YouAlberta
I love Netflix Party and other group show/movie streaming sites as much as the next person, but after almost a year of regular Netflix Party dates (yes, we have been in a global pandemic for about a year now), I'm ready for a bit of a change. Here are 10 creative virtual date ideas that are good for couples and friends any time of the year!
1. Have a Bob Ross-themed art night
A simple, peaceful, date night idea. Gather your art supplies, hop in the video call, and open your favourite Bob Ross painting tutorial. And remember, "we don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents."
2. Solve a virtual escape room together
Going through an escape room is something that has been on my bucket list for years, so it is lovely to know that this is something we can still do from the comfort of our homes! If you're looking for something to do on a virtual double date or a group event night you can websites like The Locked Room schedule your escape room on, but there are also companies like The Escape Game that offer options for a group of two.
3. Tour a museum together
Walking through Museum exhibits is a tried and true classic date idea and thanks to the miracles of the internet is now something you can do with your loved one without getting out of your pajamas! Tour the Louvre from your living room, experience exhibits from the Van Gogh Museum without leaving your desk, or take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian! University of Alberta Museums even has a virtual exhibition and scavenger hunt of "Dragons on the Tibetan Plateau." There are countless museums around the world that offer virtual tours, and thanks to platforms like Discord, screen sharing the tour with your date is incredibly easy.
4. Virtual dinner date…food roulette version
My love language would 100% be food if that was a type, and the thought of getting a meal delivered to my door without having to think or lift a finger sounds like a dream. Set up a night in the week where you'll order dinner for each other, but don't let them know what you're getting them. Once the food gets to your door, hop on a video call, open your dinner together, and enjoy!
If cooking *is* your thing, try making a recipe virtually over a video call together. For meal inspiration, join the Campus Food Bank's virtual cooking class every Wednesday evening.
5. Virtual blindfolded dinner
If your love language is also food like me, but you and your partner want to try something new, try tag-teaming your dinner. Select one recipe for your partner and have them pick one for you, hop on that video call, and cook away! But wait…the recipe you've chosen is for your partner not you…so your partner has to instruct you through your recipe and visa versa. Great opportunity to build your communication skills!
6. Board Game/trivia night
Another great idea for a group date night is to test your wits and exercise your competitiveness by playing trivia or board games! Some free online party game platforms include Backyard and QuizWitz, and a popular paid option for online party games is Jackbox Games. Campus & Community Recreation also hosts a free virtual games room for students every Friday night.
7. Make a playlist together
If you're looking for something to build and strengthen your connection with your partner, I believe that music is one of the best ways to bond with a loved one. Something that I recently discovered is Spotify's group session feature, so whether you're in the same city or across the country from each other, you can now easily enjoy music simultaneously with loved ones!
8. E-stargaze
I am a sucker for stargazing. Just… not that much of a sucker that I'd go out in the -30°C weather to do so. While it doesn't quite have the same amount of charm that physical stargazing has, you can still appreciate the beauty and sublimity of the night sky together through online planetarium sites like Stellarium and Sky Live. Alternatively, if the weather permits, you and your date can sit outside in your respective backyards and try to describe to each other what you see in your part of the sky.
9. Create tier lists
Have strong opinions about what is the best insert noun here? Work with your partner to try to make it into a tier list! Here are some example topics:
- What is the best chip brand/flavour?
- What is the best Disney movie?
- What is the best cereal?
- What is the best jelly bean flavour?
10. Write a story
Are you and your partner both creative types? Co-write a story! There are many ways you could interpret this: one person could write the characters and the other could write the setting, you could alternate writing scenes without telling the other what you have in mind, or you could even go mad-libs style and take turns writing the next word. Let your imagination go wild!
Whether you're virtual-dating because of the pandemic, your partner is on the other side of the world, or you're simply looking for new ways to hang out with your friends, I hope this list inspired you to try out some new virtual date night activities. And even if you're "chronically single", be your biggest fan and take yourself on a virtual date!