20 Fall Date Ideas You and Your Partner Will Absolutely Love

• Consider exploring unique fall activities like hiking, visiting a corn maze, or having a wine-and-paint night at home.
• Plan weather-appropriate outfits with plaid flannel shirts for those picture-perfect moments at farms and festivals.
• Save money and bond with your partner over homemade treats like candy apples or cozy movie marathons.

Pick and Bake Fall Harvest Fruit

We've already mentioned apples, which come into season during the earliest months of fall, but pears and pumpkins also make for seriously yummy pies. A quick Google search should reveal all the apple orchards and farms in your area that will allow you to take a basket into their fields. Just be sure to check the weather ahead of time (you wouldn't want the rain to put a damper on your day) and wear comfortable walking shoes. And while matching plaid flannel shirts are not required, they are highly encouraged for all the cute couple selfies you'll be snapping throughout your date. After that, all that's left to do is head home to bake up your bounty and proceed to eat leftovers for breakfast the next day.

Watch a Scary Movie Outdoors

Could there be anything more romantic than a movie night under the stars? Bring your laptop to your deck, back lawn, or apartment's rooftop for a spooktacular evening with your boo. Whatever you do, though, don't forget to bring concession stand snacks (think along the lines of Junior Mints and movie theater-style popcorn) so that you're not starving halfway through the date. If you're not sure what type of horror movie to show, come prepared with several options and then pick one that you both can enjoy.

Explore Local Fairs and Festivals

'Tis the season for festivals of every kind. Chili cook-offs, cool weather craft fairs, Oktoberfests, and state and county fairs abound. So show off your softball skills from middle school and win your partner that ginormous teddy bear, or make out when the Ferris wheel stops at the top. Oh, and insist on getting cotton candy for a sweet end to your evening.

Carve and Decorate Pumpkins

The phrase "pumpkin patch" is very basic but also so darn adorable. Trek out to a nearby farm and pick out the prettiest pumpkin for you and your other half to take home and carve until it resembles a Disney character. Or better yet, add some friendly competition to the mix by having an epic jack-o'-lantern carving contest. The winner will get bragging rights until next year's competition.

Enjoy a Picnic

We know when you think of picnics, you usually envision summer, but fall picnics are where it's at. "I love this date as it’s an opportunity to get really creative and share things that are completely out of the ordinary," shares Weks. "Pick a park and create a memorable spread that the two of you will surely remember for years to come. Leave the phones at home for a romantic afternoon where it’s just you two and the falling leaves."

The relationship expert also adds, "A picnic is your opportunity to delight your partner with figs, floral honey, delectable cheeses, currants, and things that will tantalize the taste buds for an all-around sensory experience. Lay some flowery or lacey vintage blankets down for a beautiful photo opp! Pack vintage tea cups to sip the wine."

Plan a Puzzle Night

We say this with 100 percent sincerity: Puzzles are awesome! They require patience, teamwork, and creative problem-solving—wait, did we just describe a marriage? Light your favorite pumpkin spice–scented candle and settle in with a flight of pumpkin ales for the perfect evening at home.

Map Out a Hiking Adventure

It's time to bust out the L.L. Bean boots and a field jacket for some scenic strolling (and climbing, depending on the difficulty level of the trail you've selected). You'll get your steps in for the day and hopefully discover some picturesque views for an impressive Instagram story. Though it may be a bit chilly, don't underestimate the potential of a beautiful sunrise or sunset hike. Just be sure to dress in layers that you can shed or pile on as the temperatures fluctuate.

Go Thrifting Together

Couples who thrift together, stay together. Whether you hit up local thrift shops or venture out to consignment shops in neighboring cities, the start of the season is the best time to scoop up some gems. And yes, that includes those signature fall flannels (oh so cozy and just the right amount of oversized) that will have you both twinning for every autumnal photoshoot on the horizon. Plus, fall cleaning and back-to-school shopping mean lots of folks just cleaned out their closets so now is the peak season for the best selection.

Go Camping and Light a Bonfire

"Setting up camp somewhere interesting is a surefire way to bond with your partner," shares Weks. "Naturally, you’ll be exposed to the elements and the vulnerabilities of living without the luxuries you’re accustomed to in everyday life. This will bring out new sides of one another not yet explored. What’s more arousing than clutching onto your partner when you hear hair-raising noises or notice a pair of blinking eyes spying on you, perched in the tree above?"

