12 Morning Date Ideas to Start Your Day Off Right

Get Active

As Kylie Carson, owner of The Wedding Academy, tells Brides, one great go-to activity for a morning date is to get in some exercise.

“Being active first thing after waking up is a great way to get your blood pumping and it's perfect for bonding with your partner,” Carson says. “This could be dusting off your bikes to go for a morning ride to pick up your favorite coffee, taking a nice walk around the neighborhood, or, if you're feeling adventurous, tackling that hike you've been talking about. Not only is it good for the soul to disconnect for a bit, but quality alone time with your partner is invaluable.”

Take a Mini Road Trip

Create your perfect playlist (tip: include nostalgic songs that remind you of different times in your relationship if you want to get really romantic!), grab some to-go coffees, and set out on a mini road trip with your partner bright and early for a fun morning date.

It’ll feel exciting to discover somewhere new together, and you’ll probably be surprised at how many beautiful and unique small towns exist within just a few hours of your house. And if you’re looking to take a fall road trip, there are tons of gorgeous itineraries and activities out there to inspire you.

Set-Up a "Virtual Experience" Date

A great date often has an element that brings each person out of their comfort zone. Virtual experiences with AirBnB are a great way to do that.

“You can do a tango lesson, do a tarot card reading or even tour a European city while you sip on your morning coffee,” Carlson explains.

Pour some delicious coffee, settle down with your laptops, and have some fun!

Go Yard Sale Hopping

There’s something about yard sales that are just plain old nostalgic fun. Plan a morning where you hop in the car with your partner and hop from yard sale to yard sale. You can even make it a competition and see who finds the best steal or deal amongst all the junk. Maybe challenge each other to find the perfect.

After, we suggest stopping for brunch or at a brewery after a long morning of thrifting to round out the day. 

Host a Morning Book Club

If you love to read, why not share the experience with your partner? Choose a book (or two or three), make a cozy breakfast (waffles or pancakes, anyone?), and discuss it together every few weeks. 

“Choose a book and set a reading schedule that's paired with frequent discussions," Carlson suggests. "Perhaps you read a chapter a day and meet every morning with coffee to mull over the story or make every Saturday a discussion day after reading a handful of chapters throughout the week.”

Schedule a Recurring Brunch

For an easy morning date tradition that you'll look forward to month-after-month, sit down with your partner to research the best brunch places near you. Make a list of the ones you’d like to visit and then make reservations for each one. Every other week or so, you can plan on having a Sunday morning brunch date. Afterward, you both can rank the restaurants and meals you liked the best. 

Take an Online Barista Lesson

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make the beautiful lattes that you get at coffee shops? Has your partner wanted to? Schedule a virtual or socially distanced lesson with a professional barista and learn the ropes. Afterward, enjoy your coffee creations together and talk about the day ahead.

Wake Up for Sunrise

Do some Googling and find the absolute best places near you to watch a sunrise. Set your alarm for bright and early, pour some mugs of coffee, pack some snacks (bagels, anyone?), and set out to the location. Sure, it’s early, but it’ll be a memorable, beautiful, and incredibly romantic date that you’ll both remember for a long time. Just remember to check the weather beforehand!

Spend Time Outside

Pretty much any date is more romantic when done outdoors in a gorgeous setting with some fresh air. Take a normal weekend morning activity (ordering lattes, going on a walk, eating brunch, reading together, or playing board games) and go do it together outside for a change of pace. Even just going outside your front door can be fun.

“A date doesn't always mean that you have to leave the house. Some of the best dates happen when you take the time to make a gourmet breakfast (with or without mimosas!) and sit outside to eat and catch up with one another,” Carson suggests. ‘This can be especially helpful on the weekends when the two of you have a free schedule to chat and de-stress from the workweek.”

Complete a Puzzle

A puzzle might sound kind of boring, but it’s the perfect morning activity. Quiet, not too complicated, and oddly relaxing. Doing one with your partner is the perfect time to share a pot of coffee, put on your favorite podcasts or music, and work on something together that is simple enough to allow you to talk at the same time or simply enjoy each other’s company.

Have A Movie Morning

Once you have a movie morning, movie nights just won’t seem nearly as good. Wake up early, make a big pot of coffee and a hearty breakfast, and get cozy on the couch with your partner. Break out the fluffy robes and slippers, queue up your favorite movies, and settle in for a long, lazy morning. This is the perfect cold-weather morning date, too. 

Stay in Bed!

When’s the last time you and your partner had a lazy morning in bed instead of springing out of bed as soon as the sun rises to complete a pressing errand or go exercise? Sometimes the most romantic, fun thing to do with your loved one is to take things slow to start the day for once. No productivity or flashy outing required. Consider watching cooking shows in bed, flipping through old photo albums, or just talking while cuddled under the covers. Just make sure you actually set aside time for this, as it can be hard to let yourself stay in bed when you’re used to being as busy as possible.