With so much riding on the first date, it’s a wonder most guys still pick the same old boring places-stuffy restaurants, dark movie theaters, loud bars.
You can do better than that. And if you hope to go from first date to second—and then to love, marriage, parenthood, and your 50th wedding anniversary—you should do better than that.
Here’s how: Listen to women. We did. We asked HowAboutWe, a site where members submit ideas for dates and go out with people who like what’s been proposed. After some data mining (note: not a good first-date activity), the site identified proposals that attracted the most female attention. Then we asked the experts for ways to pull off those ideas perfectly.
Take a 15-Minute Hike—No More, No Less
Hoofing it somewhere interesting keeps the blood—and the conversation-moving. Plus, the simple act of walking alongside you can help her feel more connected to you, according to a study in the journal Social Cognition.
Be The Love Sherpa: The ideal hike is short but includes a long, casual lunch. Pack finger foods, a bottle of wine, and a blanket. She’ll be more receptive to that first kiss if she doesn’t have pine needles poking her in the ass.
Wow Her with Climbing (and Planning) Skills
Rock climbing, whether it’s inside or out, ramps up adrenaline production, resulting in a sensation similar to sexual arousal. Once the sweat dries, go to a barbecue joint where you can eat brisket, sip whiskey, and talk about where the date is headed next.
Make A Boss Move: Contact the climbing center ahead of time to make reservations and prepay, suggests Los Angeles dating coach DeAnna Lorraine. Women love a man who can plan.
Practice Waking Up Together
A morning bicycle ride to a farmers’ market can plant the seed for future overnighters. “It has the intimate feeling of having spent the night together,” says Lorraine.
Watch Her Back: You’ll have a better view if you let her ride in front. Plus, she can set the pace. Win-win! Really like the girl? Then buy her something small, like a bracelet, so she’ll never forget your first date, says Brandy Engler, Psy.D., an L.A.-based sex therapist. “That’s sexy-nice.”
Eat on the Street and Drink in the Garden
Food-truck grub is generally tasty and always cheap, so you can save your cash for the beer garden afterward. And having two phases keeps the date interesting, says Timothy Loving, Ph.D., a cofounder of ScienceofRelationships.com. It sure as hell beats just sitting and staring at each other across a table, he says.
Go Halfsies With Her: A recent Clemson University study found that the simple act of handing food to somebody can boost intimacy.
Show Her Your Idiot Side
Quick, what’s the capital of North Dakota? Don’t know? Better come up with something funny. Pub trivia night is a perfect date: cheap beer, easy conversation, and a shared goal to bond over. (It’s Bismarck, Einstein.)
Swagger a Little: Propose a funny team name, like “Masterdaters” or “Suck It, Losers!” And while it’s okay to be competitive, don’t pull out your smartphone to cheat, says Loving. She may think you cheat in other ways, too.
menshealth.com
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