We continue our EcoDater Green Dating series for all our eco friendly singles with a list of dating ideas for nature lovers. These ideas inspire you and your date to get outside and connect with your natural surroundings. We spend so much of our days immune to the beauty and harmony of nature's gentle flow, and a romantic date is a great way to stop and appreciate our natural environment.



A Walk in the Woods
A stroll along a riverbank or a hike through a mountain valley offers green daters an opportunity to slow down and live a bit closer to nature's tempo. On the eco-friendly scale, the best nature walks are those that can be readily accessed within the community itself. Denver has its Cherry Creek walk, Portland has Waterfront Park, San Francisco offers the beautiful Golden Gate Park, Seattle green daters can check out nearby Bainbridge Island, and most other major settlements also offer some wonderful nature walks either inside or very close to city boundaries.



Outdoor Picnic
Stock up on some organic goodies, pack up some reusable plates and utensils, pick up your date and find a nice grassy spot in the trees for a relaxing time away from the day's schedule. Even if all you can find is a bench near a few trees, it's amazing how recharging a meal al fresco can be, with the sky as your roof. Don't forget a bottle of organic wine!



Stargazing at Night
Nature lovers don't only come out in the daytime... the night sky is nature at its most mysterious and wondrous, beyond our touch and vision but somehow still of the same substance as the nature we see and hear every day. Even the most basic astronomy is fascinating, and a great way to spend an evening date, perhaps after a delicious organic homecooked meal.



Tend to a Garden
Gardens are where nature and people meet, where a gentle hand can harness the great gifts of the earth right into our satisfied bellies. It's hard to imagine a better green date than picking some ripe fruit and vegetables from a well-loved garden and preparing a wonderfully fresh meal from those ingredients. If you don't have your own garden, visit a community garden or farmer's market.



Hot Springs
Admittedly, hot springs are a treat for people in only a select lucky few places on earth but are such a great way to love nature that they had to be on this list. Jacuzzis are a poor substitute for the healing waters and soul-massaging warmth of geologic hot springs. The vast majority of US hot springs are west of the Rockies, but there are some great hot springs in Geogia, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland and New York as well.



On the Water
There is something deeply grounding about being on the gentle rocking rhythm of the open water. Whether it's a sailboat off the coast or a rowboat in a park lake or even a public ferry, bringing your date out onto the water is a great way to bring the nature lover out of anyone. Combine a picnic with a boat trip to a fun destination for the ultimate green date.



Bike Riding
For the more adventurous singles, take your date on a bike tour of some nearby natural scenery. A lot of places are reachable with a bike that might be too far on foot, and you get a workout at the same time. Many green cities have an excellent network of urban trails that get riders off the busy streets and into their natural surroundings.



Rock Climbing
You might be surprised to know that there is a climbing wall somewhere within a day trip away from wherever you are right now. Rock climbing is a great date idea because it requires close teamwork between two people, and climbing areas are often located in the most beautiful local natural scenery. All you need is a harness, shoes, a rope and a belay device for most areas, but make sure you get some instruction before heading out.



Take a Class
Even if your date is a total disaster, at least you can learn something! There are some great classes offered by local colleges or other continuing educational institutions for nature lovers: Learn all about your local flora and fauna, or local geology, and many classes will take you out into the field to study wildlife or vegetation, providing the perfect chance to be outside, pick up some new knowledge, AND have a great date!