7 Nostalgic Ideas for Dating Seniors

The month of January represents a new year and new beginnings for most people, but it’s also fantastic for rekindling romance. Whether you’ve been in a relationship for a while or you are planning a first date, these January date night ideas will help put you in the mood for romance and establish a stronger bond with your partner.

Classic Activities to Spark Joy and Connection

Some date ideas are truly timeless, and you can do them over and over, each time feeling like an entirely new experience. These fun date night activities are perfect for cold January nights.

1) Hosting a Vintage Movie Marathon

When you were growing up, and you thought of “vintage movies,” it probably put you in the mind of black and white classics like “Casablanca” or “Roman Holiday,” But did you know that it’s the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future? Most of the John Hughes classics of the 1980s were filmed — well, in the 80s. Some of the movies you saw in the theater as a kid became classics that have lasted for generations. For those of us past the age of 50, these movies will never go out of style.

Here are a few tips for hosting your own vintage movie marathon:

• Make a List – Decide what you consider to be classic or vintage films and make a shortlist.
• Let your Partner Review the List – You put together the list, so let them choose the order. You might also want to give them veto power. “No, we’re not watching ‘Dirty Harry’ again.”
• Create a Food and Drink Menu – It’s sometimes fun if you add something on the menu from the movie. For example, cheesecake for “When Harry Met Sally.”
• Set the Atmosphere – Dim the lights, lay out a couple of comfy blankets, and start the marathon.

2) Revisiting Favorite Board Games from the Past

A video game date night can be fun, but it’s hard to be social when your eyes are glued to a TV screen. Old-school board games have made a huge comeback, and they make a really fun, cheap date night idea. If you don’t happen to have any board games, most discount department stores have a pretty decent selection. Here are a few classic suggestions that just might take you back to the winter breaks of your school days:

• Monopoly
• The Game of Life
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Trivial Pursuit (You can even just read each other questions for fun)
• Boggle
• Clue
• Risk (If you have the time)
• Battleship (a perfect date night game for couples)
• Connect Four
• Jenga
• Backgammon, Chess, and Checkers (you can almost always find a set that has all three)

A lot of coffee shops and bars keep a few games for customers to play, as well. If it’s warm enough, have your game night out. If all else fails, pull out a deck and have a date night card game.

Indoor Retro Date Ideas for Cold Winter Nights

If you’re looking to get out of the house, but the January weather isn’t quite warm enough for outdoor activities, there are some fun indoor activities that you can build some fun date night ideas around.

3) Exploring Local Roller Skating Rinks or Bowling Alleys

Before rollerblades became popular in the 1990s, skates had four wheels and you usually wore them while you were making large circles under the disco lights. Most skating rinks recognize their inherent nostalgia and keep some of that 1950s to 1980s flare alive. Roller skating rinks are an ideal activity in January because they keep the temperature comfortable, and you can rent skates if you don’t own a pair. It’s good exercise, and it will definitely take you back.

4) Visiting a Retro Diner for Classic Comfort Food

This is one of our favorite cheap date night ideas. Diners have been around for over a century, so nearly everyone has some fond memory of a late-night meal after a movie or breakfast on the road during a family vacation. Whether you’re getting greasy eggs and a cup of hot coffee or a hamburger, fries, and a Coke, there is something very nostalgic about eating in a retro diner.

Most people know the good diners in their area and there’s always one or two that looks like it’s right out of the cult classic film, “Diner.” You know, the ones that look like an old train car with a long counter separating the guests and the staff.

You can up the nostalgia points by wearing date night outfits that match the period you want to relive.

Outdoor Nostalgic Adventures to Try

January tends to be cold, but the conditions are often mild enough to get out of the house and do something active. Here are a few unforgettable outdoor dating activities that will help revive some fun experiences from your past.

5) Taking a Scenic Stroll to Relive Childhood Memories

Our members tend to meet when they have 50 or more years of memories behind them, and their partners want to know what those times were like. One of the best ways to tell a story is to show them the locations where they occurred. Walk around the old neighborhood and stop at places that you hold deeply in your heart.

“After school, everyone would head here because you could get a slice and a drink for 50 cents, leaving you with a quarter to play pinball—if no one else was already on the machine.” Or better yet, ask your date, “What were some of your favorite memories growing up?”

6) Go to a Drive-in Theater

A drive-in movie is a classic and relaxed date night idea, offering the perfect mix of nostalgia and comfort under the stars. Some of them recycle older films that could easily make it on your date night movie list. If it’s not too cold out, you can roll down the windows or even sit on the hood of your car. Drive-thrus haven’t changed a lot over the years, so they should feel very familiar and cozy.

7) The Date Night Dice Game

Here’s how you play. We’ve given you six suggestions:

1. Vintage Movie Marathons
2. Board Game Night
3. Rollerskating Rink
4. Retro Diner
5. Memory Lane
6. Drive-In Movies

You play the date night ideas game by handing your partner a single die, having them roll, and then choosing from the list. A lot of people use this approach for vacation destinations, date night dinner ideas, or anything else where two people are having a hard time deciding which way they want to go or what they want to do.

Join SilverSingles Today

SilverSingles is a dating site/app for mature singles over 50. If you don’t already have someone in your life and you’re using the new year as an opportunity to explore your options, we highly recommend downloading our app from Google Play or the App Store. We hope you try some of these ideas with your partner. And remember, if you’re single and over 50, there’s a great place to meet someone who’s truly worthwhile. Join SilverSingles today!