The best romantic date ideas come from thinking about the individual you are dating. That said, romance comes from doing something unexpected in a special way. Romantic dates create lasting memories, and building memories together can help you build a stronger and more lasting relationship. To decide whether your date idea is a good one, remember the recipe for romance:

Surprise + Thoughtfulness + Opportunity to Share = Romantic Date Idea

Surprise

The surprise in your date idea can be the destination, the timing, the activity, or the way in which you issue the invitation. Whether you choose to send a floral arrangement asking for the date, pave the way to a picnic dinner with rose petals, or whisk her away to an unknown location, surprising her will make the date both memorable and unusual.

Thoughtfulness

The more you show her that you've put thought and planning into your date, the more special she will feel. This is especially important if you take her somewhere without giving her the opportunity to prepare. In this instance, you can both show your thoughtfulness and avert disaster by ensuring that she will have the right clothes to wear and all the equipment that she will need. Anything that you can do to make her more comfortable on the way and on arrival will be worth the effort.

Opportunity to Share

Sharing is what really creates romance, so make sure you have the opportunity to share something more than the usual dinner conversation and obligatory goodnight kiss. Take a walk holding hands, steal a smooch on the way out of the restaurant, share your most secret desire or tell her about your darkest moment. Being honest is always memorable in this day and age. And then, of course, there are the old stand-by tricks to romance: share a milkshake, an umbrella, a sack during a three-legged race. Wrap the two of you in a blanket at a sporting event, buy matching souvenir hats, or exchange meals mid-dinner. What you share doesn't matter as much as the fact that you are learning about each other and expressing your willingness to invite the other person into your life.

Foolproof Romantic Dates

Now that you know how to make any occasion more romantic, try it out on any of these favorite date ideas:

1. Take a picnic to the zoo and watch her favorite animals at play.
2. Attend a twilight polo match complete with champagne and tailgate picnic.
3. Plan a bonfire at the beach followed by a long, romantic walk.
4. Paddle a canoe to a secluded picnic spot.
5. Roller skate along the boardwalk to an outdoor café.
6. Watch a movie under the stars or at a drive-in theater.
7. Take a cheap trip her to her favorite travel destination. Paris is easy with a baguette, a bottle of Bordeaux, and a couple of matching berets...
8. Act like kids and let your hair down at a community festival, county fair, or amusement park.
9. Learn to tango at a ballroom dancing course.
10. Grab a blanket, some breakfast, and a lot of coffee and go watch the sunrise somewhere.

Whatever you choose to do on your romantic date, think outside the box a little bit. Think of her. Think of surprising her. And think of giving her something inexpensive that will help her remember the fun she had. Keep these things in mind and any date idea can be romantic.