Finding the proper place for a date can be a daunting challenge. How much of an activity should a first date be? Where can you go where you will not see your entire extended friend group? How much money do you want to spend? These are all questions that plague any man or woman planning a date.

A first date location can change the whole dating experience. It can make it more pleasant or fun or offer up new topics of conversation. Many people who regularly date are accustomed to going to the same places on a first date that offer an appropriate environment to talk to the person they are meeting for the first time. If you are looking to mix it up on a first date, instead of going to the usual Starbucks, 16 Handles or hotel lobby, here are some suggestions for the summer and fall months.

Surrounding two lakes and many fields and grassy areas, Overpeck Park is a scenic spot for a first date. Take a stroll or picnic on the field grounds or dock overlooking the lake. Walk down a nature trail, rent a boat and explore the lake or mount a horse at the equestrian center.

Website: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/841/Overpeck-County-Park

Address: 40 Fort Lee Rd., Leonia, NJ 07605

Number: 201-336-7275

Hours: 7:30 AM- 9:00 PM

Find yourself in downtown NYC? Visit the Uncommons, one of the city’s board game cafes. Choose from an array of games from the more conventional Scrabble or Code Names to a whole host of new games you have likely never played before. Order a coffee, beer or another beverage as you let the games begin.

Website: http://uncommonsnyc.com

Address: 230 Thompson St., NY, NY 10012

Phone: 646-543-9215

Email: [email protected]

Admissions: $5

Hop on a ferry leaving from the Battery Maritime Building in lower Manhattan. Free on Sundays, and $2 on weekdays, this ferry will carry you to Governors Island, a retired military base for the U.S. Army and the Coast Guard. The island, which was recently opened to the public, serves as New York’s shared space for art and play. Rent a bike and explore the island, from the iconic Hammock Grove to the play fountains, Fort Jay and Castle Williams. Get some dirt underneath your fingernails and visit the farm animals in the compost learning center and the teaching garden. Play a game of mini golf at the innovative Figment Mini Golf park.

Website: https://govisland.com

Ferry Addresses: Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street. Pier 6, Atlantic Avenue and Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway

Email:[email protected]

Hours: Monday- Friday 10 A.M.- 6 P.M. Saturday-Sunday 10 A.M.- 7 P.M.

Bring your date to one of the leading sculpture parks in the world. Located an hour North of NYC, this park gives you the opportunity to explore contemporary art in nature. Enjoy the architecture of over 100 acres of green meadows, wetlands and woodlands while perusing the works of over 30 acclaimed sculptors.

Website: stormking.org

Email: [email protected]

Address: Storm King Art Center, 1 Museum Rd., New Windsor, NY 12553

Hours: April 5-August 3: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. September 4-October 31: Wednesday-Monday, 10am-5:30pm. November: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm.

Admission: $18

If you are looking for a beautiful park to picnic in and walk around or a zoo to explore with your date, look no further than the Van Saun Zoo. Located in Paramus, this scenic park and zoo is a great place to visit on a first date.

Website: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/852/Van-Saun-County-Park

Address: 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus and Continental Ave., River Edge

Zoo Hours: 10:00AM- 4:30PM

Admission: $4 until November 1, when it becomes free

Looking for a relaxing date night with wine and paint? Visit the Pinot’s Palette Studios for a night of directed painting and leave with a masterpiece you can hang on your wall. The studio is located in the quaint town of Ridgewood, NJ. Bring your own wine and relax as you follow the instructions of the talented artist in charge. For a discounted price, search Groupon.com.

Website: https://www.pinotspalette.com/ridgewood

Address: 25 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Phone: 201-389-8676

Email: [email protected]

Fee: $25-$50

Hours: Subject to change

Switch up the classic frozen yogurt date for something a bit more tasty and fun. Visit Urban Pop Bar for a cool and delicious date in the summer months. Pick your flavor pop and dip it into your choice of chocolate and toppings.

Address: 314 Main St, Allenhurst, NJ 07711

Hours: 11AM-11PM

Phone: 732-686-1945

Stop by the Jewish Museum on NYC’s Museum Mile to explore Jewish art and culture that spans over 4,000 years of cultivation. If you want a bite to eat stop into the acclaimed Russ and Daughters museum restaurant for some babka french toast or an array of Jewish fish dishes.

Address: 1109 5th Ave at 92nd St New York, NY 10128

Hours: Galleries and Shops 11 am-8 pm. Restaurant 11 am-4 pm

Phone: 212-423-3200

Admission: $15, Free to walk in on Shabbat