Why spring is perfect for new dates
After a winter of takeout and streaming, spring gives you an easy reason to make plans: something just opened, bloomed or warmed up. That makes it a good season to ask someone out, and a good one to shake up a long-term relationship that spent January on the couch.
Two things to keep in mind:
- The weather is moody. Sun in the morning, rain in the afternoon. Pick ideas that work with a jacket, and keep a backup from our rainy weather plans.
- Blossoms are fast. Cherry blossoms, tulips and wildflowers peak for a week or two. Watch local bloom reports and be ready to move your date.
Blossom and flower date ideas
Spring is flower season. These dates put you right in the middle of it.
1. Pick flowers at a tulip or flower farm
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forany stage
- Time2 hours
Many flower farms open their fields for picking in spring. Walk between the rows, pick a bouquet for each other and take a few photos. Check opening times on the farm's website and go early to avoid crowds.
Ask your dateTemplate: First date2. A hanami picnic under cherry blossoms
- Budgetlow
- Best forromantic, any stage
- Time2 to 3 hours
In Japan, hanami means sitting under blooming cherry trees with food and friends. Bring a blanket, rice balls or sandwiches and something to drink, and let the petals fall. Washington, D.C., Vancouver, High Park in Toronto and many parks around the world are famous for their blossoms.
3. A wildflower hike
- Budgetfree
- Best foractive couples
- Time2 to 4 hours
In spring, meadows and hillsides fill with color. In wet years, parts of California even see a "superbloom". In Texas, spring is bluebonnet season, and our Austin date ideas include the Wildflower Center. Stay on the trail, don't pick protected flowers and bring a little guide or an app to name what you see.
4. A bulb walk in a botanical garden
- Budgetfree to low
- Best forfirst date
- Time1 to 2 hours
Gardens often plant thousands of bulbs for spring: daffodils, hyacinths, tulips. Walk slowly, find the best smelling flower and the strangest one, and finish with a coffee in the garden café.
5. Build a balcony garden
- Budgetlow
- Best forcouples
- Timeafternoon
Go to a garden center, pick a few herbs and flowers each and plant them in pots or a window box together. Give each plant a name. Watering them becomes a little ritual for the summer.
6. A flower arranging class
- Budgetmedium
- Best forcreative couples
- Time2 hours
Florists sometimes offer evening workshops. You learn the basics and leave with an arrangement. Make one for each other, or one together for your table.
Playful outdoor spring date ideas
The first warm days are made for being outside. These ideas are light, fun and mostly free.
7. Fly a kite
- Budgetlow
- Best forplayful couples
- Time1 to 2 hours
Buy a cheap kite (or make one), find an open field on a windy day and try to get it up. It's harder than it looks, which is the fun part. Spring winds make it easier.
8. Birdwatching at dawn
- Budgetfree
- Best forcalm couples, early birds
- Time1 to 2 hours
Spring mornings are full of birdsong. Get up early, walk in a park or by a lake and try to spot a few species with binoculars and an app. Then reward yourselves with a big breakfast.
9. Visit baby animals at a farm
- Budgetlow
- Best forcute dates
- Time2 hours
Spring is lambing season, and many farms open for visitors to see lambs, piglets and chicks. It's impossible not to smile. Look for open farm days near you.
10. The first bike ride of the year
- Budgetfree
- Best foractive couples
- Time2 hours
Pump up the tires, oil the chains and ride somewhere you haven't been in months. Stop at a bakery on the way. A good way to wake up after winter.
11. Paint outdoors
- Budgetlow
- Best forcreative couples
- Time2 hours
Bring a small set of watercolors, two sketchbooks and a blanket. Sit in a park and paint the same view. Compare at the end and laugh at the differences.
12. Roller skating on a waterfront path
- Budgetlow
- Best forplayful couples
- Time1 to 2 hours
Rent or borrow skates and roll along a flat path by the water. Hold hands for balance, cheer each other on and stop for an iced coffee.
13. A yard sale treasure hunt
- Budgetlow
- Best forany stage
- Timemorning
Spring cleaning season means yard sales and garage sales on weekend mornings. Give each other a small budget and a mission, like "something for our kitchen" or "the weirdest thing you can find".
14. Join a park cleanup
- Budgetfree
- Best forcouples who care
- Time2 hours
Around Earth Day on April 22, many communities organize cleanups in parks, beaches and rivers. Grab gloves and a bag, compete over the strangest thing you find and go for lunch afterward.
15. Outdoor mini golf on opening weekend
- Budgetlow
- Best forfirst or second date
- Time1 to 2 hours
Many outdoor courses close for winter and reopen in spring. Be the first ones there, keep score and make a bet for the last hole.
Spring date night ideas
Longer evenings mean more time after work. These plans make spring nights feel special.
16. The first patio drinks of the year
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forfirst date, any stage
- Time1 to 2 hours
When the first warm evening comes, bars and cafés put their tables outside. Grab the best spot, order something fresh and raise a toast to the end of winter.
Ask your dateTemplate: First date17. A baseball game in spring
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forfirst to third date
- Time3 hours
The baseball season starts in spring in the US and Canada. A cool evening in the stands with hot dogs and a lot of time to talk between innings is a classic.
