Fresh Dating Ideas

It's date night. You've got a sitter, and you and your sweetheart have exactly two and a half hours of alone time. Now what should you do?

Coming up with new date ideas is just about as easy as coming up with the formula for cold fusion. And while going to dinner and watching a movie really can be fun, here are a few ideas to spice up the best night of the week.

• Sample multiple eateries. Have your appetizer, main dish, and dessert at different places. If you really want to go wacky, try different varieties of food for each course--get an Italian appetizer, a Chinese entrée, and an American dessert.
• Put a new twist on the old favorite. Pack a simple dinner and eat in the park. Rent a movie, take a laptop, and watch the movie outdoors. Remember to bring a blanket and some pillows!
• Make it a museum night. Eat dinner early, with the kids (so that you can walk slowly and not worry about running up the babysitting bill), then head out just the two of you for the nearest museum. Take your time walking around the exhibits.
• Grab two hot chocolates and walk down center street (or inside the best shopping center) and strictly window shop. Chances are you'll have fun pointing out ridiculous prices, or looking inside home improvement stores and brainstorming for the future.
• Get competitive. Grab your putter and go to the local golf course and practice putting (most places allow you to do this for free). Take turns picking holes to aim for. Whoever wins the most gets to choose what to do for dessert. Alternatively, you can adapt this to batting cages, bowling, or a miniature golf course.
• Nurse your creative juices. Find out if you have a paint-your-own-pottery studio nearby. Color Me Mine is a chain you can find in many places all over the world. If you don't have one nearby, or don't want to spend the money, go to the beach or use snow to build a castle, igloo, or any other sculpture. Make sure to take pictures when you're done.