Get Out of the Dating Rut! Try These Fantastically Different and Inexpensive Date Ideas

When it came to dating, I always found myself in a rut. It was dinner and a movie. While this is fun, sometimes it's nice to mix things up a little bit. I found some other very fun and even inexpensive date alternatives that you can use to mix things up a little bit.

Go to the zoo.

If you have a zoo nearby, this is a really cool place to go for a date. There's something about soft cuddly, furry, animals that women just can't resist. If you're a woman reading this, watch how your guy's eyes light up when you visit the lions, tigers, and other big carnivores. Guys love it.

You get extra points if you're thoughtful enough to pack a picnic lunch or dinner. Most zoos have a pavilion area for eating. Don't forget to bring the camera! Pictures in front of the monkeys can be quite amusing. You may even get to have your zoo date for free. The local zoo here has free admission from four to six on Sunday evenings.

Go to an art museum.

Believe it or not, art museums can be a really fun and cool place to go. There is a misconception that you have to be refined and stuffy to enjoy art. This isn't true. I'm about as rugged as they come, but there's nothing wrong with looking at paintings and sculptures. You may even earn big points with your girlfriend because she thinks you're trying to be more cultural. Trust me, it's not as bad as you think, and is fun.

Colleges and universities are gold mines.

If you are close to a college you're sitting on a gold mine. I'm fortunate enough to be within reasonable driving distance of three universities and one college. There's always something for the public to attend. It can be anything from featured speakers to music concerts. All events are either free, or very inexpensive, to the public. All you have to do is go to the website of the College or University you live near and look at what the upcoming events are.

Get back to nature.

Take a nature walk or bike ride. If you have mountain bikes go for a nice leisurely ride on a nice trail. Whether you walk, or bike, put some lunch in a backpack and have a nice picnic in the woods. Getting back to nature is nice to do; especially because most of our time is spent so hectically and we don't have time to relax and enjoy life, especially nature.

Go to poetry or book reading.

Most bookstores or coffee shops have book and poetry readings. Again, if you're a guy you're probably thinking this is going to be torture. It's really not. Some of the modern poets are very edgy and gritty. You'll never know if you like it, unless you try. Your significant other will probably be very proud of you for trying it if you never have.

Go to the airport.

Pack a lunch or dinner and park near an airport. If you live near an airport, this dating idea can be really fun. It's really cool to enjoy a nice meal and watch different planes land and take off. There's nothing like seeing huge 747s come in for landings.

Go to the mall and people watch.

This can be extremely fun! Doing this is almost like the first suggestion, going to the zoo, but can actually be much more entertaining. After all, animals can't talk, people can. Overheard conversations can be quite interesting and entertaining. You can also do voiceovers for people sitting far away from you. If you see a couple talking, you can do funny his and hers voices about what they are talking about.

So if you're planning to take someone on a date and your little strapped for cash, or even you just want try something different, try one of the above mentioned dates. After all, the point of a date is to get to know someone better or get closer to the person you're already with. It's not about how much money you spend doing it.