Top 20 Springtime Dates on the Web

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”         -Robin Williams

Indeed it is.  In case you missed the memo, or didn’t realize you lost an hour of sleep a couple weeks ago, spring is finally here!

The ice has finally melted in the coldest cities in the country and the torrential downpours that plagued most states in February have begun to make way for fresh flowers beginning to bloom.

Earlier this week, I took to our Facebook community page and asked our members for their favorite springtime dates.  I did this, mainly, because I searched for so many online and found only a few.  

So without further ado, here are the Top 20 Springtime Dates on the Web:

1. Be His Honey Bee (via Huff Post) If you both love the outdoors (and neither of you are allergic to bees), drive out to the country for a day at a honey bee farm. These farms maintain hundreds of hives buzzing with thousands of bees. Saunter through the acres of beehives, watching the bees at work … but don’t worry, they can’t easily sting you through your gear!

Touring a bee farm is different from typical farm tours and you can learn all about the science behind beekeeping. After the tour, you can shop the farm store for sweet, syrupy honey (farmed straight from the honeycombs you just toured) to cook with later. Mmmm.

2. Watch a movie in vogue.  Did you know there are still hundreds of drive-in theaters all around the US?  Thank goodness, this style of movie watching didn’t die with Grease.  Park your car, lean your seat back and enjoy a movie with your sweetheart (popcorn fight and all).

3. Exercise alfresco (via SheKnows).  If you’ve been cooped up inside all winter, enjoy some fresh spring air by planning a bike ride (if you live near a beach, try renting a bike for two) or going hiking together at a local park (pack up a picnic in a backpack and enjoy the fruits of your labor at the top).  Spring is also a great time for bird watching with many flocks migrating south.  Need help getting motivated?  Here’s a few simple ways.

4. Have a breakfast picnic.  So romantic!  I’d never even thought about this but it makes so much sense.  Hardly anyone is out early at the local parks and you’ll enjoy the lovely light of morning as you sip your steamy lattes, munch on some fruit, take a stroll or just sit around and smooch.  (“One thing to remember,” Kris “Kroll” Woods who submitted this idea reminds us, “The ground is dewy, so plan ahead for shoes, towel for the table, etc.)

5. Join the worldwide hunt for treasure. (via The Nest)  Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache anywhere in the world (think: the middle of the forest or top of the Empire State Building) and pinpoint its location using GPS technology, and then share the geocache’s location online. All you need to get started are a GPS device and the whereabouts of a “treasure” listed on the website.

6. Got a pickup truck?  Make some good use out of it! Load it up with tons of hay (if you have some available), sleeping bags, some snacks and a bottle of wine.  Lay down the tailgate and just enjoy looking up at the stars and talking. And if there is a spring concert series nearby, why not pull your truck right up to that?

7. Spring break for adults (via Care2.com)  It’s not just for college students anymore—bust out of the winter doldrums by hitting a beach destination for some much-needed relaxation (and romance). If you don’t have the time or funds to go anywhere exotic, look up long weekend trips an hour or two away from home. You don’t have to travel far to get the benefits of getting away from it all.

8. Enjoy nature’s real confetti.  Sit beneath a full bloom sakura tree and enjoy simply being.  When プンザラン リセール submitted this idea, I must admit, I had to look up what sakuras were and if we also have them in the States.  And alas, they are cherry blossom trees.  Yes, we have plenty of those.  But if you aren’t in a city where you can find some, choose any tree newly bloomed and enjoy it’s amazing wonder.  Speaking of which…

9. Visit to the Gardens (via About.com)  Spring is the perfect time to stop by your local botanical gardens or any gardens or parks that are open to the public to observe and appreciate the flowers and plants that are coming back to life after the winter. Be sure to actually smell the roses together and hold hands while you walk or stroll. Take in the scene and take pictures to boot. After all, nature makes for a beautiful backdrop.

10. Go Ape!  Who knew there was zip lines and treetop adventures all over the US.  Christina Paul, who submitted this idea, said she and her husband did it though GoApe.com and had a blast!  If you’re not in any one of the cities where they’re located, here are another 10 great zip lines across the US.

