Where to Go on a First Date

Where do you want to meet? Oh, I don’t care, where do YOU want to go? Oh, anywhere you decide would be fine with me. No, no, its up to you? Does this sound familiar? If someone doesn’t make up his or her mind soon, about the only good thing that will come out of this scenario is that you’ll be able to use your senior citizen discount coupon no matter where you decide to go!

I constantly get asked the question, Where should I go on my first Internet date? My first response is usually, Not where your ex-fiance hangs out! Besides that, I suggest to go wherever you would go on ANY first date. Initially, its best to meet at a centrally located place, and you also want to avoid having your date pick you up at your place for the first few dates. So if you’re the type of person that just has to know what kind of car hes driving, just ask, you’ll have to find out later.

As a side note, make sure that wherever you do decide to go, keep dating safety in mind before and during the date. Remember, this person really is just a stranger and while most people have good intentions, you don’t want to find yourself caught up in a bad situation.

Coffee shops seem to be popular places to meet for the first time. Why? Because a cup of coffee is fairly inexpensive, and, if you meet at 2:00 in the afternoon, you have the perfect excuse of having to go back to work if your date isn’t, well, the purdiest thang in the world.

I personally feel going to a coffee shop in the middle of the afternoon just doesn’t have that date like atmosphere. To me it feels more like a business meeting. The one and only time I ever met a guy there I felt like I was being interrogated. (I think he was an undercover cop, especially when he scarfed downed four jelly-filled donuts.) Anyhow, meeting for lunch or early evening appetizers might be a little cozier. (Guys, you may want to skip meeting your date at Hooters or at the Gentlemen’s Club for the first date. You know, just a thought.)

If you’re not into eating, (or if payday hasn’t arrived yet) choose an activity that you both enjoy, such as bowling, darts, or maybe an art museum. Again a public place is always a safe bet, unlike a suggestion this one date of mine made. I met this guy one evening and after we had some appetizers, he wanted to know if I wanted to go for a nice moonlit walk in the woods in the middle of nowhere at 11:00 at night. No thanks, Mr. Bundy. I’d rather roller skate naked down Main Street at rush hour than to truck up in the woods with someone I don’t even know what their last name is.

So you have my permission to tell anyone who suggests something that stupid to go take a hike (alone!)

Treat the first date like any other date. Don’t set yourself up for a bad date by having an escape plan, or by having your buddy call twenty minutes into your date. Talk about sabotaging your evening! Lighten up. Enjoy the get together, even if she/he isn’t going to be walking down that isle with you.

The bottom line is, have a good time, enjoy yourself, let a friend know where you’re going, and be home by ten!