It doesn’t get much more romantic than a sunset cruise, just one of our creative date ideas!

Have you ever gone to school or worked at a place where you had to eat in the cafeteria? At first it seems so novel, because you get to eat without doing any of the preparation work. Awesome, right? But then you find yourself three weeks in and seriously, if you have to eat chicken kiev ONE MORE TIME things are going to get very unpleasant. Man, I hate cafeteria food. Where was I going with this? Right. Variety! Variety is very important, especially when it comes to planning your dates. Don’t get me wrong, dinner and a movie is fine. It can be highly enjoyable. But if you really want to impress a lady, you’re going to need to get a little more creative. Here are five creative date ideas for in and around Vancouver.

1) Laser Show at the HR MacMillan Space Centre

Laser Floyd. It’s not just for stoners anymore. Late nights on the weekends, the Planetarium offers laser light shows set to music. Usually this means classic rock, but they do have shows featuring modern acts as well. Pro-tip: Get there early, so as soon as the doors open to the theatre you can snag a spot on the platform instead of sitting in the chairs. You can lie down on a mat, which makes for prime snuggling opportunities. (HR MacMillan Space Centre – 1100 Chestnut Street ( in Vanier Park)) http://www.spacecentre.ca/list-of-shows/plan-your-visit)

2) Picnic and music in the park

Check the event calendars at your favourite outdoor venues. Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park and the Deer Lake Park Amphitheater in Burnaby are probably the most popular spots. If you see an act you think a lady friend of yours might enjoy, DO NOT BUY TICKETS. Instead, plan to listen to the show from just outside the venue in the park. Don’t worry, you won’t look like a total cheapskate. Not if you pack a delicious picnic and some blankets. (Malkin Bowl – Stanley Park http://www.malkinbowl.com Deer Lake Park – http://www.deerlakepark.org)

3) Make a plate!

Once upon a time, there was a little film made called Ghost. Said film contains a scene involving Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and a pottery wheel. I am pretty sure every woman on earth is familiar with it. Here’s your chance to try and recreate the moment in a much tidier fashion. Pottery decoration! They make the pottery, you paint it! Also awesome because you get a souvenir to take home. (Crankpots Ceramic Studio - 153-555 West 12th Ave. http://crankpots.net)

4) Romantic boat cruise

If you have never taken the watertaxi in Vancouver, you have not lived, my friend. False Creek Ferries and Aquabus both run in False Creek. You can purchase tickets for a full cruise leaving from Granville Island. Extra bonus points because you get to sing “I’M ON A BOAT”. (False Creek Ferries – http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/sightseeing.htm Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com)

5) Salsa. People like to say salsa.

If you’re feeling like you want to spice things up, try some salsa lessons! Friday nights at the Polish Hall in Vancouver, a $10 cover charge gets you an hour of salsa lessons and then you’re free to dance the night away. (Polish Community Centre – 4015 Fraser Street http://www.citysalsavibe.com/dance.php#fusion)

Image courtesy of: Winky in the UK

Written by: Sarah Robinson – The Geeky Goddess

Tags: creative, dating, hr MacMillan, Malkin Bowl, Salsa