These 10 Date Ideas Will Spice up Your Winter Break
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Temperatures are dropping, and that means cuffing season is upon us. Cold weather usually calls for cozying up on the couch and putting on a movie, but here are some fun ideas to switch up your winter date nights.
Ice Skating
Ice skating with your significant other is a classic way to get out of the house and have a fun, wintery date night. Some couples may be hesitant if they lack balance or coordination, but it can be a silly way to hold your partner extra close.
Enchant Christmas has a fun ice skating trail in DC that all College Park couples can enjoy. So strap on your skates and show off your skills!
“Our favorite winter date idea is ice skating,” said senior government and politics major Rachel Brynien. “We don’t want to sit around all day, we like to move so we try to do things like ice skating because it gets us out of the house.”
Holiday Light Shows
A less physically demanding date would be a nice stroll in a lit-up park. Many local parks or zoos tend to decorate with holiday lights. This is a laid back way to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and admire holiday lights hand-in-hand with your significant other.
Enchant Christmas has a light maze which you and your loved one can wonder around. Other places such as the National Zoo, Georgetown GLOW, and the National Christmas tree also have beautiful displays that will light up your night.
If you’re not in the Maryland or D.C. area for the holidays, research your local area to see what light shows will be available.
Sledding/Snow Tubing
If this winter season brings snow, sledding or snow tubing is a fun way to mix up your date ideas. Find any large hill on the university’s campus, in Washington, D.C., or in your local neighborhood, grab and sled or a tube and hold your loved one close as you ride down the hill!
Some great nearby areas to sled if you’re in the College Park area during snowfall are Fort Reno Park, the Capitol Grounds and Battery Kemble Park.
Building Gingerbread Houses
Get your creative and domestic juices flowing this winter season with a gingerbread house date. You and your significant other can either buy the gingerbread house or bake one yourselves.
Take a few hours to build and decorate your gingerbread men and their houses. Use frosting, gumdrops and sprinkles to spice up your creations. Decorate the houses as the University of Maryland, the White House or any other fun spin on a gingerbread house.
Build a Fort: Inside or Out!
Building a snow fort or a blanket fort is a fun, active way to spend time with your partner. If it’s snowing outside, put on your snow boots, grab a shovel and start building a cute little fort to hang out in.
“I like to stay in more,” said sophomore mechanical engineering major Luka Kosanovic about winter date nights with his girlfriend. “I’m not a cold weather person.”
If you’re looking to stay inside like Kosanovic, blankets and cushions always work. Use pillows and soft blankets to build an inside get-away. Set up some christmas lights, a movie and have a low-key night together.
Holiday Decorating
Decorating the house with your partner is a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. Regardless of what holiday you’re decorating for, this is a great way to spend time together.
Setting up fairy lights, putting ornaments on a tree or making handmade decorations will guarantee a fun date night. So run to Target, put on a holiday playlist and start decorating!
Paint Date
An indoor paint date will keep you warm and creative this winter. For a paint date, you can either go to a local art studio and take a painting class or set up a canvas and easel at your own place.
Your masterpieces can be made together or separate and revealed to each other after you’re both done. These can either be free-hand or paint-by-number creations. Paint supplies and canvases can be relatively cheap at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
Make some hot chocolate, put on the Michael Buble Christmas album and paint some snowmen!
Winter Photoshoot
For those couples that like to keep their social media up-to-date, a winter photoshoot is a great way to spend time together. This can be done with a professional camera, a polaroid camera or even an iPhone.
You can use multiple outfits, find a scenic location and snap away. If you want photos together you can set up a timer, invite a friend or hire a professional. These photos can be printed out or framed for great holiday gifts.
Holiday Bake-Off
Cold winter weather usually calls for warm delicious baked goods. Turn your sweet tooth into a fun competition with your partner.
Use family recipes, put twists on classics or even come up with your own new creations! These can range anywhere from cookies to cakes to pies.
Classic Movie Night
To wrap up this list of winter date ideas, it’s important to include a classic movie night. Winter means there is no shortage of movie marathons or holiday themed rom-coms.
“I really like watching Elf because I grew up watching it and it’s very funny, but it still has a nice message about love and family,” said sophomore biology major Rachel Perry. “Which is fun to watch with a partner because you can laugh together, but also appreciate each other.”
Sometimes a low-key night with your partner under fuzzy blankets with popcorn and hot chocolate is the perfect date.
Most of all, it’s important to make time for date nights with your significant other even when the weather gets colder, so pick an idea and plan a date!
