ll enjoy these adventurous beach date ideas. You’re not going to find them at every beach though, so do some research first and see what’s on offer in your area.

Charter a jetboat. More adrenaline fun. This is also a fun group date idea.

Do an open water scuba diving course. Depending on your location, you could then do a guided dive tour and see the world from a unique perspective.

Enjoy a dolphin encounter. Go with a reputable company so it’s as much fun for the dolphins as it is for you.

Go parasailing. Ideally, go tandem!

Hire a jet ski and zip around together.

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Romantic beach date ideas

Beaches are synonymous with romance, and these romantic beach dates promise to deliver!

Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows or make s’mores. Check the fire restrictions first so you don’t invertedly turn your romantic evening into an emergency situation.

Have a romantic picnic. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Think cheese and crackers, summer fruits and sweet drinks (we love a kombucha or two) for an easy but elegant picnic. Or you can go to town and whip up some of these romantic picnic food ideas for couples.

Stone spot. Whenever I go to the river or beach, I’m always scanning the ground for stones. I love the different colors, shapes and textures. When I see one that speaks to me, I pick it up and hold it. It has to feel just so in my palm to be a keeper.

You can turn stone spotting into a romantic date idea by searching for heart shaped stones as symbols of your relationship.

True story – we had two such stones and when we built our previous house, we snuck out before they poured the concrete floor and placed them in the area that would become our bedroom. I still think of those symbols of us, there for as long as that house stands, even after we’ve moved on.

Take a sunset cruise on a catamaran or sailboat. This is one for all the luxe lovers out there.

Wake up early and head down to the beach to watch the sunrise. Make sure you take a blanket to sit on and maybe one to wrap around you both if it’s chilly.

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Relaxing beach date ideas

The beach is also a fabulous place to enjoy being in the present moment. These relaxing beach dates are perfect for when you want to chill.

Check out the beachside eateries. If you’ve had enough of the sand, sun and surf, retreat to a local beachside café for nourishment.

Have a beach barbecue with your friends. This group date idea makes light work, with each couple bringing a meal each. Afterwards you can play some fun beach games like Tidal, which is like cornhole except you dig the holes in the sand.

Meditate at the beach. If your meditation skills need support, see if you can locate a class.

Take a long walk at the waters edge, hand in hand. This is the perfect beach date for your dogs to enjoy with you! You can turn up the romance by timing it for the sunset.

Take a small sun shade, towels, sunscreen, provisions, and books, and head down for a relaxing afternoon in the sun.

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Other beach dates for couples

Defying my rudimentary categorization, these beach dates are also fun and unique activities to enjoy with your loved one.

Attend a beach clean up. While we’re so much more conscious of the impact of our actions on the earth, unfortunately it’s still a common sight to see trash at the beach. We have beach clean ups advertised in our local Facebook page every six months or so. If there’s nothing on offer, take matters into your own hands and head down with a couple of trash bags and some grabbers.

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Build a sandcastle or sculpture together. I think of this activity much like a coloring in book – age is going to only enhance your abilities. See how creative you can get before the tide washes your masterpiece away.

Create a scavenger hunt. Before you arrive at the beach, make a list of what you’re going to search for. Don’t make it so generic that you can locate everything in under a minute, but conversely, don’t make it so challenging you don’t have a snowball’s chance of finding it. If you want to include items that may belong to other people (beach balls, sunhats etc) you can make photographic evidence acceptable proof.

Have a beach treasure hunt. Scavenger hunt not enough? Create a small treasure hunt that ends up with your loved one finding the buried treasure. Here’s how to design an effective treasure hunt in case your treasure hunt skills are a little rusty.

Try your hand at fishing. Depending on your prior experience, this may be one where you want to hire someone to teach you how to surfcast.

Whether your tastes run to the active and adventurous, or relaxing and romantic, these beach date ideas have something for everyone.

Enjoyed these date ideas and want more? Try these date ideas for couples.