If you’re here because the first date went well and you’re planning a second date, awesome! Congrats. That’s genuinely exciting.
But, it also means now you have to try and figure out what the best second date idea is to keep the momentum moving in the right direction. That’s what we’re talking about today. We’re going to share our top picks for second date ideas, talk about what makes a great second date, and share some keys to success.
Our Free Second Date Planner
Before we dive in, we do want to share a really incredible (and free) resource with you. LoveTrack is a free relationship app that has a dedicated mode for people who are tracking a potential relationship (meaning you think it may turn into a future committed relationship). You can track all of the things you need to remember about them, milestones you have together, and it sets you up for success.
It also has over 500 unique date night ideas that are perfect for second dates.
And yes, it’s free.
What Makes a Great Second Date
With that housekeeping out of the way, let’s talk about what makes a great second date. By understanding these parameters, it can help you to determine which second date ideas are best for your goals.
The perfect second date is one that is:
- Something that allows you the flexibility and atmosphere needed to have a conversation and continue getting to know each other.
- Something that’s fun, but not so fun that it overshadows the conversation.
- Ideally, something that builds off a shared interest you identified on the first date.
- An activity that has a defined and natural endpoint, so there isn’t an awkwardness of when it should end.
The Best Second Date Ideas for You
And now, without any further ado, let’s get into our list of the best second date ideas.
1. It’s okay to keep it simple with coffee or drinks (again).
Sometimes you leave a first date and feel like everything is amazing and you’re ready to really start building that connection on your second date. However, sometimes, you’re still not sure, and that’s okay!
When that happens, don’t be scared to keep the second date simple again with coffee or drinks. If that date goes well, there will be plenty of time to get creative on the third date and beyond.
2. It may be time for dinner.
While we never advocate for dinner on a first date, it’s actually a nice option for a second date after the first went well. At this point, you know that there is some chemistry and the fear of being locked into a long meal with someone you can’t stand has gone away.
If you do choose to do dinner, try and find something unique or that has a cool story with it. We’ll give a few more dinner-related second date ideas throughout the list to help.
3. Hit up a food truck gathering.
Speaking of dinner, one way to do dinner but in a really fun and unique way is with food trucks! If you look in your city, most likely there is an area where the trucks gather on weekend nights (or mid-week). Find this spot, and go enjoy some great food outside together!
4. Check out a museum.
Museums are perfect for second dates because they’re interesting, provide some support of things to talk about (if needed), and help to start building memories. If budget is tight, make sure you look around for special discount nights or even free days that museums offer quite often. Also, you can look off the beaten path at smaller, more niche museums in your city.
5. Set up a picnic for a fun day date!
Remember, second dates don’t just have to happen at night. You can totally get together for a fun daytime date. One of our favorites? Picnics! You can make picnics as simple or complex as you like based on the foods you choose, the activities you pair, and the accessories you bring.
If you want some help planning the perfect picnic, make sure you download the free LoveTrack app because we share so many different unique picnic date ideas that are perfect for second dates.
6. Hit up a baseball game (even minor league).
Baseball games are perfect for second dates because they’re fun, but they’re also a slow enough pace where you’ll have time to talk and get to know each other between plays.
One tip here is that it doesn’t have to be some big MLB game. You can go to a local minor league game, a college game, or even look to see if the hilarious Savannah Bananas are in town!
7. Do a scavenger hunt together.
Scavenger hunts are an incredibly unique and fun way to explore your city while getting to know someone you’re building a connection with. You can do emoji scavenger hunts, disposable camera scavenger hunts, and so many more.
Want some free help with these? You guessed it. The LoveTrack app has all of these scavenger hunts fully planned out for you already, and they are 100% free for you to use. You just have to pick one out and go for it!
8. Bring a board game to a coffee shop or lounge.
Board games are a lot of fun and a great way for people to connect. For most people, going to someone’s house on a second date may not be in the cards yet. So, instead, take a board game with you to a coffee shop or lounge! Grab a table, order some beverages, and play together!
Just make sure you choose a game that is good for two players and one that doesn’t take 10 hours to play.
9. Go to a driving range.
Hitting golf balls together can be a lot of fun, even if you’re not great golfers. It’s an activity where there’s no score, and you’re both free to have fun. If you happen to live in a town with a Top Golf (or something similar), that can also be a great place to go to hit golf balls with more of a game-like atmosphere tied to it.
If your date has never played golf before, maybe skip this one or save it for a later date.
10. Head to a local farmer’s market.
This is another daytime date that is fantastic for second dates. You and your date meet up and explore a local farmers market. You can just walk around or you can grab coffee, a lemonade, or some snacks. Generally, farmers markets are held in places where there is plenty of seating and places for you to relax and connect.
