If you’re on the other side of 50 years old, you’ve probably been through your share of Valentine’s Day dates, good and bad. You can spend a small fortune on a stereotypical dinner and a movie date, or you can plan a unique Valentine’s Day adventure that delivers adrenaline, bonding, and shared memories.
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Studies have shown that high-adrenaline activities, whether the danger is real or simulated, boosts oxytocin levels, as well. So, an active date can force you to push your own physical or mental boundaries and bring you closer as a couple. When you think about it, the body has the same reaction to being around a new love or a “crush” as it does when you’re undertaking intense physical activity: Increased heartbeat, dopamine release, a feeling of butterflies in your stomach, and an adrenaline rush (to name a few of the signals).
Whether you’ve been together for years or are celebrating Valentine’s Day in a new relationship, you can create sparks by stepping out of your comfort zones together with these exciting activities.
Skydiving
If you’re in good physical health, consider taking your Valentine to new heights on a skydiving adventure. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Debbie Cross, owner of Sapphire Coffee, went skydiving for the first time with her boyfriend at the age of 51. After many dives together, the couple got engaged this year.
Unless one of you is an experienced skydiver, you probably won’t be able to soar tandem with your date, but you can jump in the same group.
If you’re not ready for that level of excitement (or the weather is too cold in your region!) consider indoor skydiving for a Valentine’s Day date. You can find indoor skydiving facilities in many major cities and suburbs. There’s a shorter learning curve and less chance of major injuries, according to the Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving blog.
Smash / Rage Room
Smash rooms are all the “rage” in the news lately, with BBC recently spotlighting their growing popularity amongst women, specifically. The trend of destroying old home electronics, small appliances, dishes and glassware in a controlled environment is also going strong in the US.
A British Substack reported that 90% of smash room customers are women, but any gender can enjoy the excitement. Lucy Bee, a therapist who launched a smash room in the UK, described her typical customer as “Early forties, good job, couple of kids, married.”
With an extra decade or so of repressed rage, people in their 50s and beyond can definitely benefit from this unique and fun way of blowing off steam. You’ll want to wear comfortable clothes (closed-toe shoes are a must) and expect to get sweaty. Smashing items that look like garage sale finds while you’re dressed in coveralls resembling a containment suit may not be the most romantic way to spend an evening, but you’ll see a whole new side of your lover.
Go Karting
Your hearts won’t be the only thing racing when you spend Valentine’s Day at a go-kart track. If you live someplace warm, enjoy the thrill of outdoor racing. Most tracks also have video games, mini golf and other activities so you can spend the day feeling like a kid again.
For true adrenaline junkies, electric indoor go-karts can travel as fast as 25 to 45 mph and require agility and fast reflexes to stay on course.
Axe Throwing
If you and your Valentine spent a good part of the ‘90s and 2000s in bars throwing darts, it might be ready to elevate that experience with axes. Axe-throwing attractions brought in $300 million in revenue in the US in 2024 and were projected to experience 30% growth last year, according to HoustonAxe.com.
Like smash rooms, axe-throwing offers stress relief and bonding. They also add something many other adventurous dates don’t offer – the chance to sip a cocktail or cool down with a beer. Many axe-throwing lanes are within a bar and grill setting, so you can relax, have dinner, and enjoy friendly competition.
An unexpected bonus? You might discover aspects of your partner’s personality they previously kept under wraps. “If you’ve ever wanted to get to know someone better, just put an axe in their hands and tell them to throw it,” the Houston Axe folks wrote.
Take the Adventure Challenge
With so many exciting date night ideas, you might have a hard time choosing just one. You could always leave it up to fate. Gift your partner The Adventure Challenge: Couple’s Edition book, a collection of 50 unique date ideas ranging from free to around $50. Choose a page, scratch off the date idea and, when it’s over, add your favorite memories and photos to create a keepsake to treasure.
After all, true romance isn’t about one date on the calendar. Trying new activities together can help keep your love exciting and fresh all year long.
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