By Allie Churchill for YourTango.com
Typically, romance is all about fancy candlelit dinners and bouquets of red roses ... and unfortunately for most of us, that equals out to big dollar signs. Going out on a date certainly isn't cheap and you definitely don't want to look cheap.
So how do you set out on an unforgettable date without all the expenses? We've come up with at least seven ideas to help you round out your summer. After all, isn't it true that real love doesn't cost a thing?
1. Listen To A Free Outdoor Concert
The weather's warm, the sun is out and the tunes are always good. There are literally hundreds of concerts going on during the summer whether you're a fan of indie rock, smooth jazz or something somewhere in between. Even if neither of you have heard of the bands that are playing, you'll have beautiful weather, scenery and each other.
2. Tour A Local Brewery
Sure, alcohol isn't cheap. So instead of bar-hopping (and desperate wallet-dipping), join a crowd on a local brewery tour. Many are free and you can still get your buzz on while learning about how they brew your favorite brands. Oh, and did we forget to mention the free samples to sip on at the end of the tour? Don't mind if we do.
3. Watch The Fireworks
It's cheesy, but that's what makes it a date night classic, right? Drive out to a clear sky away from the glare of city lights, toss out a cozy blanket and pack a bag of homemade snacks to share as you ooh and ahh over sparkling, colorful displays of fireworks.
4. Have Your Own "Play" Date At The Park
Even when we were kids without a dime, we still managed to have fun, right? Bring your date out for an evening at the park (when the kiddos and their moms have gone home) and let loose on the playground. Push each other on the swings, spin on the merry-go-round and climb the jungle gym. Sure, it's a little goofy, but it's a way to show your carefree side and open up about your childhoods.
5. Attend A Local Art Show
Check out an art exhibition in your city -- they're popular this time of year. Stroll hand-in-hand through the vendors at a show on a weekend morning to admire the quirky, recycled vintage finds or handcrafted paintings, sculptures and jewelry. You don't have to buy anything and it's a sneakier way to avoid museum fees.
6. Sneak In A Dip
Feeling frisky? Even brazen? Even if you can't make it to the beach or the pool during the day, slip into your swimsuits (or nothing at all ...) and sneak into the water after hours. And hey, if you get busted by the neighbors, it'll make one hell of a date night story to tell your future kids (or are we getting ahead of ourselves?).
7. Kick Back At The Beach
The beach is the perfect romantic rendezvous and luckily, many of them are free to visit! You can stroll along the water, build sandcastles or just lounge on the sand and get your tan on together. Make it an all day event and stay 'til dusk when the rowdier daytime crowds have mosied out -- then, it's just the two of you and a spectacular view of the tossing sea.
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