Get Date Night Back on the Books

How many days (weeks? months?) have passed since "date night" appeared on your calendar? With all the coordination and expense involved, it's way too easy to let this slide. But don't! Date night doesn't always have to break the bank or take several hours. In fact, it doesn't even need to be at night, when parents' eyes are often at half-mast, no matter how great the restaurant or riveting the movie. Save the big-ticket dates for special occasions, but keep one-on-one time on the weekly agenda by perfecting the art of the quickie date. For the investment of a mere hour or two, you'll be surprised at how much fun you can have, and how recharged and reconnected you feel as a couple. (Almost like when you were dating!)

1. Take a drive. If you're like most couples, you don't drive much together — or for pleasure. On a pleasant evening, drive to a new neighborhood or along a scenic route. Put on your favorite music and enjoy the kid-free time. (You might even find a romantic make-out spot!)

2. Get happy. Instead of dinner, sneak out early for happy hour, where you can enjoy a festive, low-cost meal and a fancy cocktail — plus miss rush-hour traffic.

3. Game on! Turn off the TV and play a game, just the two of you — whether that's poker, Scrabble or even a rousing round of charades in your living room. (Feel free to invent adult-only rules to up the ante!)

4. Dessert date. Why not go out for the best part of the meal, rather than the whole thing? Check out a new fancy restaurant for dessert and cappuccino, or just grab a gelato and wander.

5. Be a tourist. Meet after work for an hour at a local art museum, planetarium, arboretum or other local attraction you haven't been to in years.

6. Get active. Being outside is always good for the spirit. Get out without the kids to bike, hike, Frisbee, roller skate, kick a ball around, fly a kite, rent a paddle boat, play tennis, shoot hoops or just take a stroll along a body of water.

7. Wine taste without the winery. Buy a few new wines on your way home, then cover them with paper bags and stage an impromptu wine tasting. Be sure to have paper and pencils on hand to write down your ratings and compare notes. Cheers!

8. Book it. Check your local listings for author readings at bookstores, a great (and free!) one-hour date. Or, just wander the shelves and talk about your favorite books of all time.

9. Do a day date. Escape the office and meet up for a nice lunch, or hit a weekend brunch while the kids are occupied. Bonus: You'll actually stay awake!

10. Spa a deux. Meet at a nearby spa and get a couples massage or a mani-pedi together. You'll both feel pampered and you'll still have time to chat.

11. Picnic at home. Spread a blanket, get some great wine and cheese, and have a picnic in your backyard — or right in the middle of your living room floor.

12. Be a kid. Indulge your inner teenager by hitting an arcade, laser tag center, amusement park or mini-golf course and blowing off steam — together. Eat popcorn and drink a slushie. Win a giant stuffed animal. Go home happy! (Just don't tell the kids where you were.)