Green Date Ideas

Ways to Spend an Eco Friendly Afternoon

Oct 9, 2008 Cherie Burbach

Need some date ideas that are also good for the environment? How about earth-friendly chocolate, an echo coffee meet up, or a movie night with a twist?

Celebrate your passion for the environment with your newfound love. Here are some date ideas that are fun, inexpensive, and kind to the earth.

Elegant Picnic Lunch

Forget plastic forks and plates! Pack a dressed-up picnic lunch with items you can wash and reuse. Choose your favorite china and silverware along with a beautiful tablecloth. Use the tablecloth as ground cover or for use on a picnic table. Wrap sandwiches in cloth napkins, then reuse as you eat. Bring salt and pepper shakers you can take back home and refill.

Get Creative With Candles

Save energy and set a romantic tone by turning off the lights and using candles instead. Plan your date for twilight time and watch how your voice and conversation suddenly becomes more whispered and intimate by candlelight.

Movie Night - With a Twist

Rent a movie and prepare a champagne brunch rather than dinner. For dessert, choose an art bar from Ithaca Fine Chocolates, which are organic and Fair Trade Certified. Get an added perk inside the wrapper with a mini art reproduction. Then, choose a romantic comedy and cuddle up for a happy ending.

Outdoor Play

Theater groups throughout the country offer outdoor performances of Shakespearean plays. Bring a blanket and watch the stars come out as you listen to the beautiful words of the world's most famous playwright.

Eco Coffee Date

Companies such as Starbucks are committed to recycling and improving the environment. According to their website, they "work together on a daily basis with partners (employees), suppliers, farmers and others to help create a more sustainable approach to high-quality coffee production" and to help "minimize our environmental footprint." Choose a local store and support their effort.

Or, for an even greener cup of coffee, prepare a thermos with two ceramic mugs, and offer to meet your date at a local park or popular hot spot.

Walking Tour of Your Town

Save on gas and take in the beauty of existing architecture in your own city. While you walk, note those businesses that may need a reminder on how to improve their green quotient.

Bike

How about working up a sweat on your date? Choose an easy bike path where you and your date can peddle and take in some beautiful scenery. Remember to choose a spot where you can cool down afterward with some water and conversation.

Rummage Sales and Flea Markets

Print off a list of rummage sales in your area, then bike to the closest locations. Or, take the bus to the latest flea market. As an eco-conscious couple, you can share your ideas on how to reuse some of the items for sale. As a fun addition, purchase some fresh vegetables as a snack for your date.

Frisbee Golf

Even if you're not into chasing a little white ball around, you can get some use from the local courses with a round of Frisbee golf. You'll have plenty of conversation opportunities as you walk from hole to hole, while the gorgeous backdrop will allow any first date silences to feel just right.

If you're into green living, why settle for a date that doesn't support your eco-friendly approach? Even if your date isn't as earth conscious as you are, showing him or her the best way to drink coffee or save on gas can inspire them to do the same. Better yet, perhaps your commitment to the environment will help spark passion between you and your new love.

The copyright of the article Green Date Ideas in Dating is owned by Cherie Burbach. Permission to republish Green Date Ideas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Do Your Part for Earth and Enjoy Come Coffee Too	Use Cloth Napkins for Your Picnic Lunch	Save Energy and Use Candlelight on Your Date
Enjoy a Round of Frisbee Golf	Take Your Date to a Flea Market