Creative dating ideas are not very difficult to come by, especially if your date is a bit free spirited and does not mind a somewhat unconventional excursion with you.

There is really no reason to go out and spend ridiculous amounts of money on fancy dinners or overpriced movies that are all style and no substance. All it takes is some imagination and someone willing to play along, regardless of how crazy your date suggestion may be.

Creative dating ideas can be zany and insane or humble and compassionate. Sometimes a combination of both.

Take for instance this one. Get a group of couples together to bake cakes and then decorate the cakes completely blindfolded. Put some kind of gift certificate on the line and reward it to the couple with the best-looking cake. The cakes can then be delivered to shelters, the elderly, or children’s hospitals in your region.

Who hasn't been lost in the hypnotizing effect of an aquarium? You’re probably waiting to hear what an aquarium has to do with creative dating ideas but here’s the scenario. Take your date to a pet store, purchase an aquarium and the necessary equipment. The two of you can select the fish and decorations together. Go back to your place, set your aquarium up and you can cuddle together on the couch, gazing at the fish as they take to their new home. Both of you can take some pride in the fact that you built a home together, even if it’s just a home for fish. Eventually the novelty will wear off but the aquarium will always be viewed as something that you built together.

Participate together in some community programs for senior citizens, the sick or under privileged. You could volunteer at a soup kitchen, sing Christmas carols to senior citizens, volunteer at an animal shelter or read to children at a hospital. You will come across as giving and compassionate while your date may learn a thing or two about themselves and appreciate your rewarding creative dating ideas.

Pick up some books about astrology to learn a little about the subject, particularly the name of constellations. On a clear night, find a nice grassy area, lay down a blanket, maybe even make a picnic basket, and identify various stars and planets you may have read about. Place bets on whether or not you will spot a shooting star.

Go to a bookstore and select a random cookbook from their rack. The two of you can look for a recipe that is appetizing to both of you. Write down the ingredients or plug them into the text feature on your cell phone. You can stop by the grocery store together, pick up the necessary ingredients, go to either one of your apartments, put on some music, pour some wine and prepare a meal together. It may be wise to make sure that your freezer is stacked with some frozen pizzas in case the meal preparation turns into a disaster. Cheap, but effective.

Go rock hunting! Sounds somewhat bizarre, right? Well, the object is to find some unique rocks, take them home and paint them. You could turn a rock into a funny looking automobile, create a rock band or just paint funny faces on some of them.

Crash a wedding reception. This is particularly bold but anyone that has seen the movie “Wedding Crashers” can pick up the necessary technique. Just have your story ready before you walk into the door. You get a free meal and a very lively night with an open bar, music and dancing. Again this type of thing only works if your date is the type that recognizes the humor and fun in it.

These are just a few samples of some creative dating ideas. Don’t be afraid to be original and use your own imagination when coming up with some great date ideas of your own!