Love is in the air—seriously. Being outside with someone special can boost the attraction factor, but it’s not easy to come up with “wow! what-a-great-idea” ideas. Rather than fall into the same old pattern, impress your date with one of these outdoor adventures.

1. Go Wild
“The zoo provides endless entertainment, conversations flow easily, no one shushes you, and you don’t have the nervousness of sitting across from one another over dinner,” says Dennie Hughes, author of Dateworthy. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association can point you to where the wild things are near you: www.aza.org.

2. Reap What Others Sow
Fun is yours for the picking, whether you live in an area that grows fields of purple lavender or acres of juicy berries. Find a farm that’ll let you two pick your own blooms or produce. “It’s a mellow activity, but doing something new together will give you a glimpse into how your date plans for events, interacts with other people,” says Dr. Gilda Carle, a relationship therapist. Try plugging the words “pick your own” and your county into a search engine to find a location near you.

3. Help Out
No matter what you like to do outdoors, there’s a community organization that needs your time, from walking sheltered dogs to building homes to clearing trails. “Shared first-time experiences have a long-term impact,” says Michelle Lia Lewis, author of Flirting 101. You and your date can reveal your good hearts to each other in a big way when you spend an afternoon this way. Find an organization at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or www.volunteermatch.org.

4. Enjoy the Ups and Downs
Not only are amusement parks really, well, amusing, but they can bring out both your inner kid and the grown-up who’s ready for love. “A study found that couples who do something slightly dangerous together are more likely to fall in love,” says Leil Lowndes, author of Updating! How To Date Out of Your League. So maybe you want to try that crazy upside-down roller-coaster after all…

5. Treasure-Hunt Together
Strolling through an open-air flea market or antiques fair offers all-day entertainment that requires little money and zero agenda. Whether your date is oohing and aahing over a mint 1940s Danish Modern coffee table or laughing at an old candy ad, you’ll learn about their design sense, hobbies, and interests. The National Association of Collectors keeps a localized list of flea markets at www.collectors.org/FM/.

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