11. Build a Campfire in Your Backyard (via Happy Wives Club)  One of my dear friends rented a home for more than 10 years and I’m convinced the reason she loved it there so much was the fire pit she built in the backyard.  Don’t worry, the grass will grow back!  But even more likely, you won’t want it to.  Camille and her hubby built their own and I also found this great tutorial online by Debbie Graney.  Once you’re done, grab a couple chocolate bars, some graham crackers and marshmallows and celebrate all your hard work with freshly made S’mores.  

12. Get in on the March Madness!  Start a couples pool for spring’s biggest basketball challenge.  Maybe because I love sports but I wanted to do it the moment I read this suggestion by Joy Turner Washburn, “It’s so fun picking teams and keeping track of the games (Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four).  We have a personal party on the night of the championship game.”  And what’s a better way to celebrate a huge win than…sex…or chocolate…or champagne.  Better yet, how about all three?!

13. Become a wine connoisseur in four easy steps (via LearnVest).  Ever wonder what people are doing when they’re sniffing or swirling their wine around in the glass, looking to see if it’s got “legs”?  Well, wonder no more.  Make this a fun hobby to pick up for the Spring and well before the summer you’ll be sniffing, swirling, swishing and tasting like a pro.

14. Pick a book of the season.  How often do you and your spouse read a book together?  Do you like fiction?  Does he like nonfiction?  Does he like sci-fi while you like romance?  What about finding a book you both will love?  GoodReads gives 18 great suggestions and you can see their reviews here.  And another book that would have made their list had it been out when it was compiled (:)) is the Happy Wives Club.  Yes, I’m biased but don’t take my word for it, check out the 5-star reader reviews.  And don’t let the name fool you.  Men are loving this book just as much as women (although, they are a bit more apprehensive about buying a book with “Happy” and “Wives” in the title).

15. Get Dirty (via HuffPost). Cleaning your house doesn’t exactly sound sexy, but hear us out. In the middle of scrubbing down walls, dusting cobwebs out of corners, and moving furniture, there’s a lot of silence in which to bring up unspoken issues between you two. You can also share intimate details about each other you might not have otherwise organically brought up and goals for the relationship. Doesn’t every relationship need some spring cleaning of its own too? Think of the ways you can reward each other for an afternoon’s hard work: “If we can clean up now, we can get a little dirty later.” (Wink-wink.)

16. Kick back in your own homemade hammock.  Seriously, what’s more relaxing than laying next to your favorite person in the world as the net beneath you keeps you closer than close?  Do you have a porch or trees close enough to hang a hammock?  If so, spend a couple hours making one together, then grab some freshly brewed iced tea, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

17. In with the new. (via Care2.com)  Pick an activity that’s new to both of you, and spend the season working on it together. Take rock-climbing classes, train for a half-marathon together, or sign up for a dance class. You’ll bond over being beginners and push each other to get better. Plus, a recent study even showers that adding an element of surprise into a relationship can trigger the same emotional state you were both in when you first met, getting back all those lovey-dovey feelings.

18. Easter egg hunt comes early – or late.  This fabulous idea submitted by Shelly Massie will take a little bit of creativity and planning.  Set up the picnic ahead of time and have eggs hidden all over the backyard (park or any other place with plenty of trees).  But these aren’t just any kind of eggs, they’re love note eggs (via Dating Divas).  As your husband finds they hidden eggs, they will open them to a sweet surprise: Your love, appreciate and acknowledgment that he’s the best.   

19. Let Your Hearts Be All A-Flutter (via HuffPost).  He gives you butterflies in your stomach and you’d like to show just how he makes you feel without being too cheesy — so why not visit a butterfly conservatory? These sanctuaries are indoor living environments specially designed for butterflies to flourish. Just imagine strolling hand-in-hand along meandering paths in the greenhouse, admiring the beds of lush greenery and blossoms, with hundreds of colorful butterflies fluttering freely in the air around you. It’s the perfect picture of springtime romance.

20. Serenity by the water.  No matter where you live, there’s a body of water somewhere: ocean, marina, lake, stream – find it.  Enjoy it.  Create your very own still point in a turning world.  Lake with fish nearby?  Grab some fishing wire and a hook (or if you have no idea what you’re doing, like me, just buy a fishing pole).  Some of the best fish come out at spring so just drop a line, he’ll skin, you cook (or in my case, the Hubs would rather skin and cook), and you’ve just wrapped up a perfect spring day.

QUESTION: What’s your favorite springtime date ideas?  (Add them in the comments below and let’s make sure we keep love in the air all spring long.)

Until Monday…make it a great weekend!

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