50 MORE things to do together (other than watching movies)

Bored at home and looking for things to do (instead of turning on the TV)? Read on!

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You guys.

I can’t even believe how much that post on 50 things to do (other than watching movies) totally blew up on Pinterest. If you missed it, it’s a post with ideas for things that you can do with your spouse/significant other/roommate/friends instead of turning on the TV.

I guess it was a relief to know that I’m not the only one who defaults to Netflix on a typical date night in. Lots of people are looking for fun things for couples to do at home when bored.

And I’m so grateful that it fits a range of different relationships. It can vary from a date night at home with your significant other to family night to hang time with your friends or roommates.

So I figured – why not add to the list? Surely there are even more fun things to do at home (or nearby) out there.

2020 Update:

If you’ve found this page, you’re probably stuck at home and looking for fun things to do together so you can turn off your TV. Happy to help. This post includes updates for if you’re quarantined at home. (And hoping this all passes soon, so we can be back out and about enjoying all these activities.) 

Please remember – date nights in can still happen, and are still a great way to surprise your spouse and encourage them in these crazy times! These are great things to do with your spouse to reconnect with so much craziness going on.

These are also fun activities for roommates and families, so you have options other than movies or TV.

Need more quarantine activity ideas? Try Quarantine Activity Bingo or Family Video Chat Games.

This post contains affiliate links – legal information here.

Without further ado, I present to you: 50 more unique and fun ideas for things to do together (that make fantastic date nights at home).

1. Raid your refrigerator and pantry, and do a television-style food competition (think “Chopped” or “Iron Chef”).

Now’s the time to grab your apron, your favorite cookbook, and your cutting board, and get creative with what you have at home! You’ll at least have fun trying. 

2. Pick something seasonal to do – like apple-picking, ice-skating, swimming.

Quarantining? Find a national park to explore, or take a hike. You can also explore national parks online. 

3. Take a walk around your neighborhood.

Quarantining? Bonus points: Work with neighbors, through flyers or a Facebook group, to organize a “bear hunt” with stuffed animals or putting hearts in windows. We can make this quarantine fun!

4. Go star-gazing, even if it means taking a drive out of town.

5. Do random acts of kindness all over town – buy someone’s coffee for them, leave kind notes, etc.

Here’s a whole set of cards with creative ideas. 

Quarantining? Pay for coffee or food for the person in the drive-thru behind you, leave sidewalk chalk love notes all over the neighborhood, or send cards or emails.

6. Start a memory book or photo album together.

7. Arrange some kind of swap with friends – cookies, recipes, clothes, shoes, etc.

Quarantining? Start setting items aside that you’ll be ready to donate or swap when you can.

8. Re-live recess and go play at a playground.

Quarantining? Set up an obstacle course in your yard or at a park, or play a backyard game like kickball.

More ideas: You can play corn hole (in the dark!), bocce ball, badminton, or Jenga.

9. Do a workout video together.

My roommates in college and I once did a Bollywood dance video once and had so much fun! Not your thing? Try yoga, barre, HIIT, or many other options.

10. Cross a quick house project off your checklist.

Hang a string of white lights somewhere, put up pictures, make a home command center. Do the things you “never have time for” – chances are, some of them take only a few minutes.

11. Run an errand you have to do anyway together, like grocery shopping – it makes it half as boring as it would have been : )

Quarantining? Please make sure you’re following local health guidelines and staying away from people, washing hands, etc.

12. Dream up a future event or goal together, and make plans to take action!

It could be your wedding, a marathon, your own business…

13. Teach your spouse/other half/friend/roomie one of your talents, and have them teach you one of theirs!

Quarantining? When you can, invite others over for a talent night. Or do a virtual game night or talent night through Zoom, like Tina Fey and friends (she shares during this interview with Jimmy Fallon). 

14. Take an evening or weekend college class or recreation course together.

Quarantining? Take one of many free e-courses online!

15. Pick a room or piece of furniture to paint and go find some paint samples. 

Benjamin Moore has a great color-matching app! If you’re more ambitious, start painting.