Don’t sleep on this second date idea! If you want to jazz it up, we have a date idea on the LoveTrack app that turns a farmers market into a unique picnic that you’ll definitely want to check out!
11. Visit an animal shelter together.
Volunteering together is always an amazing date idea. One way that you can do this on your second date is to visit an animal shelter together. There are a few logistical things to remember though:
- Make sure you call the shelter first to see if it’s okay if you come in.
- Check to see if there are any dress code requirements.
- Let your date know what you’re doing so they can dress accordingly.
12. Try your hands at indoor rock climbing.
For the active adventure seekers out there going on a second date, indoor rock climbing can be a blast. Make sure your date knows what you’re doing (and is okay with it), as this falls under working out, which may or may not be what they’re in the mood for. If they are, though, it’s a fun and exciting way to continue building the connection.
13. Take a frisbee to the park.
This second date idea can be done in conjunction with a picnic or as a standalone activity. If you’re still feeling each other out, this is a great simple date that still works in some activeness. All you have to do is pick up a frisbee and head to a park together. You can toss the frisbee a little bit and then take breaks to go for walks and talk.
Simple, but effective as a second date idea.
14. Try your hand at a local trivia night.
Local lounges and restaurants often have trivia nights that are tons of fun. Sometimes they are general trivia, and sometimes they have themed nights. You and your date can go and work as a team to try and win! Even if you’re terrible at trivia, these nights are a blast.
Also, trivia nights tend to come with great specials on food and drinks.
15. Go bowling!
We’ve already determined that bowling is a good first date idea. But! It’s also a great second date idea. If you check out that article, you’ll see that all the pros that come with bowling for a first date are applicable to a second date.
Also, bowling is just fun and gets overlooked a lot as a great date night idea.
16. Go mini golfing!
Speaking of date ideas doing double duty for first and second dates, you can’t sleep on mini golf. Mini golf is a great first date, but just like bowling, it’s also a great second date idea. Definitely give this one some thought!
17. Rent bikes and go for a ride.
Within most cities (especially by tourist locations), you can rent bikes! This can be a super fun date to rent bikes and stroll around the area together.
Now, a few things to think about here. One, make sure riding bikes is only part of the date so you can walk around and have time for conversation. Two, make sure it’s somewhere safe and not crowded where you have plenty of safe space to ride next to each other. Three, make sure your date is up for it and that the weather isn’t too hot or rainy.
If you follow these guidelines, this can be a pretty neat second date idea.
18. Do a takeout picnic together.
As we mentioned, we have a ton of unique picnic ideas within the free LoveTrack app that are perfect for second dates. We wanted to highlight one of them here for you!
Instead of taking the time to pack up a full meal for a picnic, you can do a takeout picnic. Bring the supplies you need to sit comfortably at the park and then order food delivery to the actual park. Yes, you can literally have food delivered to the park.
Once the food gets there, set it out as a picnic!
19. Check out a local zoo or aquarium.
Our last idea for a great second date is to check out a local zoo or aquarium! This, like the museum idea, gives you the freedom to move around at your own pace. It also has plenty to talk about and spark conversation and connection.
Keys to Success When Planning a Second Date
Now that we’ve covered some really great second date ideas, let’s talk a few keys to success.
Remember that the goal is still assessing chemistry and connection.
With a first date, the goal is not to impress them. It’s to see if there is enough chemistry to warrant a second date. Guess what? That doesn’t change much on a second date. The goal is still to assess chemistry.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! It just means to make sure the fun doesn’t overshadow things where you can’t make a good assessment.
Remember that your date may be slower than you at feeling comfortable.
If you can tell, we’ve been suggesting that second dates are treated a lot like first dates, and for good reason. While you may be head over heels, your date may move slower. They may take longer to figure things out. For that reason, make sure you approach this more like a first date and not a tenth.
Things to Watch Out for With Second Date Ideas
Lastly, we want to share a few no-no’s to take into effect when it comes to second date planning. These are pretty important to watch out for.
- Don’t push an at-home date too quickly. – For the aforementioned reason that some people move slower (and safety should still be a priority for you), you may want to steer clear of at-home dates for the second date.
- Watch out for dates that are too romantic. – If you come on too strong with a super romantic date, it could scare someone off, even if it felt like things went amazingly. Take your time!
- Choose something under 2 hours max. – Anything over about 2 hours gets into just too long for a second date. Having a natural end point that happens before that mark helps avoid any awkwardness.
- Stay away from things that are too group heavy. – You still want the time to connect with each other. Don’t go for anything that is too heavy on being in groups.
- Don’t choose something that’s too loud. – On that same token, make sure you don’t do something that’s too loud where you can’t have a nice conversation.