It’s not what you do, but who you do it with! That said, it never hurts to have some special ideas in store besides the classic dinner and a movie combo. Whether you’re preparing for a first date with a crush or planning some quality time with your spouse, there are plenty of unique ways to spend a romantic evening together at home or around town. Here are 10 ideas to make your next date night unforgettable!

1. Get Your Game On

There’s nothing like a little fun competition to spice things up! Beat boredom at home with a board game, and make a friendly wager—loser buys dinner! If you both enjoy video games, choose a multiplayer game that you can play together. If you feel like getting out of the house, arcades are a blast for kids and adults alike. Games are great for dates because they give you something to focus on, naturally keeping the dreaded small talk at bay.

2. Pamper Yourselves

Treat yourselves to some vacation vibes by booking some appointments at local spas and salons or hiring professionals to perform their beauty services in the comfort of your home. Getting a massage, a manicure/pedicure, or even a haircut is so much fun together, and you’ll feel amazing afterwards. If you really want to make things interesting, consider getting cryotherapy or acupuncture, or even booking a session in a sensory deprivation tank.

3. Take a Stroll

When it comes to cheap date ideas, it doesn’t get much more frugal than taking a nice walk. In fact, if you’re feeling ambitious, you could even take your dog walking while you explore your local surroundings and interact with some pups! Instead of walking to a planned destination, choose a direction, and see where the road takes you. Just wandering around a new neighborhood can be so rewarding.

You could make your walk even more exciting by turning it into a photo scavenger hunt. Before heading out on your adventure, make a list of things to take pictures of. Whoever scratches the most items off the list wins! Another option is to simply have a contest to see who can take the best photo while you’re out. Post them on social media when you get back, and let the public decide the winner.

4. Enjoy a Feast Together

They say the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Instead of going out to eat, why not cook for each other? If you’re not exactly a five-star chef, look up easy recipes that you can work on together. DIY meal kits are also fantastic for date nights, and they’ll save you a trip to the supermarket. By the time you’re finished with your culinary creation, you’ll either have a delicious meal or a lesson learned. Either way, it’s all about the journey, and if the destination tastes good, that’s even better!

5. Make a Collaborative Playlist

Music and romance go hand-in-hand. If you’re looking for cute and romantic date ideas, consider making a playlist together. Crank up the speakers, pour a glass of wine or three, and get nostalgic as you take turns introducing each other to your favorite tunes. Dancing is encouraged, but not mandatory. If you really want to get wild with the date, instead of just listening, pull up the karaoke tracks on YouTube and belt them out to your audience of one.

6. Check Out Live Music or Comedy

Date night is an opportunity to explore your local arts and culture. Even if you don’t have any music or comedy venues in your area, many bars and restaurants have regular performances and/or open mic nights where you can discover some amazing talent. Even if you don’t end up loving the performances, just being out and about and enjoying nightlife together is a great time.

7. Get Crafty

Embrace your inner child with arts and crafts! You could get some paint and canvases and do portraits, make each other tie-dye shirts, or make sculptures with modeling clay. There are endless possibilities, so if you’re not sure where to start, take a quick trip to your local craft store and get inspired. Besides having a whole lot of fun learning a new skill, you might even find your new favorite hobby.

8. Build a Pillow Fort

Speaking of embracing your inner child, when’s the last time you made a pillow fort? Gather all of your blankets and pillows and create the ultimate comfort nest where you can binge shows, have a movie marathon, or just talk all night. Don’t forget the snacks!

9. Learn an Instrument

The internet has made expert lessons easily accessible, so why not learn how to play a musical instrument? You might not be getting hired to play with an orchestra anytime soon, but you can pick up the basics. And if you stick with it, eventually, you’ll be playing beautiful music together. There are plenty of cheap instruments, like recorders, tin whistles, ukuleles, kalimbas, maracas, and harmonicas, just to name a few.

10. Go for a Bike Ride

A bike ride makes such a fun date day, but it can make a wonderful date night too as long as you stick to well-lit roads or paths. Bikes can be the focal point of the date—ride where the wind takes you—or you could choose a destination like a restaurant or movie theater. Either way, biking turns a normal evening out into an adventure.

Don’t Overthink It

A date is just the backdrop for your time spent together. It’s an excuse to get to know someone new or do something fun with the person you fancy. No matter what you end up doing, focus on enjoying each other’s company first and foremost—the activity itself is just an afterthought! Finally, never underestimate the power of a good view. Sometimes, all you need is the right scenery (and person) for sparks to fly.