Getting a day or night out just the two of you is a treat, but coming up with the date idea is always a toughie—do you do the usual dinner out or try something new? If you’re thinking the latter, we’ve got you covered with a bunch of out-of-the-box ideas for a day or night date, from hitting the sky in a hot air balloon to going on a sunset cruise around the bay. Scroll down for these date day and night ideas in NJ—and you can start booking that sitter now. And if you want to extend your trip, don’t miss your chance to stay in one of these luxe resorts. (featured Photo Credit: Istock/alexeys)
29 date ideas around New Jersey
Visit a vineyard or a brewery
Take a tour of the vines or experience a beer flight together. Whether you are team hops or team grapes, visiting a vineyard like Renault Winery or a brewery like Jersey Girl Brewery is always a fun time out. Sip a chardonnay or pinot noir, sample an IPA, or snack on a cheese plate to go with it. Some places even have special tasting events. Prefer innovative cocktails? Visit a distillery in NJ and try some new spirits.
Take a spa daycation
Unwind that stress away by taking a breather at a day spa. Lounge in the Korean baths a Deux at Island Spa & Sauna in Edison, or head to Montclair to experience Bangz Golden Ritual For Two—it includes a gold sugar scrub, scalp and foot massage, and Swedish massage. At SOJO Spa Club in Edgewater, swim in the all-weather outdoor pool with city views, or head down the shore to spend time in a Himalayan Salt Grotto at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City,
Create art together
Get inspired with a creative class that goes a step above the usual paint-and-sip date night ideas. Try your hands at pottery at Mud Clay Studio in Madison or Montclair, take a Wine and Wheel class at The Clay Pot in Spotswood, or turn wood into works of art at any of the Board & Brush studio locations throughout NJ. Whatever creative way you go, you’ll have a special something to take home as a reminder of the fun day or night you had.
Take date night to new heights with an exhilarating hot air balloon ride.
Go up and away with a hot air balloon ride
Close your eyes and imagine that you can hear the roar of a fire and feel the breeze in your hair as you toast with champagne and take to the skies. If this sounds like a dream, make it a reality by reserving a private hot air balloon ride above the clouds. A romantic flight in a wicker basket is a beautiful way to take in the skies, and if you are lucky, you might even view a colorful sunset up close. Here are places to take a hot air balloon ride where you can fly away.
Sneak away to an adult-only resort trip
If you’re lucky enough to find someone to watch your kids and can get away for a night or two, pack up the car and head for the highway. There are fantastic hotels a short drive away where you can relax by a pool, fill your day full of activities, or hang in with room service. Perfect getaways include Crystal Springs Resort or Ocean Casino Resort. Find the perfect adults-only weekend vacay in our luxe hotel guide.
Have a little friendly competition
Test your skills and set up a friendly game of laser tag to see who can get the highest score, and or team up together and zap the competition. If you want a more vintage feel, challenge your date to some retro arcade games from Donkey Kong to Pac-Man to see who gets the high score.
Red Bank is full of restaurants and shops that check off all boxes for date ideas in NJ. Photo Credit: Nicole Todd
Go on a day trip in a downtown
Take a trip to explore an NJ town that’s new to you. Tour the sites in historic Morristown, get an urban vibe in Hoboken, take in a performance in Red Bank, or walk among beautiful architecture in Princeton. With each town rich in culture, history, restaurants, and vibrant spaces, there’s plenty to do for a day that goes into an evening date. Historic Smithville is another spot to get in a little getaway any time of the year.
Pack a picnic for two
A romantic picnic in a park can be just the thing for those afternoon dates. Pack a picnic basket with dinner, utensils, plates, wine, and a blanket, and then find your space, whether it’s biking, hiking, or just pulling up the car to the beach. Cozy up and nibble on food while you take in the Garden State scenery and people watch throughout the park.
Unwind in Cape May
What’s better than a little friendly competition at Starlux Mini Golf in Wildwood for date night ideas in NJ? Photo Credit: Kip Dawkins
Play a nighttime round of mini-golf
Who says mini-golf is just for the kids? Make it a romantic competition by playing it under the lights at one of the many mini-golf spots throughout NJ. If you’re near the shore, take a walk on the boards and end with a round by the ocean and sultry sea air. Or, if it’s a chilly evening, try an indoor mini-golf location underneath the black lights.
