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If you and your partner are currently in a long-distance relationship, you likely already know that these types of partnerships aren't the easiest to handle. Between coordinating busy schedules and finding time to meet in person, it takes a lot of money, time, effort, and love to sustain a union when you can't physically see your person whenever you'd like. That said, your relationship doesn't have to suffer just because you and your significant other aren't living in the same city, state, or country—and with the right amount of creativity and effort, you can keep the spark alive even when you’re miles apart. In fact, there are a variety of date ideas couples can embrace to keep their relationship fresh from afar, especially since today's technology provides us with the ability to connect with anyone from anywhere.
The trick is to make these virtual dates as special as possible—and that's not as challenging to do as you might think. "Anything that says 'I took this date seriously, and I’m thinking of you' makes it special," affirms Dr. Terri Orbuch, PhD, a professor and relationship expert at DatingAdvice. "Get dressed up, as if you were meeting in person. Tidy up the space around you so that what your partner sees on screen is clean and not messy. Turn off your phone and other distractions." Touches that go the extra mile might be preparing the space with items or foods you know your partner loves; placing a bouquet of flowers in the background (or better yet, ordering them to their door!) shows that you're keeping your love's favorite things present in your life.
Thoughtful additions and prep work aside, the most important thing is to plan a date that both fosters connection, drives your relationship forward, and keeps the spark alive. It's that last part that many long-distance couples struggle with, especially since chatting on the phone just doesn't replace the energy and excitement that comes with trying new restaurants, strolling through farmers' markets, or attempting that cooking class together in person. Distance, however, doesn't mean you can't get more adventurous—you just have to think beyond that nightly phone call. "When you first started dating, everything you did as a couple was new and exciting," says Orbuch. "To get back to that, try new activities on your long-distance dates that are truly novel." Since "little surprises go a long way," consider setting up a mystery date night once a month, Orbuch suggests. Perhaps you have ingredients for that pasta dish he sent you on Instagram or movie night supplies (like popcorn and a cozy blanket!) delivered to his door an hour before the date. The options are endless—and the element of surprise is entirely up to you.
Ahead, we put together a list of 33 long-distance date ideas that will keep you and your partner close no matter how far apart you are. Just remember: Whatever type of virtual date night you choose, the goal is to prioritize some level of togetherness, so don't feel pressured to make every date night extremely involved. Sometimes, a simple phone call is all you need.
Break Out of a Virtual Escape Room
"Studies show that when you both participate in a goal with a joint outcome, like a puzzle or a joint escape room that requires both of you to solve the clues, it promotes excitement—and gets you out of the rut," says Orbuch.
Have a TV Night Together
Pick a TV show to binge-watch at the same time—or catch one when it premieres every week—and talk on the phone or FaceTime while you watch. After all, the couple who Netflixes together stays together.
Plan a Movie Night
Is there a new release you've both been itching to see? Cue it up on your own screens and press play in tandem. Like when you watch a TV show together, chat via phone, text, or FaceTime, and enjoy the action almost as if you were sitting on the same couch.
If you're both horror fans, considering working a few scary films onto your shared queue, suggests Orbuch. "New relationships start out with an adrenaline rush," she says. "The goal is to add that adrenaline-pumping activity to a long-distance date, which you can achieve by watching a scary movie together."
Get Competitive With Online Games
Just because you’re not in the same room doesn’t mean you can’t try to beat each other at a game. Websites like Pogo and Yahoo offer multiplayer options for free, allowing you and your significant other to connect through a little competition.
Enjoy a Wine Tasting
This can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. For those who'd like an official tasting menu, consider using a company that offers sampling packages that can be sent straight to your door for a night of FaceTime and vino. If you'd like something a bit easier, however, select a couple of wine bottles that you'd both like to try and pick them up separately in advance of your date night.
Start a Book Club
If you and your partner love to read for leisure, consider starting a book club and meeting weekly to discuss each chapter. Whether you’re into nonfiction or the latest mystery thriller, you’ll always have something in common to talk about when you’re reading the same book.
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Make Cocktails
Have you always wanted to concoct your own cocktail? Gather ingredients for a few drinks and get shaking via FaceTime. The best part? Once you're done crafting your sips, you'll both have something delicious to enjoy while you talk.
Take a Virtual Vacation
If you currently don't have the money to book an in-person vacation, pick a fun destination on your bucket list to explore virtually as a pair. For instance, Qantas launched a cool virtual reality app to explore Australia, so take a peek if you’ve always wanted to take a trip Down Under.
Make Plans to Meet In Person
It might not sound like a super exciting date night, but there's something so special about spending time on the phone and making solid plans for when you'll see each other next. It always feels good to have something to look forward to, especially when you're in a long-distance relationship.
Prepare a Meal Together
Thanks to FaceTime and Zoom, you can make a date night happen no matter where you are. Pick a time and date, then cook dinner and open up a bottle of wine simultaneously. The hardest part will be saying goodbye when it's time to call it a night.
Play the 21 Questions Game
A flirty game of 21 questions is a great way to connect with a loved one you haven't been able to see lately. Depending on where you are in your relationship, you can either make it light and fun or deep and serious.
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Have a Takeout Night
Thanks to apps like Doordash, Postmates, and Uber Eats, it's easy to send your long-distance partner a special meal that you two can share from afar. Order the same meal to your home and catch up while you both chow down.
