20 Amazing Autumn-Themed Dates You Can Do Anywhere

It’s time to throw on that matching flannel and get out there and explore with your significant other. Autumn is such a special time of year that lends itself well to romance and fun activities. After all, it is the season when the temperature starts to drop, so cuddles for warmth and love become in demand. It’s also harvest season which brings with it plenty of delicious delights and wholesome activities to engage in with your partner.

The leaves also turn into those burning oranges and reds making it a great time to get outdoors and take a hike or a leisurely bike ride. If it’s not too cold yet, picnics are also a great option and we actually prefer this time of year for them. While many of these autumn date ideas are rather traditional, they are anything but boring. And, you can spin any of them into something that will work best for you and your bae. Take a look at our picks for the most fun and romantic autumn dates to get those creative juices flowing for adventures that will have the soundtrack of crunching leaves!

Pick Some of Autumn’s Bounty and Bake

Apples come into season during the early months of fall followed by pears and then delicious fall squashes and pumpkins. Go harvest some of these delicious items and then bake them into a pie or cake. You can spin this into some savory dishes as well like apples and pork chops or pumpkin stew. The adventure is the picking and the intimate part is baking/cooking your goodies together. Chances are you are not too far from a farm. Just do a google search and you will be surprised how many options there are.

Hop on a Hay Ride

Many farms offer hay rides through the fields. You get to smell that wonderful earthy scent as you cuddle up with your significant other. Bonus points if you pack a thermos with a warm beverage that you both enjoy.

Make the Most of Fair and Festival Season

There is no question that autumn is the king of fairs and festivals. Visit a chili cookoff or an Oktoberfest in your area. Also, most county and state fairs take place in the fall as well. It’s your chance to smooch at the top of a Ferris wheel or try fried foods of every variation.

Celebrate Scary Season with a Horror Movie Al Freso

Some of us have a favorite holiday. You might have heard of it, Halloween. It’s a great excuse to watch some chilling horror movies. We recommend taking your laptop outside or setting up a portable projector in your yard or even on your apartment’s roof. Watching scary movies outside makes them even more thrilling which will most assuredly result in some snuggles. Pro tip: don’t forget the snacks! Bonus points: those snacks are baked with the fall fruits of your harvest!

We Will Die on This Autumn Picnic Hill

When you mention picnic most people envision summer but that’s a mistake. It’s hot and muggy, there are bugs, and it can be tough to find a shady spot if you live in a major city. Soup with crusty bread or cookies with your favorite warm beverages are best-served al fresco in fall. If you have a yard, rake the fallen leaves into a pile and channel your inner child.

Carve Up Some Pumpkins

Whether or not you go to an actual pumpkin patch is up to you but carving and decorating pumpkins is a blast to do with your partner. If you and your significant other are particularly competitive make a game out of it to see who can carve the best pumpkin!

It’s Time for Puzzle Night

We don’t know about you but our love for putting together puzzles was rekindled during lockdowns in 2020 and beyond. Puzzles are such a fun and surprisingly intimate activity to engage with your partner. Autumn puzzles pair well with a fire burning in the fireplace, your favorite music playing in the background, and a lovely bottle of red wine or perhaps some pumpkin ale. Snacks are also encouraged!

Take an Autumnal Hike

Autumn means that the changing leaves are beckoning you to the great outdoors. Take a hike to enjoy all of its splendor. Now, don’t bite off more than you can chew. You want it to be fun and not feel like exercise (even though it is). Remember that temperatures fluctuate a lot for most of us in autumn so dress in layers to stay comfortable. See you on the trail!

Go On a Thrifting Adventure

If you found yourself a significant other who also likes to thrift, give yourself a pat on the back because you both know what’s up. Thrifting can be such a fun activity and it is especially great to do on a chilly day when you don’t want to be outside. The change of seasons is always a great time to thrift as many people donate clothes as the weather and their wardrobes change.

Go Camping and Sit by the Fire

Hiking and camping go hand-in-hand so you might want to combine the two or simply take a nice camping trip to look at the stars and build a warm fire. Let’s all be honest, we are all in it for the s’mores and s’mores you shall have! Telling stories around a fire is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Go to a Brewery

Visit a local brewery or cidery to enjoy the season’s best flavors. You can easily make a day out of it by choosing a destination brewery. If you have neither in your area, that’s alright. Pick up some craft brews from the store or mix up some autumnal cocktails at home. The main thing is that you are sipping up the season. Cheers!

RELATED: 30 Rainy Day Date Ideas

Get Lost in a Corn Maze

Take a trip to your local corn maze or hay maze and prepare to sneak some kisses as you work your way through it. Some of them are surprisingly challenging so don’t start too late in the day or you might lose daylight!

