Free Date Ideas
A great date doesn't have to cost anything. These free date ideas include waterfall hikes, sunset spots, free museums, gardens, city views and simple ideas you can do anywhere.
Parking, gas or a snack along the way may cost a little, and some parks charge an entry or parking fee, so check before you go. The plan itself is free.
71 ideas in 18 states and anywhere
Amble Anywhere
25 ideas
Pantry Challenge
Pantry challenge date at home. Each pick 3 secret ingredients, then cook one meal with all 6.
Mission 4Portrait Night
Portrait night at home. Draw each other in 20 minutes, no erasing, then title and sign it.
Mission 14Waterfall Hike
Waterfall hike. Find a waterfall trail you haven't done and have a snack at the falls.
Mission 15Dark Sky Stargazing
Stargazing at the darkest sky near you. Lie back on a blanket and find three constellations.
Mission 16Sunrise Mission
Sunrise mission. Get up before dawn with a thermos of coffee and watch the sun come up.
Mission 19Scenic Trail Hike
Viewpoint hike. Pick a trail with a big view and take it in at the top.
Mission 20Geocaching
Try geocaching. Find a hidden cache or two near you with the free app.
Mission 25Neighborhood Photo Walk
A walk with a photo prompt at every step. Hold the shutter to move on.
Mission 28No Lights Night
No-lights night at home. Phones away, candles lit, and an evening of games and talk.
Mission 31Split Coloring Page
Split coloring page game. Tear a page in half, each color your side, then put it back together.
Mission 32Best Worst Movie Night
So-bad-it's-good movie night. Pick a famously terrible film neither of you has seen and savor it.
Mission 37Chess Night
Chess night at home. Play a best-of-three match, and teach as you go if one of you is new.
Mission 38Letters to Future Us
Letters to future us. Each write a letter to open together in one year, then hide them.
Mission 46Draw That Memory
Draw that memory date night. Each draw a memory of the two of you, then guess the other's.
Mission 50One-Shot Quest for Two
One-shot tabletop RPG night. One runs the story, one plays the hero. Roll dice, save the day.
Mission 53Dog Park Name Game
Dog park name game. Sit by a busy dog park and guess each dog's name before the owner calls it.
Mission 54Hide and Seek in the Woods
Hide and seek in the woods. Play best of five on a wooded trail; longest hidden wins.
Mission 55Track an Animal
Animal tracking after rain. Find tracks in the mud, follow them, and figure out who left them.
Mission 62Plane Spotting Picnic
Plane spotting picnic under an airport landing path. Guess where each plane came from.
Mission 63Creek Boat Regatta
Creek boat regatta. Build boats from bark, sticks and leaves, then race them downstream.
Mission 68Stop-Motion Movie
Make a stop-motion movie at home with toys, then throw a premiere with popcorn.
Mission 70Learn to Juggle in an Afternoon
Learn to juggle at home. Make three beanbags and go for ten catches in a row.
Mission 74Old Cemetery Stroll
Old cemetery stroll. Walk your town's oldest cemetery, read the stones and find one life story.
Mission 75Spider-Eye Safari
Spider eye safari. Hold a light by your eyes at night and find the sparkles in the grass.
Mission 76Sleep Out Under the Sky
Sleep under the stars with no tent. Watch the sky all night and make coffee at sunrise.
Amble Arkansas
1 idea
Amble California
12 ideas
Manhattan Beach Pier and Roundhouse Aquarium
Manhattan Beach Pier near LA. Walk to the end and visit the tiny free aquarium at the tip.
Mission 4 · Golden Gate Park, San FranciscoGolden Gate Park: Tower and Bison
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Ride up the free de Young tower, then go find the bison herd.
Mission 7 · Griffith Park, Los AngelesGriffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory in LA. Watch the sunset over the city, then look through a real telescope.
Mission 11 · La Jolla, San DiegoLa Jolla Cove Sea Lions
La Jolla Cove in San Diego. Watch the sea lions from the cliff path, count them and find a pup.
Mission 12 · El Prado, Balboa Park, San DiegoBalboa Park Free Garden Crawl
Balboa Park in San Diego. Crawl its free gardens, from the lily pond to the cactus, and crown one.
Mission 18 · Hollywood Hills, Los AngelesPhotograph the Hollywood Sign
Hollywood Sign photo from Lake Hollywood Park in LA. Compete for the best shot with the letters.
Mission 20 · East ArcataArcata Community Forest Redwoods
Arcata Community Forest in Humboldt. Hike the redwoods and stand inside the biggest stump you find.
