9 Romantic Date Night Ideas For Your LDR

Sometimes long distance is the worst. There are only so many times you can talk, Skype, and watch Netflix together over the phone before you start to wish for something more. Enter romantic date ideas for long-distance relationships. These dates will help you bond over shared experiences no matter how far apart you are. And that’s really the goal. Shared experiences are what you need to stay close. You can’t just chat all the time. You need to add depth to the limited ways you can connect. Plus, shared experiences will give you things to talk about and memories to cherish. However, it's important to remember that it's not that LDRs are weaker than those that aren't long-distance; in fact, a study published by the Journal of Communication showed that people in long-distance relationships often feel emotionally closer than other couples. So why not make things even better?

For most of these long-distance date ideas, you can take your partner along via web chat on your phone, tablet, or laptop. Technology, in LDRs, can be a beautiful, beautiful thing. Sometimes seeing your love’s face, hearing his or her voice or doing something fun together is all you need to quell your loneliness. Recruit some friends, family members or co-workers and you can pull off some pretty romantic and special dates that are arguably more romantic than dates with someone you live close to. Just remember to focus on the happiness of being “together” instead of the sadness associated with being far apart. Here is a list of some easy, creative dates for your long-distance relationship that are sure to bring you and your partner together.

1. Read A Book To Each Other

My nerd heart is currently swooning. If you're thinking this is boring, you're so wrong. You get to close your eyes and wrap yourself in your partner's voice while they read awesome or romantic stuff to you. Take turns alternating who reads each chapter. Bonus: The book conversations! Long-distance relationship win.

2. Send Each Other On Scavenger Hunts

This one takes a little bit of planning or a willing accomplice, but spending the evening guiding your love through a series of clues and puzzles can mean lots of laughs. Bonus if the final clue leads him to an amazing gift or a naked Skype session.

3. Buy A Round Of Drinks

You're out with your people and your partner's out with his or her people, but there's a world of distance between the two clubs. Call the bar and use your credit card to order a round of drinks, then FaceTime or Skype a quick kiss and toast together. Not only is it super thoughtful and romantic, but you'll score points with the friends.

4. Share A Sunset Or The Night Sky

If there aren't too many time zones between you, you can watch the sunset together or spread out a blanket and look at the stars over the phone. If you live on opposite sides of the world, show your partner the sunset from your phone.

5. Have A Craft Night

Skype, some construction paper, and maybe some wine means shared project time! If you're not into crafts, you can play games or help each other cook dinner over the phone. You can learn a lot about a person why how he or she handles a hot glue gun or a losing streak in Monopoly.

6. Dream Together

Make a Pinterest board for your dreams for the future. Sometimes when you're missing each other terribly, focusing on the future you plan to make together will remind you of the end goal of this temporary suffering.

7. Get Your Fortune Told

If you have Facetime or Skype on your phone, go see a psychic or fortune teller to learn about your future! Take it with a grain of salt and treat it like a fun shared experience, not a prescription for your lives together.

8. Go All Out

Send a package with an outfit. Send flowers. Send a car. Make reservations. Treat your partner to a night on the town with all the bells and whistles.

9. Go On A Virtual Tour

If your partner knows what your house, neighborhood, work, school, and favorite hangouts look like, it will be easier for him or her to picture you going about your daily life. This kind of stuff makes you feel closer and more a part of each other's lives.

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