It’s Football Season: Organize a Flag Football Date

Invite your friends over or meet them in the park for a game of flag football. While cheering on players in the stands is a fun autumn activity, getting in the game yourself is even more rewarding. It’s great if you have other couple friends or if you are trying to make a love connection for someone else!

Get Creeped Out at a Haunted House

We are all for getting thoroughly frightened to near death each Halloween season so we encourage you to check out your local haunted houses, mazes, trails, and other scary activities. These are just so much fun to do with your loved one and if you are not holding hands by the end of it, you’re doing it wrong.

Take a Scenic Drive

By foot is not the only way to enjoy autumn’s splendor. Map out a scenic drive to take in all of that fall foliage. Create a playlist for the ride or listen to an audiobook together as you gaze at all of fall’s unparalleled glory.

Don’t Just Take a Picture, Pick Up a Brush

A paint date to document the foliage you are enjoying this time of year could be a really fun activity. Painting pairs well with wine and you just might end up with a picture or two you are both proud of. Don’t worry if you’re not a budding Michelangelo. Just have fun wth it and stay positive!

Make Candy Apples

We have already talked about apples but they really are amazing and plentiful in autumn. If you’d prefer candy to baked goods, candy apples are not difficult to make. You can find one of the easiest recipes to follow here. We promise they are just as much fun to eat as they are to make!

It’s Tailgate Time

One of the supreme joys of autumn for sports fans is tailgating. Invite other couples you are friends with or simply plan one as a date for the two of you. It’s the perfect excuse to sip beer and eat salty snacks before you enjoy your time cheering on your favorite team!

Go on a Mountain Retreat

If you’d like a destination date, you could do no better than to take a trip to the mountains in autumn. Rent a cute chalet or cabin and enjoy the natural beauty around you. Not all of us can get away this time of year but if you have the ability you will be beautifully served by the romance that seems to blossom in that cool, clean, mountain air.

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Coffee and a Bookshop Date

Escape the chill with a nice, warm beverage and a trip to your favorite bookstore. To spice things up, try a bookshop in a neighboring city or make a day out of it by hitting up more than one. There is no better time to explore the stacks than in autumn. If your local bookstore has comfy couches for lounging so you can linger a bit, that’s even better!

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these autumn-themed date ideas and that you will go on one or more with that special someone in your life! If you’re looking for even more date ideas, keep reading as we’ve got 30 other great things to do!

Check Out These Romantic Rainy Day Date Ideas!

Reading Is Hot

If you have not listened to your partner read you a passage from a book or a lovely poem, are you even living? One of the most romantic things in the entire world is to snuggle up and take turns reading a book aloud. It may sound cheesy but it’s absolutely thrilling. Read one chapter and then let them read the next or pick random poems to share with one another. We can’t promise you’ll actually make it through an entire book but we bet you’ll have plenty of fun trying!

Laugh It Off

If you’re lucky enough to be in close vicinity to a comedy club or you know of a venue that has a comedy night, going to see a live show together could prove a fruitful and funny adventure. There’s no better antidote to a dreary day than laughter!

Make Dinner Plans at Home

One of the best rainy day date ideas involves something so deceptively simple that you might pass it up but we encourage you to lean into it. Planning a romantic dinner at home can be so much fun. Think wine and cheese to start followed by a light dinner and something sweet to put a cherry on top of the night. You can each choose to tackle one dish or you can play chef for the day! Whatever floats your boat!

Bust Out the Board Games

There are plenty of two-player games out there and all of them are going to be way more fun than just canceling your date due to the rain. Getting a little competitive will strengthen your bond and it will be a blast to see how serious your date takes a game, especially if you two are a relatively new item. Get your favorite snacks ready to go and you two will have yourselves a proper little game night.

Talk About Art

Museums and galleries are the perfect getaways on inhospitable days. One of the very best rainy day date ideas is to check out a gallery or museum that you’ve always wanted to go to. It’s wise to visit an institution that caters to both of your tastes. You want to ensure that the venue offers things that engage you both.

Play Some Video Games

When was the last time you set foot inside an arcade? A rainy day might be the perfect time for you to get nostalgic and go play some arcade games. Find the best games for you to play together and really have a ball!

Watch Old Movies

Pick out some classic movies that you’ve always wanted to see or take turns choosing some old movies. Or you can ask for their favorite old movie and see how you feel about it and then show your own beloved classic. Bonus points for classic thrillers or scary movies. They are always the most fun to watch in a storm.

Get Puzzled

One of the very best rainy day date ideas is to grab a puzzle or a new Lego set and start putting it together. Goal-oriented activities will keep your date purposeful but you can always stray and return to it as the day goes on. Low-stakes and big returns are what it’s all about!

