Top Ten Romantic Fall Date Ideas on a Budget

Fall can be a magical time of year. Autumn is when the leaves start to turn brilliant colors, no longer their standard green hue. You never know what color you will see next. Red, yellow, orange, even a rusty brown or burgundy shade may appear. Add to this an early sunset, where the sun peers through the remaining leaves on the trees and asks for its final chance to amaze you before it lets the clouds of winter hide it from view. All of this makes for some amazing date ideas. Read on...

1. Sunset walk in the park at happy hour. Instead of taking your date to the bar, try going for a walk in the park after work. Now, it's going to get dark right after 5 pm, so you can head to the park straight from work to catch the sun's final glimpses for the evening. Imagine walking along with leaves under your feet making crisp noises as you pass by. Forget about spending lots of money on a long island iced tea or bloody mary, as you enjoy nature instead. No hangover to worry about the next day either, which is great since it's a workday.

2. Soccer Saturday. You don't have to play sports to enjoy them. Do you have a cousin or niece or nephew who plays soccer? Take your date to one of their games. Usually these are in nice fields where you can enjoy the fall foliage on the sidelines. The weather is generally perfect, anywhere from 50 to 70 degrees fahrenheit. It's not too warm to be uncomfortable and not too cold to have to go inside. And, your date will enjoy the fact that you have allowed them to meet your family in a nonintrusive way. Dinner with the parents is much more intimidating. The even better news is that there is generally no admission fee to these types of events, or it's nominal. Compare this to $50 professional football game tickets and you see what a bargain this is!

3. Picnic lunch and day hike. This is one of my favorite things to do in the fall. Of course, you can hike and picnic in the summer. But, often, it's uncomfortably hot and you have to worry about extra water and loads of sunblock. In the fall, you can wear jeans and tie a jacket around your waste and you're fine. I like to find places that have picnic tables near where you park your car, so you can eat first and relax awhile, and then hike. Otherwise, you have to carry your lunch while you are hiking. I personally would rather not lug anything around while enjoying nature other than my camera. Find a hiking location, such as a national park or local park.

4. Nature photography. Take your date on an excursion to photograph nature. You can find birds, squirrels and of course beautiful trees with turning leaves. You might just be able to get a really special photo of your date with some red and yellow trees in the background, a shot she or he would cherish for a lifetime. This is a way to win the person's heart, as well as to keep the expenses at a minimum. And, imagine how cute it is to find a squirrel looking for nuts and watch it carry a walnut across the grass.

5. Fall art exhibits. In the fall, you will find many art exhibits at local museums featuring fall themes, such as autumn leaves or Thanksgiving with the pilgrims. You may find paintings, sculptures, and more. Admission is almost always minimal for these types of events.

6. Corn mazes. Wow, the corn maze. I remember when I was about five years old I got lost in a corn field. And, it wasn't even a maze. Now that I'm older, I think I would have better luck. The corn maze is a way to just let loose and have fun. You can get lost somewhere in that corn maze and have your first kiss. Or, you may just get to know another side of your date, the uninhibited side where she or he doesn't worry about the rest of the world.

7. Hay rides. Before you laugh, just think about how cool this is. You can compare this to a horse and carriage ride in Central Park, minus the horses and New York City. It's still a way to hold hands and snuggle up beside each other in the brisk fall evening air as you enjoy seeing the town or country roads at night.

8. Costume parties. Here's a chance to see what your date likes that he or she is afraid to be in the daylight. Some people believe that a costume tells something a person desires or wants to be like, but doesn't share with just anyone. If she wants to be a princess, maybe she wants to feel more glamorous. If he wants to be a superhero, perhaps he wants to be stronger for you. Costume parties let you escape your normal roles, and be something else. It can be quite freeing. Costume parties aren't just for kids! Play a part of Halloween or go to a party after Halloween is over!

9. Thanksgiving day. No, this isn't about having your date over for Thanksgiving dinner, although that is certainly an option. This is a day about going around and enjoying what you have to be thankful for. It doesn't have to be religious, or even about the pilgrims or the Mayflower. You can just visit different spots in the country or city that you enjoy. It's like bar hopping, only it's thankful-for hopping. It's amazing how many places there are where you live that you enjoy that you never really have time to see or visit.

10. Camping excursion. I saved the best for last. This is probably not a great idea for a first date, but once you've been going out for awhile this is perfect. Find that tent in the basement that you forgot you had and your sleeping bags, and you're set. Go somewhere not too far away, and somewhere that isn't too far from the safety of your car. There are many camping sites that are set up for just that purpose and are less than a mile from the parking site. Take just some essential items, and spend the night out under the stars. Star gazing in the fall can be incredible at night. The big dipper is in the sky in plain view, as well as many other sets of stars. And, imagine the romantic setting once it turns dark and it's just the two of you in nature.

What are your ideas for an inexpensive fall date?