The Years 2020 and 2021 were scary at times, but my girlfriend and I found some new fun things for couples to do on vacation.
These activities helped draw us closer.
What fun things do you like to do on vacation with your partner? (Please share in the comments field at the bottom).
You don’t even have to go to the hottest destinations to escape reality with your romantic partner and have a memorable time.
Nor do you have to travel far away.
We live in Florida so we have world-class beaches all around, but we’ve encountered “time-stands-still” moments in some not-as-known spots in 2020 and 2021…
…places like Omaha, Nebraska; Cleveland, Ohio, or St. Louis, Missouri.
Regardless of how popular the vacation spot is, we found the same fun activities for couples to enjoy.
Download Your FREE Vacation Activities for Couples Checklist and (Printable) Home Date Idea Cards.
10 Simple Fun Things for Couples to Do on Vacation (USA Spots)
1. Botanical Gardens and Arboretums
In 2020 we discovered very few more relaxing and stress-relieving fun things for couples to do on vacation than to visit botanical gardens or arboretums.
Not all botanical gardens are the same. Some have butterfly gardens, large greenhouses with tropical oases and we even found one with a hummingbird garden where the birds flew inches away.
(What is an arboretum?)
But they all share serene, calming, jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes.
Here are the ones we’ve tried so far:
- Missouri Botanical Gardens (St Louis)
- Washington University Arboretum
- Lauritzen Gardens (Omaha, Nebraska)
- Harry P Leu Gardens (Orlando, FL)
- Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens
And here are more US Botanical Gardens (by state)
What are the prettiest botanical gardens or arboretums you’ve gone to?
2. Little Italy Neighborhood
Bakeries, family-owned coffee shops, half-century-old steakhouses, brick buildings, and streets and Italian flags flapping on lamp posts.
Oh, and lot’s of great wine and cocktails.
We discovered our love for Little Italy in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio then went out of our way to find St. Louis’.
One of the best Little Italy neighborhoods I’ve visited is in San Diego.
There are plenty more to go to.
Here are some other Little Italy neighborhoods in the US
Which is the best Little Italy you’ve gone to?
3. Rooftop Cocktail Bars
I purposely inserted “cocktail” next to bars. Just because it’s on a rooftop and has a view does not make it a classy bar.
We like classy bars.
And have come across some of the most awe-inspiring views.
A few were closed because of Covid or had limited seating capacity. We’ve actually gone to more non-rooftop cocktail bars, but I figured you’d like something with a view.
Here are some of my favorite rooftop bars I’ve visited (some are local for me):
- Dahlia Lounge (Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs)
- Bar 17 Bistro (Univeral Studios Orlando Aventura Hotel)
- Smith Tower Bar and Observatory (Seattle, WA)
- Three Sixty (St Louis)
- Top of the Hyatt (San Diego)
Try Instagram to find the best local rooftop bars to add to your fun-things-to-do for couples list.
[Related Couples Travel Post] Big List of 50+ Fun Travel Activities for Couples (Plus Free PDF Download)
4. Iconic Landmarks
There is nothing quite like seeing iconic landmarks with your own eyes after seeing them on TV.
The two big iconic landmarks we saw in 2020 and 2021 were the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the Seattle Space Needle.
Here are some of the most noteworthy ones I’ve seen in the US
What US iconic landmarks do you recommend? (Share in comments at the bottom)
5. Cooking Class
Twice I’ve done this in New Orleans and I cannot think of a better way to taste local cuisine while learning about the history of the dishes.
You will get full and this food I promise beats any restaurant’s food you can find.
Hands-on classes are more fun but also more expensive.
Observation classes are still super fun but also more affordable.
[Click here] here to visit Groupon for great deals on cooking courses.
6. Florida Gulf Coast Beaches
Living in Central Florida puts hundreds of world-class beaches just hours away on both coasts.
But the best beaches with blue, pool-like water, powdered sand, and calming waves are located on the Gulf of Mexico side of the state.
[Related Post Couples Travel Post] 5 Florida Paradise Getaways for Couples
In 2020 and 2021 we escaped to Sarasota and Bradenton beaches, Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches, Honeymoon Island.
The Florida Panhandle is on our wish list too.
Florida beaches are a short plane ride away for many of you.
==>Check out some great Florida beach hotel deals here.
What are your favorite Florida beaches towns? What about specific beach names?
7. Live Jazz Bar
Watching live jazz in New Orleans is one of the most iconic experiences you could do in this Southern city gem.
My girlfriend and I squeaked by in January 2020 before Covid hit hard.
All the jazz bars were open then, so we went to a few,
By the time I got back with my friend in the summer of 2021, almost all the live jazz bars were temporarily closed.
So, you may want to check how open things are before you head to New Orleans.
But you don’t have to go to New Orleans to go to see live jazz.
Not all jazz bars are the same, some are swankier than others, some livelier, some located in upscale hotel lobbies, and yet other stand-alone establishments trendy, busy neighborhoods.
My two favorites for live Jazz are The Spotted Cat and Fritzel’s European Jazz Club
Here are some of the better ones in New Orleans
What are your favorite live jazz clubs?
8. MLB Game (Or other sporting event)
Every stadium is unique and looks completely different. The surrounding area restaurants and bars make for a fun time before or after the game.
We schedule our trips around Major League Baseball games. I saw my team play twice last year on the road.
Hands down, this is one of our regular favorite things for couples to do on vacation.
Even if you don’t like baseball, you may like good food and beer.
And if you want to experience the roar of the crowd as they cheer on their local heroes then get tickets for a Major League Baseball game.
This year alone I went to T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Busch Stadium in St Louis, and Globe Life Field in Arlington (near Dallas).
The regular season goes from the end of March to early October.
Check out MLB.com/tickets for next season’s schedule.
9. Rent Scooters to Explore the City
I’ve done this a couple of times and both times made seeing the city an exploration and memorable moment. Once in San Diego and the other in Seattle.
It’s one of my new favorite things for couples to do on vacation.
Both times I used the Lyft app.
Please use my code Rick537391 to install the Lyft app. (I get credit for it to use on future trips.)
I love Lyft and use them every trip.
10. Meeting New Friends
We made new friends in a pretty random way in St. Louis. While at the rooftop bar Three Sixty, the place was packed so I invited another couple to sit with us who was also looking for a table.
We met up a couple of times after that during the trip and it turned out one of them (they met online and had a long-distance relationship) lived 45 minutes away in Melbourne, FL. (on the space coast).
It can make a trip more fun when you explore with another couple or get shown around by locals.
On a solo trip, I even attended a Meetup.com game night event and met locals that way.
[Related Couples Travel Post] 10 Cheap Romantic Getaway Ideas for Couples
11. Dolphin or Whale Watching Cruise
Seeing dolphins or whales in the wild is one of those “time-stand-still” moments you cannot miss. We’ve done this a few times in the Gulf Coast of Florida.
I can do this often since I live in Orlando, FL but the experience never gets old.
Here is the dolphin cruise from Captiva Island we did.
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[Checklist] Things for Couples to Do on Vacation
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