Hang Out at a Cidery or Brewery

Hot spiked mulled apple cider is a seasonal staple (bonus points if you score warm apple cider donuts) that deserves to be on every fall bucket list. According to Weks, "There’s something incredibly romantic about the idea of doing something seasonal like going to the cidery where all the senses are explored together. The scent of freshly made cider with the new chill in the air helps us to anticipate all the cozy things to come in the fall and upcoming holiday season." If there are no such local options, make your own signature cocktails at home. (These fall cocktail ideas are perfect for pumpkin spice latte lovers).

Get Lost on a Long Drive

Walking is nice, but have you tried driving? Some winding country roads aren't safe to traverse by foot, but the trees lining them are too pretty to miss when the leaves turn. And, of course, there are modern-day vehicular luxuries to consider too. For example, on-demand radio (better yet, curate your own fall Spotify playlist), seat warmers, and a GPS once it's time to reorient and head back home.

Organize a Flag Football Group Date

It'll be like that Friends Thanksgiving episode. (Maybe involve a little less cheating and inappropriate flashing in your recreation, though). Bonus basic points if you rock the braided pigtails and backward hat à la Rachel Green.

Have a Wine-and-Paint Night

Unleash your artsy side with a wine-and-paint date night, but have it in the comfort of your own home to keep things extra cozy. Put one of you in charge of picking up the supplies (acrylic paint, canvas panels, paintbrushes, and aprons) and the other can supply the vino (or non-alcoholic sparkling cider). To keep things on theme, we recommend painting autumnal scenes of the local foliage. Don't sweat it if you're not a budding Picasso. By the end of the night, you'll both have masterpieces to show off.

Check Out a Corn Maze

This date idea can be totally cute or totally creepy depending on whether your vibe is more Field of Dreams or Children of the Corn. Assuming it's the former, an afternoon or evening in a strategically manicured cornfield sounds like an opportunity for showing off your navigation skills and sneaking hidden kisses among the rows.

Go on a Bookshop Date

Call us hopeless romantics at heart, but there's something so endearing about a bookshop date. Pick a charming bookstore with a café (and preferably comfy couches so that you can linger for a bit) and get lost in thoughtful conversation. The aroma of coffee beans coupled with the soft hum of acoustic tunes in the background will make for the ultimate fall date.

Visit a Haunted House

Fall goes hand in hand with haunted houses and corn mazes, but it's all in good fun, right? According to Weks, "Humans can misinterpret fear with attraction and for this reason, I love the idea of a haunted house date with your love. Psychologists call this phenomenon the misattribution of arousal. Any arousal on the scary side will surely kick up the fire, and therefore I recommend getting your ghouly hands on as many haunted house tickets as possible. Keep the magic alive by jumping out of a closet to scare them in your best Freddie mask around Halloween time."

Have a Hot Cocoa Date

"Have you ever gone out for a date just for hot cacao?" asks Weks. "This decadent delight can be homemade or enjoyed out at a diner or French bistro. In Paris, this delicious drink is not just for kids, so take this tip from folks of The City of Love and enjoy on crisp fall evening with 'the one.'"

DIY Your Own Candy Apples

If you have a sweet tooth and are looking for an activity to get in the Halloween spirit, look no further than homemade candy apples. This nostalgia-inducing treat is super fun to make and even tastier to eat afterward. All you'll need is a handful of ingredients (scroll through Pinterest for a recipe that catches your eye), plus apples. Once they're coated in a caramel or sugar coating, you'll be able to decorate them with sprinkles, crushed walnuts, or even M&Ms.

Rent an Airbnb in the Mountains

The adrenaline rush of going somewhere new with your partner is enough to get both of you excited for a road trip. When it comes to leaf-peeping adventures on the East Coast, in particular, there's no shortage of fall getaway destinations to consider. From the Berkshires of Massachusetts to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, you'll have no trouble locating an Airbnb for the weekend. Try a charming cabin in the idyllic countryside or even a cool treehouse nestled away in the woods.

Attend a Football Game and Tailgate

If you're not a big sports fan, the idea of attending a football game may make you groan a bit, but hear us out. Nothing says fall like a return to your alma mater for homecoming weekend. Just as the leaves are starting to turn, you'll be back on the grounds when it's showing off the most. If time allows, you could even plan a fun scavenger hunt consisting of all your favorite places (best study spot, best scenic view, best dive bar, etc.). Factor in tailgating—give or take a few rounds of cornhole—and it's a win-win.