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37 First Date Ideas That Aren't Awkward, No Matter How Nervous You're Feeling

It doesn't matter how much of an extrovert you are, or really even how well you know the person in question — first dates are generally unpredictable, and can run from totally awesome to a total bummer. The best you can do is try to prepare yourself with first date ideas that aren't awkward, so that you're both at ease, engaged in what's happening, and don't need to rely just on each other to keep the conversation going if you catch yourself in a nervous moment. Thankfully, there are a whole slew of options to do just that.

Depending on how well you know your date, some of these suggestions you may want to take or leave — but all of them are reliable in that they will give you plenty to talk about, and give you a hard and fast time "out" if things end up going south. This list of ideas will also encourage you to experience something together, and help you get to know each other in the process by letting the conversation flow naturally based on what's happening around you. If you're at a loss for where to go, here are 37 places to consider for a first date — and if all goes well, for the second, third, and more dates to come!

Ghost Tour

Get your blood pumping on a ghost tour of your town, or visited a local haunted house.

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A Book Reading

Not sure what to talk about? Hit up a local book reading in your area, and get the conversation flowing after as you mill around to look at books.

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Farmer's Market

There's nothing like the hustle and bustle of a crowd to make things seem less awkward — plus, there are guaranteed to be fun treats to sample and share.

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Arcade

Go head-to-head at the local arcade (or, if you're lucky, arcade bar) for an instant conversation starter.

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Pool Hall

Team up together at the local pool hall, or go one-on-one — either way, there's nothing like a little healthy competition to get the party started.

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Movie

As cliché as it seems, going to a movie is a great icebreaker — plenty to talk about over drinks or dinner afterward.

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Museum

If you're both the museum type, find a deal to go to one together. Better yet, see if there's an interactive museum or a fun niche one to really spark discussion.

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Bar Crawl

It's hard to feel awkward on a first date when you're hop, skip, and jumping around town with a bunch of tipsy new friends.

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Roller Rink

Get your retro groove on by trying out some moves at the roller rink — even if you tank, at least you'll be able to laugh at yourselves.

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Pet Shelter

Make some new furry friends as you get to know each other by volunteering to walk dogs or clean up at a local pet shelter.

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Apple Picking

Get a little bit out of your comfort zone by traveling to an orchard or a local farm — there are usually plenty of other activities there that will help you get to know each other better.

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Comedy Show

Nothing makes two people feel connected to each other quite like openly guffawing right after they've first met.

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Brunch

Brunch is the best of both worlds — an excuse to get a little bit tipsy to take off some of the pressure, but with a built-in out if you're not feeling it.

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Jazz Club

Discover the local talent and knock some of your nerves out of the way by dancing the night away at a jazz club.

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Cake Decorating Class

If you want to literally have your cake and eat it, too, go to a cake decorating class — even if you're not artistically inclined, you'll have plenty to eat afterward.

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Amusement Park

Challenge each other in mini games or get your adrenaline pumping on rides, where you can get to know each other better waiting in line.

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Walking Tour

Odds are your area has all kinds of niche walking tours that even locals can learn from — do a quick Google search and see what hidden paths you can explore.

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Wine Tasting

If you're both relatively confident in your wine tasting ability (although honestly, it could be more fun if you're not), head to a local vineyard or a bar offering tastings.

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Bowling

The healthy competition and unmatched greasy side snacks of bowling alleys are the optimum get-to-know-you date.

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Bookstore Browsing

Find a quirky or used bookstore in your area, and reminisce over your childhood favorites and find hidden gems. Pick out a book for each other to read after the date, so you can catch each other up on date two.

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Sports Game

Getting caught up in the heat of the moment with the rest of the fans will help bridge the first few awkward minutes of a first date in no time.

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Candy Bar

Wake up your inner kids by heading over to a local candy store and carefully curating your own bag of candy, then introducing each other to your favorite ones.

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Planetarium

See if your connection is ~written in the stars~ by heading to the local planetarium — check and see if there are any cool events to attend before you go!

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Coffee

There is nothing quite as tried-and-true as a coffee date — if you're feeling awkward going in, try inviting them to one of your favorites so you're on home turf.

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Boat Tour

Expand your horizons by checking out a local boat tour, where you'll both get a chance to admire your area from an angle you've never seen before.

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Concert

Is there a band you both like coming to town? Take a risk and make the first date a concert, where you can bond over favorite hits.

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Trivia Night

There's never a dull moment or an awkward silence at a trivia night, where your wheels are constantly turning.

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Rock Climbing

Put each other to the test by heading to a local rock climbing wall, where the adrenaline of adventure will get the conversation flowing.

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A Themed Bar

If a bar seems a little too cliché, hit a fun themed one in your area — the bars off the beaten path usually have the most worth talking about.

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Ice Skating

Take yourselves for a whirl at a local ice skating rink, then treat yourselves with coffee or hot cocoa as you nurse your butt bruises after.

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Ice Cream

If you're nervous about a first date, going out for ice cream is a good way to keep it short and sweet, and easily extend it if you feel a spark.

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Cooking Class

You'll have plenty to talk about during a joint cooking class — particularly if one of your dishes ends up being superior to the other's!

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Stage Production

Head to a matinee or weekday performance of a play, musical, or dance production to get affordable tickets, and share an experience you'll both want to talk about after.

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Board Game Bar

If your area has a board game bar, use it as a no-pressure way to instigate a double or triple date with you and some of your friends.

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Mini Golf

Whether you're competitive as heck or just there for kicks, mini golf is a great way to get some insight into each other's personalities while enjoying the sunshine.

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Park Workout

If you're the kind of person who likes to get real fast, head to a park with one of those workout circuit courses on them and put each other to the test.

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Aquarium

Nothing says "budding romance" quite like hanging out with some adorable lil' penguins and making friends with fish!

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