Usually, first dates are spent in places where you can sit and talk with your date in order to know each other better. But once you’ve gotten past the first date or two, it’s time to come up with some fun things to do that will still allow you to interact with your date.

It takes planning and a little research to make your dates different and enjoyable. So take the time to check out what’s going on locally and come up with some ideas of your own for a great date.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• visit the local zoo or botanical garden
• attend a street fair or art festival
• take a historical tour or visit a special landmark
• work on a community project together
• read a book together or rent a movie that you can pause & discuss
• play cards or work on a crossword puzzle
• have a picnic in the park or on the beach
• go bowling or shoot pool

Making interactive dates fun and enjoyable just takes a little jump-start to be more effective. Try adding some adventure or the surprise factor by writing some suggestions for dates down on paper. Close your eyes and point to one when you can’t decide which idea sounds better.

Be sure to come up with ideas for dates together, and don’t forget to surprise each other with a special night or day when you plan something you want to share with your date.

If you plan something for outside, it’s always good to have a backup plan just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.  Often it’s as easy as moving it inside – or taking shelter and watching the light show of a thunderstorm.  The trick is to be creative and flexible.

When you take the time to plan something that allows the two of you to interact, you’ll be on a much faster route to seeing if you and your date fit together in ways that will matter for the long term.  Remember, the main idea of a date is to interact and get to know each other better.

So, with this in mind,  check out places near you for fun activities that you and your date will be sure to enjoy. The next date you have together could be the best date ever!

Your friends can be a great source. They work with and know lots of people that you don’t. Best of all, they know you! So they can often meet someone who just might really be “perfect for you.” With as many folks now online as there are, it’s not as bad being set up on a blind date as it used to be.

If a friend recommends someone – be sure you give it a try. At the very least you could make a new friend.

Here are some other options that come to mind:

• Your church – often they have a “singles” group for social activites
• Join a gym or health club – or take a mixed tai chi or yoga class
• A country club – or  join a golf or tennis association
• Arts councils or fund raising events can give you an opportunity to support a local business and meet a whole new group of people
• Volunteer for projects like Habitat For Humanity, or other local charities
• Take dance lessons – they’ll pair you up when you get there. Not only will you have fun, but you’ll meet another new group of people who just might know the “perfect” person for you.
• Go to events hosted by a local singles club – often they’ll plan day trips or have parties for holidays that get you out and meeting other local singles
• Take a class at your local college. Learn a new language, or take a pottery or other art class. You’ll learn something new and meet people with similar interests
• Book a vacation on a singles cruise or at a singles resort.

Whatever you do, be patient and have fun.

When you enjoy your life, others are drawn to you and you will find someone when you least expect it.

It’s worth knowing that women members of online dating portals receive an average of fifty to 200 queries from other members of the opposite sex. So, it’s possible she’s  just taking time going through all the queries she’s received. So you need to be a bit more patient.

If you are getting responses, good for you – You’ve probably done a good job on your profile and photos.  And you can breeze past these next few paragraphs.

But, if you haven’t gotten many responses, you need to take a critical look at your profile. You are competing with all those other ‘winks’ the women members are receiving, and you have to have a fabulous profile created to put you at the top of the pile.

Having been on the receiving end of many “winks” I’m going to share some of my personal experiences with this so you can understand it from a woman’s point of view.

One of the most important things is to be truthful and honest about who you are and what you are looking for in someone else. Be realistic in your expectations – and be truthful about your height, physical condition, and annual salary. Projecting an inflated self image might get you responses, but eventually she’s going to find out who you really are.

The bottom line for most women is, “if he’ll lie on an online profile – what else is he hiding.”

Here’s a perfect example. Several years ago after a lot of back and forth phone calls & emails, I met up with someone who seemed like the guy I’d been looking for. His profile & photos showed a nice looking athletic man, 5′10″ tall. As I arrived at our meeting, the man walking towards me was at least 15 years older than his photo and only 5′6″ tall. If he hadn’t said my name, I would have walked right past him.

And while I’m mentioning photos . . . another really important item is the photo you select. Make sure it is a current photo that shows you at your best, with a winning smile, properly lit and clear. Isn’t that what you want to see in the photos offered by your prospective partners?

You wouldn’t believe how many  “winks” I’ve received over the years from sloppy T’d or (even worse) shirtless guys squinting up into the web cam, caught in a very bad camera moment made worse by being blurred by the delay action. I’ve received a microscopic thumbnail of an old drivers license photo that would not enlarge beyond 1/4″ square. Another classic came as a photo taken with a group and no indication of who I should be looking at. Oh, and finally, there’s always a few travel photos included showing a beautiful  landscape or mountain range – unfortunately the person I want to see is the sunglass’d figure crouching down in the lower left 1% of the total frame. I’d recommend you stay away from these choices.

