15 Morning Date Ideas to Start Your Day Off Right (2023)

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Get Active

As Kylie Carson, owner of The Wedding Academy, tells Brides, one great go-to activity for a morning date is to get in some exercise.

“Being active first thing after waking up is a great way to get your blood pumping and it's perfect for bonding with your partner,” Carson says. “This could be dusting off your bikes to go for a morning ride to pick up your favorite coffee, taking a nice walk around the neighborhood, or, if you're feeling adventurous, tackling that hike you've been talking about. Not only is it good for the soul to disconnect for a bit, but quality alone time with your partner is invaluable.”

Take a Mini Road Trip

Create your perfect playlist (tip: include nostalgic songs that remind you of different times in your relationship if you want to get really romantic!), grab some to-go coffees, and set out on a mini road trip with your partner bright and early for a fun morning date.

It’ll feel exciting to discover somewhere new together, and you’ll probably be surprised at how many beautiful and unique small towns exist within just a few hours of your house. And if you’re looking to take a fall road trip, there are tons of gorgeous itineraries and activities out there to inspire you.

Set-Up a "Virtual Experience" Date

Have you always wanted to get a tango lesson in Argentina? What about tarot card reading in an abandoned historic mansion? A great date often has an element that brings each person out of their comfort zone, but you don't have to travel far. Virtual experiences with AirBnB are a great way to do that.

“You can even tour a European city while you sip on your morning coffee,” Carlson explains. And who knows, a virtual experience might even be the spark to planning a future vacation for the two of you.

Go Yard Sale Hopping

There’s something about yard sales that are just plain old nostalgic fun. Plan a morning where you hop in the car with your partner and hop from yard sale to yard sale. You can even make it a competition and see who finds the best steal or deal amongst all the junk. Maybe challenge each other to find the perfect.

After, we suggest stopping for brunch or at a brewery after a long morning of thrifting to round out the day.

Host a Morning Book Club

If you love to read, why not share the experience with your partner? Choose a book (or two or three), make a cozy breakfast (waffles or pancakes, anyone?), and discuss it together every few weeks.

“Choose a book and set a reading schedule that's paired with frequent discussions," Carlson suggests. "Perhaps you read a chapter a day and meet every morning with coffee to mull over the story or make every Saturday a discussion day after reading a handful of chapters throughout the week.”

Schedule a Recurring Brunch

For an easy morning date tradition that you'll look forward to month-after-month, sit down with your partner to research the best brunch places near you. Make a list of the ones you’d like to visit and then make reservations for each one. Every other week or so, you can plan on having a Sunday morning brunch date. Afterward, you both can rank the restaurants and meals you liked the best.

Cook Breakfast Together

Not in the mood to dine out? No problem. Spending time in the kitchen together in the morning can set the tone for the rest of the day. You can whip up something together or cook the other's favorite breakfast, and enjoy a quite morning as you plan the rest of your day,

Take an Online Barista Lesson

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make the beautiful lattes that you get at coffee shops? Has your partner wanted to? Schedule a lesson with a professional barista and learn the ropes. Afterward, enjoy your coffee creations together and talk about the day ahead. If you want to learn while cozy in your pajamas, virtual lessons are popular as well.

Wake Up for Sunrise

Do some Googling and find the absolute best places near you to watch a sunrise. Set your alarm for bright and early, pour some mugs of coffee, pack some snacks (bagels, anyone?), and set out to the location. Sure, it’s early, but it’ll be a memorable, beautiful, and incredibly romantic date that you’ll both remember for a long time. Just remember to check the weather beforehand!

Spend Time Outside

Pretty much any date is more romantic when done outdoors in a gorgeous setting with some fresh air. Take a normal weekend morning activity (ordering lattes, going on a walk, eating brunch, reading together, or playing board games) and go do it together outside for a change of pace. Even just going outside your front door can be fun.

“A date doesn't always mean that you have to leave the house. Some of the best dates happen when you take the time and sit outside to eat and catch up with one another,” Carson suggests. ‘This can be especially helpful on the weekends when the two of you have a free schedule to chat and de-stress from the workweek.”

Complete a Puzzle

A puzzle might sound kind of boring, but it’s the perfect morning activity. Quiet, not too complicated, and oddly relaxing. Doing one with your partner is the perfect time to share a pot of coffee, put on your favorite podcasts or music, and work on something together that is simple enough to allow you to talk at the same time or simply enjoy each other’s company.

Have A Movie Morning

Once you have a movie morning, movie nights just won’t seem nearly as good. Wake up early, make a big pot of coffee and a hearty breakfast, and get cozy on the couch with your partner. Break out the fluffy robes and slippers, queue up your favorite movies, and settle in for a long, lazy morning. This is the perfect cold-weather morning date, too.

Stay in Bed!

When’s the last time you and your partner had a lazy morning in bed instead of springing out of bed as soon as the sun rises to complete a pressing errand or go exercise? Sometimes the most romantic, fun thing to do with your loved one is to take things slow to start the day for once. No productivity or flashy outing required. Consider watching cooking shows in bed, flipping through old photo albums, or just talking while cuddled under the covers. Just make sure you actually set aside time for this, as it can be hard to let yourself stay in bed when you’re used to being as busy as possible.

Take Time to Reflect

It's always a good idea to reflect on your time as a couple and show gratitude for one another. This could be in the form of writing down what you are thankful for in a gratitude journal and sharing or writing down sweet sentiments on little pieces of paper and selecting one each morning for one another before you start the day. Think of it as a gratitude jar and keep it by your bedside.

Get a Start on Your Chores

Whoever said chores are a bore clearly didn't make them fun to do together. Make it a competition and see who can unload the dishes or fold laundry the fastest. Cleaning your space together goes by twice as fast, and it's nice to divvy up household tasks early in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of your day. Reward yourselves with an indulgent breakfast or a spa day to unwind from all of that hard work.