30 Hot Summer Dates

Summer is almost over!

Get some of these activities in before the cold weather hits.

These are fun to do with your significant other or just a group of friends:

1. Water parks. Fun for all ages! Invite your family members and friends. This date may be an opportunity to show your significant other how good you are with kids.

2. Fishing. This activity is best for the early overcast or rainy mornings. Fishing includes a lot of downtime, which means plenty of  time for conversation and getting to know one another better.

3. Host a potluck BBQ. Plan outdoor games like bocce, badminton, or volleyball.

4. Find a local park that has a Frisbee golf course. Loser buys ice cream.

5. Kayak or canoe. Pack a picnic lunch.

6. Go to the beach. Our young adults group in Connecticut loved to pray the rosary or host a bible study to be an evangelistic presence to the public while soaking up some sun.

7. Go on an ice coffee tasting date. Ask local shops for samples.

8. Ice cream tasting/frozen yogurt sampling date. Many places allow you to sample flavors for free.  Make a bingo game sheet of flavors before you go, and check off each one you try. Whoever loses bingo buys dessert!

9. Start a water balloon or water gun fight. I carry a small water gun in my purse at all times for such occasions.

10. Volunteer to chaperone at youth group functions together. Some summer events include going to the movies, concerts, or amusement parks. Discuss the importance of connecting and sharing your faith with the next generation of Catholics.

11. Make your own popsicles and ice cream (no ice cream maker needed for this recipes).

12. Visit a nursing home and ask residents to share their favorite summer vacation memories. Ask to see photos of them!

13. Brush up on your skating skills by taking ice skating lessons. The rinks are less crowded in the summer time and it's a great way to cool off and take a break from the sun.

14. Hot air balloon ride. Check Groupon or Living Social for discounted offers. Often these rides require four people, so this would make a great double date.

15. Tour gardens. Many state-run parks or historical homes have gardens to tour. This is a great opportunity to learn your lady's favorite flower.

16. Farmer's Market date. Create a scavenger sheet of unusual or typical food seen at a farmer's market! See how many you can find, then pick up ingredients to make dinner from scratch.

17. Go camping or fake it in your backyard if you're not too adventurous. Experiment with different kinds of s'mores around a campfire. Reminisce childhood camping trips by sharing your memories and your favorite ghost story.

18. Attend an outdoor concert. This can be a solo date or planned with a group of friends.

19. Go star gazing on a clear night. Be sure to print out a map of Summer constellations so that you know what you're looking for.

20. Fly a kite.

21. Check out your state fair/4-H fair. Try a food item you've never had before.

22. Go to a baseball game, even if it's the minor leagues! The tickets and concessions are usually cheaper, anyway.

23. Rummage sale date. Create a scavenger list of random items you might find. Divide your friends into two or more teams. You must take photo evidence of the items as proof. Make a specific time allotment to search and then meet up for brunch to see who found the most items!

24. Pick some berries. Eat them with homemade whipped cream, or bake into a delicious treat, or freeze to flavor your favorite cocktail.

25. Check out local fireworks display. We love taking our kids to as many fireworks displays as possible. This is another activity that's easy to plan with family friends. You'll be a superstar if you show up with glow sticks for each kid. Ask around—sometimes the bigger the town, the bigger the budget and the bigger the display.

26. Go on a go-cart race. Plan on multiple rounds. Either plan this date solo, with a group of friends, or kids.

27. Bike ride. Plan a manageable route near a lake, river, stream, boardwalk, or other bike trail.

28. Take sailing lessons and rent a sail boat.

29. On rainy days, go art gallery hopping. Either check out local artists or the displays at your local museum. Some days are either free or discounted so call ahead for details.

30. Go on beer garden and winery tasting tours. They can be crowded in the summer, so either reserve ahead of time, or plan on a less crowded time of day so that you can maximize your socializing time.

What are your favorite summer time activities, and what is the next date you're planning?