At-Home Spa Day

Who doesn’t love taking a bath or getting a massage? You and your significant other can take turns pampering one another or you can just ask them to pamper you because you probably deserve it! Have a nice, long soak together, light some candles, put on some soothing music, and have yourself a most relaxing date.

Do You Both Love to Sweat?

Trying a new fitness class together could be a healthy way to spend your day if the both of you are active and into it. Take a new yoga class or go indoor rock climbing. Do whatever you want to get your heart rates up and feel like you’ve accomplished something beneficial and healthy for the day.

Go Skating

This is another one of the rainy day date ideas for active couples! If a fitness class seems like too much of a chore try something a little more passive. Ice skating or roller skating are always a blast and for many, it will take you back to childhood days if you haven’t strapped on a pair of skates in a while.

Take a Cooking Class

Learn some new skills on a rainy day! Take a baking class or a cooking class to learn how to make something delicious. The more niche the better so think about a sushi rolling class or learn how to make French pastry. Anything goes as long as it presents a challenge for both of you!

Have You Ever Done High Tea?

Sure, you could just go to your favorite restaurant and grab some grub, but when is the last time you had high tea? The best rainy day date ideas are the ones that are the most out of the box! Many nice hotels and restaurants will offer a tea service where you will get to try a bunch of delicious tea. The best part of high tea is the snacks! Think little sandwiches to nibble on and sweets that pair perfectly with your earl grey.

Ride a Train

This is one of the best rainy day date ideas for the weekend or a time when there are not a ton of commuters. If you live near a train hub, hop on a train and watch the rainy world slip by. Obviously, if you are someone who commutes to work by train every day it’s not going to be so romantic but for the right folks, it could be a ton of fun.

Binge Watch That Show You’ve Been Meaning to See

Most of us are aware of TV shows that are cultural touchstones but we have not personally seen them. If you and your date have never seen The Sopranos or The Wire or Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones, a rainy day is a perfect opportunity to cure your FOMO and catch up on some excellent TV. Pop some popcorn, build a fort in front of the TV, and really make a day of it! You won’t regret it.

Get Some Culture

When was the last time you saw a play? Have you ever been to the opera? How about seeing a symphony perform? For your rainy day date ideas, think of some activities that will enrich your life. Beautiful music or a perfectly delivered monologue might be the perfect way to spend that rainy day.

Get Crafty

When was the last time you embarked on a big crafting project? Grab some supplies and get to work! You and your S.O. could papier-mâché each other’s faces. You could get some modeling clay and recreate a home or famous landmark. The possibilities are endless!

Keep Reading for Even More Fun Rainy Day Date Ideas!

Treat Yourself

If a spa day at home is not your speed, the both of you could go do the real thing. Think about getting a couples massage or getting some mani-pedis. Rainy days are made for pampering and relaxation.

Have a Coloring Competition

Grab an adult coloring book or some supplies for painting. Have yourself a little art competition! Flexing your creative muscles will allow you both to get in touch with your creative side and competition will keep things interesting. Hang onto the art you’ve created and it might just become a cherished piece that you can enjoy for a long time to come.

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Rainy Day Bake-Off!

Similar to the art competition, you could have a bake-off at home in your kitchen. Perhaps you want to see who can make the best chocolate chip cookies or who has the skills to properly frost a cake. A cold, rainy day is just made for some baking projects.

Make It Fashion

Shopping is not for everyone, but some over-the-top outfits could prove a very fun activity. Go to a big department store or mall and challenge each other to come up with the most outrageous outfits. You can set a time limit or any other sort of rules to make it more challenging, but the goal is to get dressed up in a weird outfit that’s out of character and to model said outfit off to your S.O.

Trivia Time

One of the most fun rainy day date ideas is to go to a trivia night at your local bar or pub. Most places do them you just need to find out which establishment will be offering trivia games on that day. You can compete as a team or against one another to see who knows the most random facts.

Tour an Old Home or Heritage Site

If there’s an old mansion that’s been turned into a museum in your community, a rainy day could be the perfect time to explore it. Many cities have these sorts of museums and there is truly nothing better than discovering interesting things in a creaky old house.

Pass the Time in a Used Bookstore

One of the best rainy day date ideas is to take a trip to a used bookstore. Unfortunately, they are not as plentiful as they once were but chances are there is a cool used bookstore near your community. Look through some old books together and take turns reading passages or simply do your own thing. We don’t know why this activity is best done with a warm beverage like coffee or tea in hand, but it’s a must!

There you go! We hope you feel inspired by these rainy day date ideas and that they will serve you well on the next wet day that you encounter. Don’t let anyone rain on your parade, okay? After all, romance stops for no one! By finding something fun to do indoors you and your significant other can still bond and have an amazing day together. Only boring people get bored so get creative and you two are going to have an amazing date!