25 Fall Date Ideas Because Celebrating The Season Is More Fun Together

Pumpkin spice lattes, gorgeous fall leaves, cozy nights in, oh my!

Pumpkin spice lattes, gorgeous fall leaves, cozy nights in, oh my! For some, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Autumnal vibes contribute to the overall romance of the season, so it’s a great time to embark on a new relationship or strengthen the one you have. Take activities outside by going apple picking, taking a road trip, or hiking to see the best fall foliage. If it's already chilly in the South and you're ready to cozy up indoors, consider making a new soup recipe, baking a pie, or decorating for holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving together.

Below, find 25 of our best fall date ideas for you and that special someone.

Go Apple Picking

It’s apple season! Check with your local farms to see if they have the ultimate fall combination of apple orchards, apple cider, and warm apple cider donuts. Plan a day spent apple picking with your date and you’re guaranteed to have laughs, delicious eats, and a memorable day in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Visit a Farmer’s Market

Shopping at your local farmer’s market is a great way to try new foods, meet interesting locals, and learn more about each other’s interests, likes, and dislikes. Walk around and try all the free samples, then buy a few items to take home and enjoy all season long. Fresh-cut flowers, fresh bread, and a unique jam are always fun to take home.

Go Leaf Peeping

It’s fall, after all! Leaf peeping is a popular activity at this time of year for good reason. Mother Nature is at its (arguably) most glorious when the leaves erupt in an explosion of warm colors, so pack your boots and flannels and head north to see what all the fuss is about.

Plan a Picnic

Need something to do with all those apples you picked? Slice them up and pack them into your picnic basket. The ingredients of the perfect picnic include a scenic setting, a comfy blanket (or even chairs if you want to up the ante), and a basket full of delicious eats and drinks. Whether you opt to tailgate in the back of your car or set up a full-on park picnic, it’s a sweet way to spend an afternoon connecting with your love.

Take a Trip

Whether you spin the globe to choose your destination or finally book a weekend getaway in a place you’ve both been talking about, taking a trip together is the ideal way to get out of your comfort zone, experience something new, and make memories together somewhere outside your ordinary. It’s extra fun if you head somewhere with totally different weather from home at this time of year.

Bake a Pie

Wondering what to do with your apple-picking or farmer’s-market-shopping bounty? Baking a pie is the answer. It’ll give you a chance to get creative (and messy) together—and enjoy the fruits of your labors at the end. 

Attend a Fall Festival or Fair

Chances are there’s a community festival or fair going on in your area sometime during the fall. Heading to a large gathering like this is the perfect first date or excuse to hang out and keep things casual. For long-term relationships, it’s a fun place to enjoy rides, games, and delicious food, something different from your norm. 

Watch a Movie Outdoors

Plan a cozy night in your backyard with a projector, tons of comfy pillows, and some home-popped popcorn, or go the lazy route and just buy tickets to a drive-in. The only rule is that the movie must set the seasonal mood, whether from the fall setting of When Harry Met Sally... or the totally over-the-top practical magic of Hocus Pocus.

Carve Pumpkins

Start at your local pumpkin patch, pick the two funkiest pumpkins you can find, then spend a candlelit evening on your porch with a little friendly pumpkin-carving competition. The spookiest (or funniest) carving wins! This is also a great group idea.

Take a Hike

Whether you live in a mountainous region or not, there are always great hiking trails to be discovered. Head to your local park or nature preserve and set out for the great unknown—just make sure to pack some snacks!

Make S’mores Around a Campfire

There’s just something romantic about an open flame, and a bright orange campfire makes for a scenic setting for the two of you to roast hot dogs and toast s’mores. Take turns making s’mores for each other with fun toppings like pretzels, peanut butter, or even candied bacon!

Go Camping

There’s no better excuse to snuggle than a secluded tent in the great (chilly) outdoors. Pitch your tent, pack sleeping bags and campfire food, and enjoy a night sleeping under the stars. 

Decorate for the Season

Deck out your house in all things spooky for Halloween or give it a decor makeover that will take you from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Many hands make light work, so recruit your date to help you deck the halls. Not only does your seasonal home decor get done in a flash, it’s also a surefire way to figure out how well the two of you work as a team (or don’t).

Wander Around a Corn Maze

It’s fall, so you might as well do all the fall things together! Corn mazes aren’t just for kids. Some local farms go the whole nine yards with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, haunted house, hay rides, apple picking, and more. Take full advantage of the opportunity to turn it into a fun date where you have fun losing and finding each other again and again. 

Shop at Bookstore

Love reading books? Fall is the perfect season to settle down with a good book, and visiting a local bookstore or library is sure to get the two of you chatting about your shared (and unique) interests. Pick up the new bestseller or recommend a read your date has never heard of before.

Sip Something New at a Local Brewery

Ciders, anyone? Tis the season. Head to your local brewery to kick back with a cold one (or two). Try their seasonal brew or something totally new to the two of you. 

Go for a Drive

Ever since Taylor Swift romanticized the concept of “getting lost upstate,” we’ve, well, wanted to get lost upstate. No matter where you live, the northern part of your state is probably cooler and crisper, so set your GPS north and take the excuse to explore.

Tailgate at a Football Game

If you can’t make it to your alma mater, root for your home team. Tailgating is a super fun way to enjoy the company of your date, family, and friends. It can be a great way to hang out in a casual setting without committing to anything more intimate before you’re sure your new boo is a good fit. 

Try a New Coffee Shop

Bonus points if you order their seasonal latte (it’s probably pumpkin spice or a delicious chai). Bring a book or issue of Southern Living to read and just enjoy the simple pleasures of a good local coffee shop and good company. 

Go Horseback Riding

Why not? The weather’s perfect for a slow trot through the woods together. It’s a beautiful time of year and something different to do. Spending time with horses is good for the body, mind, and soul, and you’ll get to experience a low-impact adventure with your partner. 

Learn a New Skill Together

Take a class. (Crochet? Pottery painting? Cocktail or wine tasting?) You’ll have a blast exploring a new interest together and probably pick up a skill or two as you do.

Go On a Ghost Tour

If your town has any sort of history, there’s probably a ghost tour on offer. Book a trolley, hearse, or walking tour for a truly spooky night that will have you both clinging to each other in a little healthy fright.

Make Soup

Make a giant batch of soup—some to eat now, some to freeze— and you’ll both enjoy dinner together not just for one night, but every time you eat the soup throughout the season. Bonus: Every time you eat it, you’ll think of the time you spent simmering every ingredient together to perfection, and if you get sick this season, you already have a nourishing meal ready to go.

Go Thrift Shopping

You’re going to need something to wear to that ugly sweater Christmas party, so might as well shop now! Head to a few local thrift shops and pop some tags. Snap a photo together in your most hideous finds and enjoy cozying up in your new old finds. You can also always shop for a meaningful item together, possibly talking about what you collect and why as you do.

Volunteer Together

Whether you opt to serve at an animal shelter or join the serving line at a soup kitchen, donating your time together selflessly is a great bonding experience and is sure to give you both the warm fuzzies. 

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.