Once you have your profile set and your photo(s) attached – if you have any questions about the quality or content – get a second opinion from an honest friend just to be sure.

Now you’re ready!

You need to take a proactive approach when it comes to online dating. Focusing on one woman will certainly reduce your chances of landing a response. And just like I said in my previous Tips for Women post, keep an open mind. Try sending messages to different women in order to bolster the probabilities of getting a good response.

Carefully choosing your would-be dates is a good thing to do since this would help you land the dates who have the same interests as yours. However, don’t be too selective.

In addition, read through the profiles of your intended partners in order to incorporate a few things they like on your own profile, but keep in mind to include just the things you are actually interested in. By doing so, your prospective partners will read through your profile after receiving contact from you and they’ll end up remembering you because of the stuff that’s on your profile.

Best of all, she may even be able to tell that you took the time to read through her profile and now want to establish a connection with her.

Of course, you need to be selective, but don’t  limit your options exactly to an ‘ideal’ man. Limiting your options will decrease the possibility of finding a good match.

First – Create an interesting and honest profile. This is the best way to attract your best match. The content of your profile should be truthful and give a glimpse into your personality. In fact, the better your profile, the better your chance of finding someone who is looking for someone just like you.  It’s your first step to finding someone who’ll be your partner for a long and intimate relationship.

So be sure to put something on your profile that will make a good first impression. This impression could last a lifetime.

Second – Choose a photo that shows you at your best, with your most attractive smile. And be sure to load one or two more that reflect your personality.  Be sure to avoid overly sexual photos – limit it to PG13 viewing.

Third and Finally – Remember to stay safe. Don’t rush into the first meeting. Have an online chat or two, exchange emails, and have some phone conversations. Ask questions and make sure that he sounds as good in person as he does online.

Be sure to use your common sense – and never give your personal home address to your online date. Once you plan to actually meet, make sure it’s somewhere public – and meet him there.  If you’re nervous about your  first meeting, you could have a friend go with you – at least be sure to let someone know about your plans.

Always trust your instincts. If you’re nervous about meeting him – maybe you need to spend more time on the phone with him first. This is one of the best pieces of advice I was ever given  just after I’d moved to New York City. Their rule of thumb for survival was “if you’re uncomfortable – leave!”  If you’re feeling uneasy with your date, or it just isn’t working for you, you have the right to stop and cut all contact off between the both of you. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Online dating is a rapidly growing activity. And there are tons of success stories out there.  Check out my Recommendations Page to see some of my closest friends and family, as well as me, who have had success with online dating.

Don’t get discouraged. Like the old adage says, “Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads.”

Nonetheless, there are some definite disadvantages to looking for online love. The real problem with an online dating service is that what you see isn’t always what you get. In some ways, this is an advantage. People can really portray an idealized version of themselves, making it easier to make a good first impression. For a lot of awkward people, the first meeting of the most difficult. Through an online dating service, you can make this meeting comparatively easy.

The flip side, of course, is that it is hard to see who you’re actually talking to on an online dating service. Although the Internet scare stories – The ones where stalkers create a completely fictitious identity in the interest of fooling people for nefarious reasons – are extremely rare. You can be pretty sure that your online dating service won’t be dangerous. Still, there are some things that will key you in to whether or not your potential mate is who they say they are.

The biggest thing to look for, of course, is whether or not they represent themselves in a consistent manner. Most people who lie are not very good at it. You can use this to your advantage. If someone on an online dating service seems to be telling a different story every time, you can be pretty sure that they’re lying. If not, you can be pretty sure that they are telling the truth. Either way, you can usually tell pretty quickly. Then you can decide whether or not to pursue anything. If not, you always have time to move on to someone else.

Check out some success stories on the recommendations page from me and a few of my friends who have successfully met an online match.

Don’t get caught up in what everybody else is doing.

And don’t believe everything you hear.

For example, you may think that the rich and the famous can have anyone in the whole world that they want — but this is SO not true.

The Two Biggest Myths – Wealth  and/or  Good Looks are the way into any person’s heart.

These are the least likely ways to get into the right person’s heart.

Yes, you could find someone who is willing to spend their life with you, but they are doing it for all the wrong reasons. They are not with you for you, but with you for what you have or how you look.

When you are meet someone you are interested in  – you’ve got to look deep. Don’t look at them for where they work, what they own, where they live, or how they look. Look beyond those things and look deep into their mind and soul.

When you learn how to see the heart and soul of a person – then you will be able to find the right person. You’ll be able to see whether that person is the kind of person you want to spend lots of time – and possibly the rest of your life with.

Attracting the right person takes time and effort – but most of all – it takes honesty.

Being honest with yourself – and – finding someone who is honest with you.

The bottom line is:  Be the kind of person that you want to attract – and you will be able to find the right person for you.

Check back for the continuation of this series – Where Do You Find That Special Someone – Part 2.

