7 Best First Date Ideas

by R Long
May 10, 2015

Creative First Date Ideas

Even when you’re a senior, deciding first date ideas can leave you a little jittery and that’s fine. Just relax. After all, you’re going out with someone to have a good time. So loosen up those nerves and get your planning started by first deciding where to have that momentous first date. Here are some creative date night ideas to get you started.

Choosing the place basically depends on a few factors. You need to consider not only your personality but your date’s personality as well. Trekking on a first date can be torturous for someone who has never done that before. But it’s also nice to go out to a place where you get to do the things that you don’t normally do. It’s actually a matter of thinking out of the box but not to the point of pushing the other person to their limits. Here are some creative date night ideas.

Nevertheless, it still helps to have ideas for the first date ideas (and we’ve got some recommended spots around the Tampa area too!).

dance floor first date ideas

1.  The Dance Floor

Dancing is always fun. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got two left feet and you’re not a competitive pro dancer. Taking your date to a dance studio is a light and fun way for you to get to know each other and a great first date idea. Discover how your chemistry on the dance floor evolves into a flourishing romance.

A dance studio you can check out within the Tampa area is:
Rhapsody Ballroom
12101 N 56th St #2
Temple Terrace, FL, United States
813-985-6570

Rhapsody Ballroom offers group classes as well as private instruction. Friday evenings usually have social dances. Be sure to call ahead before heading over there. The fee is a per-class basis so they make it easy to start lessons.

museum

2.  A Museum or Art Gallery

If you and your date are the artsy types, a museum or an art exhibit may be one of the best first date places to go to. You can go to a museum which both of you have never been to before so you can explore the pieces together. Or you can still go to a museum that either or both of you visit often and discuss your favorite pieces.

Here are a few museums in Tampa to make that first date loads of fun:

Tampa Museum of Art
120 W. Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 274-8130

Hours:
Monday – Sunday 10 am-5 pm
Thursday 10 am-8 pm
There is an entry fee for seniors.

The Tampa Museum of Art has been in operation for over 30 years, exhibiting ancient Greek and Roman masterpieces.

 MOSI: Museum of Science and Industry
4801 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33617
(813) 987-6000

First dates are never boring at MOSI! There is basically a ton that you can do and visit at MOSI, including:

The Saunders Planetarium
How about spending your first date out in space? The Saunders Planetarium is another go-to place at MOSI. Its projection dome features a GOTO Space Simulator Chronos projection system capable of displaying movies, 3D graphic visualizations, and live videos from NASA.

Skywatch – MOSI
Enjoy a magical first date under the stars. The SkyWatch at MOSI is held outside the Butterfly Garden where you get to have an up-close and personal view of the universe through the museum’s specialized telescopes. Check out SkyWatch viewing schedules on their Events Calendar.

date-garden

3.  Your Local State Park or Garden

Walking down a trail and setting up a picnic at the end of your walk is truly classic yet it has never lost touch of its romantic flair. Getting to know each other while being surrounded by nature gives a relaxing feel of that first date. Some parks may also feature a lake or lagoon where you can rent a rowboat or a kayak and sail around for a fun and adventurous experience.

When in Tampa, spend your first date at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens, a 10-acre land that features a vast landscape of flora and fauna, with a collection of over 3,000 taxa of plants and natural habitats as well as over 60 species of birds.

USF Botanical Gardens
12210 USF Pine Dr
Tampa, FL 33620

Garden Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
Saturday, 9 am. – 4 pm
Sunday, noon – 4 pm

date-winery

4.  A Winery

A visit to a winery underlines elegance for a first date. Attending wine-tasting events is also an awesome way to get to know each other.

Here are some picks around Tampa:

Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants
4110 West Boy Scout Blvd.
Tampa, FL  33607
(813) 873-WINE (9463)

Tasting Room & Restaurant Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am. – 9:30 pm.
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Bar Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am – 11:30 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Restaurant Menu and Wine List

Keel and Curley Winery
5210 W. Thonotosassa Road
Plant City, FL 33565
(813) 752-9100

For more information, contact Keel and Curley Winery through email at info@keelandcurleywinery.com.

popcorn

5.  The Movie Theater

This is another typical place for first dates, but everybody loves the movies anyway. Taking your date on a movie date is always a great idea, especially if you’re the silent type. There is no need to spark a conversation during the movie. Afterward, you both will have something in common.  

restaurant table

6.  A Romantic Restaurant

The way to your date’s heart is through a sumptuous meal. Talking about each other’s interests over dinner is always delightful. First, choose a restaurant that gives a nice, warm ambiance and that’s conducive to intimate conversations.

To help you narrow down your choices, here’s a list of the 2021 Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the Tampa Bay Area nominated by Gayot.

person playing a guitar

 7.  A Soulful Or Not So Soulful Concert

Bringing your date to a concert or a musical show of either of your favorite artist is a great way to share your interests with each other while reminiscing about the music of the past that forever lives on. You don’t have to talk during the show of course, but having some drinks post-show is a great way to extend your time together and enjoy a light, relaxed conversation.

Here is a list of upcoming concerts in the Tampa Bay area that can be enjoyed by all.

Remember that first date ideas just make up one piece of the puzzle. Actually, it really doesn’t matter where you’re going. At the end of the day, it’s the whole experience and great company that’s going to leave a great first impression. However, great date night ideas are always helpful.

Read more at GuideForSeniors.com for all things senior.

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