Quarantining? Look for inspiration online and order paint samples.

16. Babysit for friends so they can have a date night – they will love you for it!

Quarantining? Do a phone call with friends with kids, and read them a story or entertain them for a bit while their parents get a mental break. 

17. Build a fort.

18. Make a fire in the fireplace, make hot cocoa, grab a comfy blanket, and settle in for a cozy night.

19. Do some yard work or plant a garden.

20. Take each other on in some kind of challenge – an eating contest, beat each other’s score at a video game, run a race.

21. Play a game of touch football or rugby.

When you can, invite friends to play.

22. Have a “fix it” night – tackle the “Honey Do” lists together.

My husband is the handy one; I’m more of the creative kind. We make a good team.

23. Yard sales.

My hubby wasn’t really super excited about me dragging him to a yard sale – until he scored a great deal. Now he’s the one taking me : )

Quarantining? Tour eBay or other resale sites and see what gems you can find. 

24. Eat appetizers for dinner.

Lay out a blanket and have an indoor or outdoor picnic.

25. Start a new tradition. (Who needs an occasion?)

26. Geocache.

Quarantining? Go on a nature walk and see what treasures you can find outside.

27. Play bartender and make a popular (or newly invented) mixed drink.

Try this cool Mexican cocktail kit. And it doesn’t have to be alcohol – try hot cocoa, coffee, or juice instead.

28. Go to the zoo.

Quarantining? Check out famous zoos like the San Diego Zoo and the National Zoo online via live cams.

29. Have a lip sync battle a la Jimmy Fallon.

Don’t half heart it – go all out and be as goofy as possible. You might even include friends over a virtual calling app!

30. Scare or prank a friend (not someone you don’t know).

Quarantining? Scare or prank each other. (This takes longer but can be fun, if you’re both excited about it.) 

31. Write something together – a letter, a poem, a story…

Get a fresh journal, and write something together. It can be as silly or serious as you like! Or tell your own story of how your relationship happened. (Maybe your wedding story, if that applies?) 

32. Paint pictures. 

Go professional with an online tutorial (maybe watercolors?), or bust out the finger paints and be as abstract as you want. 

33. Climb a tree.

34. Play games at an arcade. Or even the prize machine at Walmart.

Quarantining? Try a video game – better yet, an interactive video game. Or board games! (Avengers Monopoly, chess, or backgammon, anyone?)

35. Get a Mad Libs book and have fun filling it out.

This one looks funny.

36. See a play or musical together.

Quarantining? Check out Broadway shows online. 

37. Have a progressive dinner with friends.

Stop at a different location for each part of the meal (and then you only have to make one part).

Quarantining? Have a virtual dinner party by eating at the same time and chatting over Zoom, or another video calling app.

38. Go out and treat yo selves to something special for each one of you, no judgement.

Even if it’s at the Dollar Store.

Quarantining? Online shop.

39. Clean out your closets (and/or rooms) and make a donation pile. It’ll be fun digging through memories.

40. Come up with a list of questions you’ve always wanted to ask the other person.

Or look up some questions that can make for interesting answers.

41. Wash your car(s) together!

42. Go camping.

Quarantining? Camp in your backyard. Still fun, easy access to restrooms.

43. Test drive a new car.

Quarantining? Dream about which car you would test drive. That’s all I got for this one.

44. Play charades.

This website is free and super helpful for generating ideas. 

45. Find all your unused gift cards and use them up! It’s like Christmas!

Quarantining? Online shop.

46. Come up with a way to fundraise for your favorite charity and do it together.

Quarantining? Make a kickstarter, gofundme, or plan your fundraiser idea.

47. Create a scavenger hunt of favorite places in your town.

When you can, invite friends to take the challenge.

48. Rearrange or reorganize a part or room of your house.

49. Take a simple recipe – grilled cheese, pizza, sandwich – and embellish it to make it your own, then try each other’s.

50. Do something out of your comfort zone – like rock climbing, for me.

Quarantining? Figure out something new you can do at home.