When was the last time you and your significant other had a date in the car? Car dates can be romantic and fun, and best of all, they’re EASY! Maybe you want something low-key and relaxing but still want to spend some quality time with your beau away from home. Give romance a fresh take by making it a date in your vehicle! Start with a clean ride (I like visiting Car Wash Time on Woodlands Parkway for a thorough cleaning inside and outside plus air freshener), and from there the opportunities are plentiful!
Going on a car date is an efficient, effective way for sweethearts to get in some alone time. Here's how to pull it off:
1. See a drive-in movie. Since very few things beat a classic movie night, I'll start with the obvious. Taking in a drive-in movie can be a lot of fun if the weather is cool and the mosquitoes aren't biting. Showboat Drive-In in Hockley (25-minute drive from The Woodlands) shows new releases and is a great value! Bring blankets and pillows and be ready to cozy up together while munching on snacks and watching a movie on the big screen.
2. Take a scenic drive. You can stay local! I love driving through and admiring the newer homes in East Shore and the large older homes in Grogans Mill and Panther Creek from time to time, but you can also drive towards Montgomery or south to Houston, get lost in the road noise, and enjoy a view of the nightlife going by in a blur. Turn up the radio and jam out to all the old school hits with your date. Be ready for cheap eats - a roll through the Mickey D's drive-thru - when you're ready for a bite.
3. Park and sit at a... PARK! Drive to a secluded, scenic local park and enjoy some intimate time talking and getting cozy. Maybe a bit of affection too, but don't get crazy with it... this isn't high school guys; besides, it's a family show!
4. Take on the open road! Road trips make for the BEST car dates! There's plenty of talk time, plus there’s the anticipation of a further away destination. Plan your stop at Buc-ee’s or 7-Eleven at the start of the road trip, put together a playlist of favorite songs, and bring snacks. From The Woodlands, head for a drive to Austin or Galveston, and if you have a convertible, moonroof, or sunroof, be sure to utilize them to the fullest. 
5. A scavenger hunt is a great date idea AND it can be done in the car! Be creative and Google some local places and make a list before heading out. Then enjoy the drive as you go from place to place, finding the exact locations of venues you may have heard about but have never visited. Keep notes on the places you’d like to re-visit at a later date. For The Woodlands area, a park scavenger hunt would also be fun, as we have over 100 parks within The Woodlands Township alone. You can find a handy list of all of them here, broken down by Village: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/281/Community-Parks
6. Car picnics are a winner! For your special day, pack a lovely lunch or order ahead to pick up a charcuterie tray, and pair the meal with a bottle or two of Central Market Italian Sodas. By "car picnic," I totally mean do this in an SUV or minivan where you can fold the seats flat. I love our Chrysler Town & Country that can fold all back seats flat to the floor (as does the Town & Country's descendant, the Pacifica.) Even better if you have a pickup truck! Lay out a picnic blanket and spread out a meal that includes all your favorite foods, and enjoy conversation with the door to the trunk open to floral scenery (such as the lake and fountains at Rob Fleming Park.) After eating, play a board game and listen to music.
*Tip - fancy this up by ordering to-go from one of your favorite restaurants. Personally, I like ordering a Pappadeaux platter with fried shrimp, fish, fries, and more for hubby and me to share. Be as creative as you'd like with this idea. A sunrise breakfast picnic will look and feel different from an evening picnic, so recycle this idea as often as you need to.
7. Go for ice cream! It's a simple idea, and the best part is you get to have dessert. Stop off at your favorite ice cream spot (or try a new one around town), order ice cream and bring it back to the vehicle for a fun way to kick off the weekend. I like Marble Slab and TCBY, but Brewster's (closest location is 4836 FM 1488 in The Woodlands / Conroe) has a drive-through, so you can spend the entire date in the car. Other options are going through the drive-through at Dairy Queen for Blizzards or banana splits!
8. Look at decorations and light displays. When the weather is cooler around the holiday season, have a cozy car date by packing thermoses of hot cocoa and driving around the neighborhoods to look at Halloween and Christmas decorations.
9. Have the entire date at a Sonic bay! It’s the classic drive-in for chillaxing! A Sonic date also counts as a picnic date (see #6) if you're wanting something quick. Enjoy your chili cheese dogs and cherry limeades in the comfort of your car, then hit the red button again to order dessert.
10. Caramel latte? Yes, please! Coffee dates are the perfect date idea for staying in the vehicle, especially for married couples who both work at home and need a quick change of scenery. It's something you can pull off at least once a week. Go grab a cup of coffee each, then enjoy it with talk time on the ride home. Feel free to drive a little further than you have to (seek out new coffee shops, if you’d like) in order to prolong the date.
11. Take a ride through a safari. Seriously, you should do this! While we don't have any reputable safaris in Houston, head to College Station for Wild Animal Safari or to Alvin for Bayou Wildlife Zoo. Stay in your car and see and feed animals such as deer, antelope, and camels.
12. Go people watching. It's one of my favorite car date ideas! You and your partner can park in just the right place to see all the action, and just WATCH (and make comments, obviously). I like parking at one of the metered parallel parking spots in Market Street, an ideal location to watch people coming and going. It's just interesting to watch the dynamics at work in various types of relationships.
13. Tailgate. If your favorite sports team has tailgating, go all in at the next game! Tailgating usually involves setting up a whole "party" in your trunk and the area surrounding your vehicle, in a parking lot. Join a group and share food, games, fun, and music.
14. Star gaze. You might have to drive a bit further out for this one, so feel free to couple this with #2. Find a spot to park, lean the seats back or get on top of the car, and look up at the stars on a clear night. Don't forget the binoculars!
15. Deliver gifts. For your next date, how about spreading a bit of happiness to family and friends? If it's Christmas time or any other big holiday, ride around and drop off gifts, Easter baskets, etc. No holiday? Just be creative and do it "just because." You and your partner will enjoy the thrill of stopping by to make someone's day brighter! Some ideas: drop off a pizza, a batch of warm cookies, or a fruit basket.
I recommend calling ahead to say "Hey, can we swing by right quick to drop something off?" Hospitable friends will welcome you with open arms, especially if you come bearing treats, so you don't have to feel like you're imposing. You might even be invited to linger and visit for a spell and enjoy a few laughs together.
16. House hunt. Even if you're not in the market, stopping by Open Houses and model homes is a perfect way to see what new homes and styles are on the market, and it might give you some ideas for decorating your own home. For this car date, pack bottled drinks and snacks, because driving from place to place and getting in and out of the car can be tiresome, especially during warmer seasons.
17. Listen to an audiobook or a podcast. This last idea isn’t meant to necessarily stand on its own, but rather, to enhance your car date. Pair listening to an audio book (try a genre that you both appreciate) with one of the ideas above to enjoy the shared experience of a good book.
Now you know that CAR DATES can really be awesome, so get to planning your next one! If some of the ideas above sound like “every day” stuff, it’s because they ARE. What makes it a DATE – and a notable one at that – is yours and your partner’s willingness to focus on each other. Call it a “date,” and it will be so. This means cell phones away, and you both should make the effort to savor in the closeness and conversation with each other during this time. Happy car dating!