Create Vision Boards
Having mutual goals is important for any relationship, so spend some time creating vision boards from the comfort of your homes, then discuss them before hanging up for the night. You can both listen to music or chat while you cut and craft via FaceTime, then share your finished projects on the screen.
Sing Karaoke
Bring the karaoke bar to you with a little help from the web. Search for online karaoke sites, and then use a webcam or your smartphone to listen to each other, make fools of yourselves, or even sing a duet together. It's an unexpected way to share a night with one another even when you're apart.
Bake a Treat
Pick a recipe for homemade cookies (or any treat that you both love) and plan to prepare them during a video call. If you want to plan a surprise date, use an online grocery shopping app, like Instacart, to send all the necessary ingredients to your significant other that afternoon.
Take a Funny Online Quiz Together
A quick Google search will reveal a myriad of couples and long-distance relationship quizzes meant to determine your compatibility. Of course, most aren't very scientific or even accurate, but they're a kitschy activity you can do together even when you're physically apart.
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Go to a Concert Together
Pick a band you both love and find a way to watch a live show online. Most artists stream their performances on sites like YouTube, so you can your significant other can watch together while video chatting. Close your eyes and pretend you're both there together.
Take a Virtual Class Together
Whether it's a new instrument or dance or a foreign language, you and your partner can both commit to taking classes in person or online. After each lesson, talk on the phone or video chat about what you learned and practice your new skills together.
Have a Scrapbooking Night
Yes, digital shared albums are easy and instant, but an old-fashioned photo album is a thoughtful way to show you care and to reminisce on memories of times spent together. Send your partner a package of your favorite photos and all the supplies they'll need to build their very own scrapbook. You two can work on your designs as you catch up over the phone or video call.
Plan a Virtual Date Around One of Your Partner's Favorite Activities
Whether they love to cook, play basketball, or paint, spend an afternoon—via video call—giving one of their favorite activities a try. You'll feel closer to them even if their hobby isn't exactly your passion.
Soak in a Bubble Bath
If you both have bathtubs, take one of the most romantic experiences a couple can share virtually. Draw baths in your respective homes, complete with all the necessary fixings, like bath salts, candles, and maybe even a flute of Champagne, and enjoy each other's virtual company while you soak and unwind.
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Sweat It Out in a Workout Class
Virtual workout classes are here to stay, which means you can both have a standing date to sweat it out. Log on to your favorite workout—strength training, yoga, cycling, whatever you both love!—and we guarantee you'll smile wide every time the instructor shouts out your partner.
Take a Virtual Museum Tour
Many museums offer virtual tours of their properties, so choose one neither of you have been to and dive right in!
Get Outside and See the Stars
If you both have clear skies one evening, grab blankets and head outdoors. Look up to the stars and tell your partner—via phone or video call—exactly what you're seeing. This works especially well if you're in the same time zone.
Play Truth or Dare
This childhood classic never gets old. Challenge your partner to a game of truth or dare for a fun date night.
Have a Pajama Party
This one couldn't be simpler: Put on your favorite PJs, gather your favorite snacks, and hop on a video call to talk to your partner until the wee hours of the morning.
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Treat Yourselves to a Spa Night
Who doesn't need a little pampering? Send your partner a box of spa essentials, like face and hair masks, luxurious lotions, and a new robe, then find a time for a video call so you can both indulge together.
Take a Virtual Walk
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones, so consider asking your partner to take a virtual walk with you on a sunny afternoon. To make things a little more fun, you can each choose the location the other person has to go to for their walk.
Host a Paint Night
There's nothing more fun than enjoying a night of arts and crafts as an adult, especially if you get to share that moment with the person you love. You can even turn it into a paint-and-sip activity, and send your partner their favorite wine or spirit for a night of creativity and drinks.
Tour Homes Together
Do open houses bring you joy? Consider planning a date where you and your partner virtually look at homes together that are currently on the market. You never know, you may just find your dream home for when you both can physically be together in the future.
Spend an Entire Day on a Video Call
If you and your significant other are up for it, find a day when you can both video chat from the morning until the evening. That way, you can check off a slew of things on this list, like watching TV or a movie, cooking, taking a bath, and even napping together (or watching your partner take a nap as you admire how cute they look).
Plan to Send a Card or Gift Right After Your Date Ends
A great virtual date often leads to a crash, since you realize just how meaningful it is to spend time together and miss your person more than ever. To limit the post-long-distance-date blues, find small ways to say “I’m thinking of you," says Orbuch. She suggests putting a greeting card in the mail (or sending your partner a gift card for something relaxing, like a massage) to keep those endorphins high.
Make the Most of the Time Between Your Dates
Sure, virtual dates are a key component of making a long-distance relationship work—but the time in between these meetings matters just as much, says Orbuch. "LDR couples often get into a rut because they only connect for planned dates. It is about the little conversations, too, that often make the dates fresher," she says. "Make sure you communicate in some way, every day—more than once if possible."
These don’t always have to be long, in-depth conversations. "Tell each other about your little triumphs and tragedies. Ask for advice. Remember to tell each other the good news (and joys of your day), as well as the things or issues that are troubling you," she adds.