18. A spring vegetables dinner
- Budgetlow
- Best forfoodies
- Time2 hours
Asparagus, peas, radishes, fresh herbs: cook a dinner with only seasonal spring ingredients. Shop together at a farmers market first.
19. A sunset walk after work
- Budgetfree
- Best forany stage
- Time1 hour
In spring the evenings get longer every week. Take advantage of it and walk to a viewpoint for sunset after work. It's a small date that makes a weekday feel lighter.
20. A Kentucky Derby party
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forsociable couples
- Timeevening
The Kentucky Derby is on the first Saturday in May. Wear a big hat or a bow tie, make mint juleps (or a mocktail) and bet on horses by name. It's a fun excuse for a party.
21. A spring rain listening night
- Budgetfree
- Best forcozy couples
- Timeevening
Spring rain is soft and steady. Open the window a crack, make tea, pull one blanket over both of you and talk or read while it patters on the roof. Phones stay in the other room.
Spring holiday date ideas
Spring is full of small holidays. These ideas give you a reason to celebrate together.
22. An Easter egg hunt for two
- Budgetlow
- Best forplayful couples
- Time1 hour
Hide chocolate eggs for each other in the home or garden, with a few clues for the hardest ones. The prize at the end can be a bigger egg or a promise.
23. Decorating eggs
- Budgetlow
- Best forcreative couples
- Time1 to 2 hours
Boil eggs, mix dye or use markers and stickers and decorate a few each. Make one that represents the other person. Then make egg salad the next day.
24. Easter brunch
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forcouples
- Time2 hours
Cook a big brunch at home or book a table somewhere with a garden. Hot cross buns, eggs any style and fresh flowers on the table.
25. A St. Patrick's Day parade
- Budgetfree to low
- Best forsociable couples
- Timeday
On March 17, many cities host parades and Irish music. Wear something green, watch the parade and find a pub with live music afterward.
26. A Holi celebration
- Budgetfree to low
- Best forplayful couples
- Timeafternoon
Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, usually falls in March. Temples, communities and cultural centers in many cities host public celebrations. Wear old white clothes, expect to go home very colorful and follow the hosts' lead, since it's a religious and cultural festival, not just a party.
27. A spring break staycation
- Budgetmedium
- Best forcouples
- Time1 to 2 days
Can't travel? Book a night in a hotel in your own city or a nearby town, explore like tourists and order room service. It feels like a real break without the long trip.
Spring date ideas in Australia and New Zealand
South of the equator, spring runs from September to November. It has its own festivals and flowers.
28. Floriade in Canberra
- Budgetfree
- Best forany stage
- Timehalf day
Floriade is Canberra's big spring flower festival, usually held in September and October. Go on a weekday morning, walk the beds slowly and pick a favorite color combination for your own balcony.
29. A jacaranda walk
- Budgetfree
- Best forromantic
- Time1 to 2 hours
In October and November, jacaranda trees turn streets purple in Sydney, Brisbane and many other places. Grafton in New South Wales even has a jacaranda festival. Walk under the trees and take photos.
30. A Melbourne Cup party
- Budgetlow to medium
- Best forsociable couples
- Timeafternoon
The Melbourne Cup is on the first Tuesday in November and is called "the race that stops a nation". Host a party, wear fancy hats and run a sweep with friends.
How to ask for a spring date
Spring plans come with a built-in hook: the farm just opened, the trees are in bloom, it's finally warm. Use it and keep the message light and specific.
The tulip farm opens this weekend 🌷 Want to go pick some? I'll buy the coffee if you carry the flowers.
Forecast says it's finally warm on Saturday ☀️ Kite in the park, then patio drinks? I'll bring the kite.
Want to make it more personal? Send a little invitation with the plan, a time and a yes button. It's free and easy to make.
psst … this makes it easier
Turn your idea into an invite
- Scratch card, spin the wheel, quiz or secret code
- Your date picks the day and the food right away
- Free, no account, sent as a link
Frequently asked questions
What are cute spring date ideas?
Picking tulips at a flower farm, a picnic under cherry blossoms, flying a kite, visiting baby animals at a farm and planting a balcony garden together are all cute spring date ideas. They're simple, cheerful and give you something to take home.
What are cheap spring date ideas?
A blossom walk, kite flying, birdwatching at dawn, a picnic in the park, a park cleanup and a yard sale treasure hunt cost little or nothing. Spring is also a good time for long walks and bike rides, since it's not too hot yet.
What are good spring date night ideas?
Try the first patio drinks of the year, a sunset walk as the days get longer, a baseball game on a cool evening, a Kentucky Derby party in May or a spring-themed dinner with fresh vegetables. Bring a jacket, spring nights can still be chilly.
What are spring break date ideas if you're staying home?
Treat your town like a holiday: a staycation in a nearby hotel, a day trip to the coast or the countryside, a rented bike tour or a picnic with a view. Turn off notifications and plan one special meal to make it feel like a real break.
When is spring in Australia?
In Australia and New Zealand, spring runs from September to November. Highlights include Floriade in Canberra, jacaranda season in October and November and the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.