And . . . Please let me know if you like it.

The first date always seems to be the scariest dates of all. You are attempting to make date plans for something that will interest both parties and also give you the ability to interact with the other person on the date.

When you are planning a first date consider something that will be a little more relaxed where you can take the time to talk with the other person. Usually a first date earlier in the day is a better idea as you are less likely to be disrupted by the night scene and if things are going really good you can continue the date on further into the day. Start with something small such as meeting for coffee or a lunch. These are the best options as you can sit and talk. Talking is the best way to get to know someone so make sure you can do it.

The first date is crucial for the other party to get to know you and for you to get to know them. There are many ways you can go about getting to know someone and incorporating a little fun is a good way. If you are planning an evening date consider doing something fun such as mini putt as you will be able to still get to know them personally and see how they react to certain events. Dating can be a bit of a struggle at first, but as you get to know the person it will become easier, especially if the feelings begin to grow and it leads you to another date in the near future.

Sign up for our newsletter here to get more first date ideas.

So does Michael Webb’s 300 Creative Dates book deliver on its promise as having creative, unique and fun dates?

Yes and no. Let me explain.

While there are 300 great date ideas in this book, you probably already guessed that you might not like or want to use all 300 of them. While many of the ideas are very creative, others are only a good reminder of places that everyone knows about but they either forgot or never realized that they’re such ideal places for a date.

Thankfully the, “I would-have-NEVER-thought-of-that-in-a-million-years!” ideas DO outweigh the date idea refreshers.

This book will make you smile, laugh and inspire you to always find the adventure in whatever it is you’re doing.

It also has ‘dating coupons’ you can give to your partner to redeem at a later date. Three examples are:  “Redeem this for a fruit-picking day at an orchard or berry patch, a one-hour bike ride or an evening at a nearby drive-in theatre.” Plus some you can use yourself.

Also, the book has a great section on dating disaster stories that will definitely show the guys what NEVER to do on dates.

So is the book perfect?

No. While there are 300 ideas, you really can’t read more than 50-60 in one sitting before it gets tedious, and some descriptions are a little lengthy. However, pages 93-94 do have a nice list of bullets with ‘quick and to the point’ date ideas ready. No elaboration. If you’re in the need of a date idea fast, then you’ll love these pages. All in all, this is still a fantastic book that everyone should read!

Whether you want to impress that special someone on a first date, surprise them for a special anniversary or occasion, or just want to breathe new life into your relationship because it’s getting a little on the bland side, then grab this book now.

Even trying to plan something for a great date can be a little frustrating. If you’re anything like me, then it’s often hard to think of something different – something a little more romantic – or something that would just be fun – and not break the bank.

Hey, with unlimited resources, it would be a lot easier. But in this economy, it’s important to find things to do that aren’t overly expensive or extravagant. Especially when we’re looking at wanting to do lots of fun things together.

Well, last week, I decided to surf the internet for some ideas – and I was just about to give up completely, when I came across this e-book entitled, “300 Creative Dates.”

Believe it or not, it was just what I was looking for. Now a few of them were a little corny and some of the others were not really “me.” But, hey, most of them were really great ideas for great dates.

And they certainly were creative – ideas like having pizza picnic in a park and fly kites for dessert, or planning a menu and cooking a romantic dinner together, or go to a laser show or planetarium.

So, if you’re looking for ideas for great dates that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, give this great little book a try.

Well, whatever your reason for looking at this topic, I’m sure you know how important really great dates are.

Seriously.

I mean, you know things get a little stale in a relationship after a while. And if you’re single, then I’m sure you know how important it is to plan a fun out-of-this-world date that will leave a solid impression!

The reason I’m bringing this up is because last week I stumbled across a great book I wanted to tell you about by Oprah’s Romance Expert Michael Webb. The book is called ‘300 Creative Dates‘ and it’s truly amazing!

Sure, there are many simple ideas that this book helps you remember by refreshing your memory, but there are so many ideas that I would have never thought of in 1000 years!

I have only tried a couple of these dates so far. But, hey … they really were GREAT dates! They brought back a lot of great memories for both of us! We shared a terrific evening doing something we’d never done together before. And we had fun!

My only complaint is that I wish I had bought this book the first time I was online surfing and found the page. To be perfectly honest, I thought I could find creative date ideas for free by simply surfing the net, (which was what I was doing out there in the first place). But sadly they don’t exist. Sure, I found some ideas but nothing that makes you go, “Wow! Now that would be a Great Date!”

I really believe you need to put effort and planning into a really great date. And sometimes, it’s just plain hard to come up with ideas.

So, if you want to impress that special someone on a first date or plan a romantic evening or special occasion, or if you just want to kick-start your relationship again and get out of the ho-hum ‘go to the movies again’ routine – then you need to grab this book now.