Cruise into the sunset
Set sail on a boat on the Atlantic or on the Hudson, and watch the sun go down. If you’re near the shore, hop on board to listen to live music on the three-hour sunset cruise on the Queen Mary. Or see a dolphin or whale on the Royal Miss Belmar. If you’re up North, take a Statue of Liberty sunset cruise aboard the City Cruises departing from Jersey City. No matter which cruise you take, this is for sure—they will all have amazing views.
Head toward the water
Did you know that New Jersey is full of waterfalls? The Garden State has smaller falls like the Speedwell Dam waterfall all the way to the second largest waterfall by volume east of the Mississippi at Paterson Great Falls. If you want to go closer to the shore, see the variety of lighthouses from Sandy Hook to Absecon. And the best part is that you can climb many of the lighthouses for fantastic views.
Race your date to the finish line at RPM Raceway and get credit for your fun date night ideas. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Rev your engines
For a truly racy take on a date, spend time on the go-kart tracks. Take twists and turns at the multi-level track at RPM Raceway. which has over 3,000 square feet of mega track. RPM also has bowling, virtual reality, and arcade games. Or start your engines at the largest indoor racetrack in the world in Edison at Supercharged Entertainment, complete with indoor karting, a gaming arcade, axe throwing, a drop and twist tower and virtual reality.
Bowl over your date
There’s nothing like a fun round of bowling to bring out some friendly competition. Lace-up those bowling shoes and get ready to get a strike. Head over to Pinstripes in Paramus, where you can bowl, try some bocce, or dine at the bistro. They can even serve you food and drinks while you bowl.
Fly to new heights
Put a show at Ocean Casino Resort on your date night ideas checklist. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Show it up
Get active together
The swan boats in Asbury Park are a nice way to take in some water views. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Head to a town with a rock-and-roll past
Live in luxury
Drive-into a date night
Visit a true drive-in theater that will make you feel like you drove back in time. The Delsea Drive-in Movie Theatre originally opened in 1949, and it plays modern movies today. Make it dinner and a movie, with an onsite restaurant delivering yummy treats and snacks (gluten-free options too) to your car, and during the season, they are open every week for date night fun.
Take a spin on the Dream Wheel at American Dream. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Have your dream date
How are these date night ideas? See unparalleled views of the New York City skyline from the American Dream Wheel. Or have modern Italian cuisine with entrees like Linguine Vongole or Veal Scaloppine Milanese at Carpaccio. And, of course, you won’t want to miss shopping in this 3 million-square-foot entertainment complex at American Dream.
Learn together
Look for amusement
There is no shortage of amusement parks in New Jersey, and the best part is that many are open beyond the summer months. Ride the Ferris wheel with your love, or get your adrenaline pumping on a crazy roller coaster. New Jersey has outdoor amusement parks like Six Flags Great Adventure or boardwalk favorites like Morey’s Piers.
In the spring, date ideas in NJ, like Holland Ridge Farms, are the perfect places to visit. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
See the pretty flowers
Brunch as a couple
Pick lavender and pet alpacas
Cross over the bridge to explore The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for a date night idea. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Go to the city
We are lucky in New Jersey to have not one but two cities close enough to spend the day or overnight at. New York is full of touristy and trendy activities from simple to unique. Or head south to Philadelphia and see the historical to the headline worthy spots. You also won’t want to miss unique things to do in New York, like Edge NYC, and unique activities like Elfreth’s Alley in Philly. The Franklin Institute is also a great idea to see an upcoming exhibit or to sit back and relax in the planetarium.
Head east
There’s nothing like watching the sunset ride over the ocean in the morning—start your day at an NJ beach any time of the year. As it heats up. there are free beaches that you can visit. like The Wildwoods and Cape May Point State Park. And while you are at the shore, the boardwalks are a must-visit spot for some food, sweet desserts or test your luck at the arcade games. If you are looking for adventurous date ideas in NJ, take a whale-watching tour and make some memories you’ll never forget.
Paddle and parasail
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