When we feel the least like doing something, it’s often when it will have the most benefit. Even though hibernating until spring is tempting, a regular date night will keep your marriage healthy. These winter date ideas – that you can do at home, on the cheap, for Christmas, or outdoors, will cover you throughout the cold months until spring!
When it’s cold outside, it can be tempting to hibernate, emerging into the world only when spring starts to make itself known.
The days are short and the nights are long, and going out seems like a huge effort. Your mood can take a hit too.
But these are all the more reasons to keep committed to a regular date night. After all, date nights are important in any long term relationship.
So even though the weather is wet and cold, you can still make it hot with these fun winter date ideas.
You might also like: Rainy day dates for couples.
These ideas are divided into at home winter date ideas, cheap winter date ideas, Christmas date ideas and outdoor date ideas. There’s sure to be something you’ll love!
Contents
At home winter date ideas
Make dessert
Winter is all about comfort, and nothing beats comfort more than home cooking.
Turn your own home into a Masterchef contest by having a dessert bake-off.
You can make it cook’s choice, or up the ante by having each of you craft your own creation with identical ingredients.
Here you’ll find a fantastic collection of easy dessert recipes you can choose from.
Build a fort
Do you remember when you were a child and you’d upend the couches, put them together, and chuck a blanket over them? Then you’d put the cushions inside and snuggle into your fort?
We used to take it to the next level and strategically position the television at one end so we could watch it while staying all cozy and warm.
If this feels like a stretch too far, then just push your couches together and make a comfy bed for you both.
Now get ready for a Netflix binge!
Get in front of the fire
Whether it’s inside or – if you’re brave enough – outside – get the fire going. Then make some hot chocolate, cuddle up and watch the flames.
Then why not learn something new about each other by asking some of these questions for couples?
Have a bath together
Who says you have to leave the house to enjoy a spa-like experience?
Run a bath.
Add some essential oils.
Light some candles.
Get in and enjoy.
Have a stay in bed day
This is one of my favorite date ideas and one Ben and I have done many a time. There’s one simple rule – you only get out of bed to get some food or go to the bathroom.
Being in bed also makes other activities a little easier to do.
Put on a power cut
Living out in the country, we get our fair share of power cuts.
There’s something kind of awesome when the power goes out. You have to layer on the clothes, cuddle into blankets, and rely on candles.
Channel the power-cut vibe by making it a no electricity evening. If it’s super cold though, and you don’t have a fire, you can use heating. Hypothermia isn’t that attractive.
Get the candles out, the books and the blankets and experience life at a slower, less reactive pace.
Cheap winter date ideas
Break out the board games
Time to play those games that have been in the cupboards since goodness knows when (I recommend these couple’s board games).
Or try learning a card game or two.
You can invite another couple over to join in the fun!
You might also like: 75 double date ideas.
Check out local attractions
If your town has few tourists in the winter, then chances are some of your local attractions have special rates for locals over the of- season.
I know there is one month of the year in our town, for example, where residents can visit our main tourist attraction for over 80% off the price of a usual ticket.
Get on the mailing list of places you want to visit, or call them to find out when the specials are.
Declutter your pantry
You wouldn’t think you could make a date out of decluttering but it can actually be a lot of fun.
Take a hard, realistic look at some of the items in your pantry.
Collect up food items which are still okay but you know you’ll never eat (I’m looking at you, tin of organic banana blossom), box them up and take them to the local food bank.
Go to an ice skating rink
Channel your inner Torvill and Dean (showing my age here) and head to the local ice skating rink. Show each other what you’re capable of on the ice.
Taste test hot chocolate
Get on the Googles and find hot chocolate establishments near you.
Go on a taste test of three to five cups (any more and you’ll be on a sugar high you won’t be able to come down from!).
Christmas winter date ideas
Attend a Christmas market
There’s something ridiculously festive about attending a Christmas market.
You can wander around, wrapped up warm, sampling treats and buying hand crafted gifts.
If you’re lucky, there will be carol singers to add to the atmosphere.
Here the best Christmas markets in the USA.
Binge on Christmas movies
This selection of romantic Christmas movies will give you something to watch every night from the 1st to the 25th.
Check out the Christmas lights
Right from when my children were little, we would get into the car with a bunch of snacks and drive around the various houses and check out their Christmas light display. Some houses allowed you to get out and explore.
It was always a super magical evening.
This is the perfect winter date for both families and couples and will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit!
Decorate the house
Make it a date to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. Beforehand, purchase a special ornament for each other.
But why stop there?
Get into the holiday spirit and decorate the whole house while you’re at it.
And while you do so, make sure you’ve got that Christmas playlist going.
My top two Christmas songs would have to be Snoopy’s Christmas and the Pogue’s Fairytale of New York:
What’s yours?
Go gift shopping for each other
Make it a date to get out there to the mall before things get too hectic.
Try not to get sucked into the consumerism of Christmas.
Follow the mantra: something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.
You might also like: 25 Christmas date ideas.
Outdoor winter date ideas
Brave the beach
The beach is as beautiful in winter as it is in summer.
Dress warm, grab your dog, and drive to the nearest beach.
Enjoy the feeling of having the spot to yourself.
Look for a special stone or shell to remind you of the occasion.
Go on a winter picnic
Find a scenic spot, unpack your blanket, and enjoy!
Great food ideas for a winter picnic include
- soup
- grilled cheese sandwiches
- garlic bread
- sweet muffins
- hot chocolate
Have a winter wonderland photo competition
Grab your phones and get outdoors and start snapping. When you get home, select your top five photos of winter at its finest. Share them with each other and then arrange to get the winner printed on canvas.
Hit the hot pools
Have hot pools in your region? Brave the freezing temperatures and slip on your bikini and then lie back and let the heat melt away your stress.
Play in the snow
If you’re lucky enough to live near the snow, then making a snowman is a super fun date. Bring in the competitive element and see who can craft the best snowman!
Alternatively, making sure you’re appropriately dressed, try making your own snow angel.
When we feel the least like doing something, it’s often when it will have the most benefit.
Even though it can be tempting to hibernate until spring, the reality is that keeping connected with date night will help keep both ourselves and our marriages healthy.
These winter date night ideas – that you can do at home, on the cheap, for Christmas, or outdoors, will keep you covered throughout the cold months until spring.
Enjoyed these date ideas and want more? Try these date ideas for couples.