Mission 22 · Bald Hills Road, near OrickOld-Growth Redwoods at Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Lady Bird Johnson Grove near Orick. Walk the old-growth redwoods, then lie down and look up.
Mission 29 · Southern Big Sur, between Esalen and LuciaBig Creek Cove Vista Point
Big Creek Cove on Highway 1 in Big Sur. Frame the arched bridge and watch for otters and whales.
Mission 32 · Placerville, El Dorado CountyPlacerville Community Observatory
Community Observatory in Placerville. Look through big telescopes on a free public night.
Mission 39 · Christmas Circle Community Park, Borrego Springs, CA 92004Borrego Springs Sculptures and Stars
Borrego Springs metal sculptures at sunset, then a dark desert sky full of stars.
Mission 57 · Movie Road, near Lone PineMobius Arch at Sunrise
Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine. Frame Mount Whitney through it at sunrise.
Amble Colorado
1 idea
Amble Florida
1 idea
Amble Idaho
1 idea
Amble Iowa
1 idea
Amble Kansas
1 idea
Amble Kentucky
1 idea
Amble Minnesota
1 idea
Amble Missouri
1 idea
Amble Nebraska
1 idea
Amble Nevada
1 idea
Amble New Jersey
1 idea
Amble Oregon
14 ideas
Tamolitch Blue Pool Hike
Hike 4.2 miles round trip on the McKenzie River Trail to the impossibly blue Tamolitch Pool.
Mission 4 · Southern Oregon Coast, near BrookingsNatural Bridges on the Boardman Coast
See the seven Natural Bridges sea arches near Brookings, then explore one more Boardman viewpoint.
Mission 7 · Columbia River GorgeMultnomah Falls
Stand in the mist on Benson Bridge at Multnomah Falls, Oregon's tallest waterfall. Hike to the top.
Mission 8 · Forest Park, PortlandThe Witch's Castle
Walk Balch Creek in Portland's Forest Park to the mossy Witch's Castle ruin. Invent its story.
Mission 12 · Cannon BeachHaystack Rock
Explore the tide pools at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach at low tide. Find a starfish and a puffin.
Mission 25 · Near Tygh ValleyWhite River Falls
See White River Falls near Maupin, then hike down to the old powerhouse ruins.
Mission 26 · Otter RockDevils Punchbowl
Watch waves explode into Devils Punchbowl at Otter Rock, a sea cave with its roof caved in.
Mission 28 · Hood RiverHood River Pipeline Trail
Walk the catwalk on top of the old pipeline along the Hood River.
Mission 37 · Northern Coast Range, near SeasideSaddle Mountain
Climb Saddle Mountain near Seaside to the summit. On a clear day you can see the ocean.
Mission 40 · Historic Columbia River Highway, between Mosier and The DallesRowena Crest and the Rowena Loops
Drive the twisty Rowena Loops up to Rowena Crest. Hike out for the Gorge view.
Mission 41 · Columbia River Gorge, near CorbettVista House at Crown Point
Stop at Vista House high above the Gorge. Hold onto your hat in the wind.
Mission 49 · Frenchglen, Harney CountySteens Mountain Loop
Steens Mountain Loop near Frenchglen. Drive to the summit and look a mile down onto the Alvord.
Mission 50 · Below Steens Mountain, north of FieldsAlvord Desert
Walk onto the Alvord Desert, a dry lakebed under Steens Mountain, and stay for the Milky Way.
Mission 56 · Jacksonville, west of MedfordHistoric Jacksonville
Stroll the gold-rush streets of Jacksonville. In summer, picnic at a Britt concert on the hill.
Amble South Carolina
1 idea
Amble Texas
1 idea
Amble Washington
5 ideas
Pearson Air Museum
Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, WA. Explore vintage planes and pick the one you'd fly.
Mission 20 · Olympic Coast, south of ForksRuby Beach
Ruby Beach on the Olympic coast. Climb over driftwood and photograph the sea stacks.
Mission 23 · West SeattleAlki Beach Sunset
Alki Beach in West Seattle at sunset. Find the mini Statue of Liberty and count the ferries.
Mission 33 · Wilburton Hill Park, BellevueBellevue Botanical Garden
Bellevue Botanical Garden. Cross the swaying ravine bridge and each find the bloom of the day.
Mission 51 · Colville National Forest, near Metaline FallsSullivan Lake, Colville National Forest
Sullivan Lake near Metaline Falls, WA. Hike the shore and look up for bighorn sheep.
Amble West Virginia
1 idea