18+ Best Friend Date Ideas That Show Your Bestie You Care
Is your best friend's birthday coming up, or are you just looking for a fun activity to show her just how amazing she is? Having a bestie you can rely on in bad times or share amazing experiences with is something not to take for granted.
If you want to show her how much you care, check out these fun best friend date ideas.
1. Have a Potluck Dinner with Friends
Now’s your chance to demonstrate those advanced culinary skills
No matter what time of year, potluck dinners are popular. There's no better way to show your friend you care than by hosting a dinner or cookout in her honor.
Sometimes the best gift is spending quality time with friends. Everyone can bring a dish so it's easy to plan, and you can play fun games or just spend time chatting under the stars if the weather is nice.
Check out these fun potluck dinner recipe ideas if you don't know what to cook.
2. Take a Road Trip
Make memories to fondly look back on
Another fun activity to celebrate with your awesome friend is to take a road trip. Is there a place your best friend has always wanted to go? Surprise her with a trip to a new place or an old favorite.
3. Spend a Day at a Museum
Take in a piece of history and culture
Does your friend like art or history? Consider taking her to a museum or even to a city with many museums like Washington, DC. You could spend a whole day in the Smithsonian!
A museum trip is a great way to sneak in some learning with your friend and create a memorable experience.
4. Spend an Evening at a Bookstore
Books are a best friend in their own right
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card here
Is your best friend a bookworm? Take her out to dinner and to her favorite neighborhood bookstore. You can also buy your friend a gift card to a bookstore.
Earn cash back on a Barnes & Noble gift card from Gift Card Granny!
5. Take in a Comedy Show
Share a laugh and loosen up
Do you have any comedy clubs near you? Taking your friend to a comedy show is one of the most fun events you can take your best friend to, especially if they are of the opposite sex.
Taking your friend out to dinner and a comedy show is a unique experience he or she will enjoy.
6. Explore Your Own City
An adventure that’s close to home
Most of us don't think of exploring our own city and depending on how big yours is there are probably many activities you've never even done. Or you may have some favorite things to do with friends like kayaking, shopping, going to the aquarium, etc.
Explore the city with your bestie and do a favorite activity or choose something new to do.
7. Have a Movie Night
Movies are better with friends
If you're looking for other fun options to celebrate your friend, either take her out for a movie night or have a movie marathon at home. Is there a film she’s been dying to see playing at one of the movie theaters close to you?
If she is more of a homebody, you can create an awesome movie night with their favorite snacks or meal.
8. Go on a Wine Tasting Adventure
Compare your tastes with your friend
One of the greatest ideas for friend dates is a wine tasting. You can even go out and rent a limo to take you to the various wineries. It would be a fun all-day adventure.
And if your friend doesn't like wine, you could do a brewery tour or make it a restaurant crawl. You probably have several restaurants in your city you've never tried.
9. Go to a Local Event
Who said there weren’t things to do in town?
Many areas have local events you can attend, such as live seasonal festivals, food and wine fairs, and more. Treat your friend to a unique local event out with friends.
Even better yet, you can get creative and take them to a similar event in another town. It can become a yearly event that you add to your calendar. Consider it a vacation you always take with your friend no matter how busy you are.
10. Volunteer in Your Community
There’s always room for an extra pair of helping hands
Is your friend someone who appreciates helping other people and investing time in your community? Then one of the best friend date ideas for them would be to volunteer some time with them at your local animal shelter, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter.
Unfortunately, every community has needs that aren't being met, so you can easily find something to volunteer for.
11. Donate to a Charity
Compassionate friends who want to make a difference
Like volunteering for a charity or community cause, you can gather up clothes or household items and donate them to your local domestic abuse or homeless shelter.
You can also donate supplies to your local animal shelter like food, scratching posts, litter, etc. Most shelters have a list of supplies they need so you can buy things they'll actually use.
12. Treat Them to a Concert
Be the adult your teenage self would be proud of
Going to a concert is another fun thing to do with your closest friends. Are any of their favorite bands playing close to your area? You can even treat them to dinner and a local band concert.
Sometimes popular musicians play at fairs, too, so keep your eyes open for concerts you can take your best friend to.
13. Go to an Amusement Park
Experience life’s greatest thrills together
Amusement parks aren't just fun for kids; adults love them too! Treat your friend to a fun day of thrill rides, shows, delicious food, and more at a theme park.
Some of the top amusement parks include:
- Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio
- Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA or Tampa, FL
- Knott's Berry Farm - Buena Park, California
- Six Flags - In MD, CA, TX, OK, IL, NY, D.C., MA, AZ, and NJ
- Walt Disney World - Orlando, FL
- Universal Studios - Orlando, FL
- SeaWorld San Diego - San Diego, CA
- Silver Dollar City - Branson, MO
14. Take Your Friend Out to a Nice Dinner
Everyone feels better with a full stomach
Sometimes the simplest gift is to take your bestie out to a nice dinner. She may not treat herself often, so this is your chance to do something nice she won't do for herself.
It doesn't have to be too expensive as long as it's somewhere she loves, and it's even better if she doesn't get to go there often. Make an evening out and catch up on some girl time.
15. Food Festival
Bite into the flavor of friendship
Bigger cities usually have food festivals where you can immerse yourself in the food culture of the area. It's a great way to learn more about the different people in your communities and learn more about their histories.
Delight your taste buds by treating your friend to a fun food festival. Examples of popular food festivals in America include:
- Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
- New York Wine and Food Festival
- Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival
- Eat and Drink SF
- Oysterfest Music Festival
- Taste of Vail
- A Taste of Colorado
- San Diego Food and Wine Festival
- Taste of Edmonton
- Bay Bites Food Festival
- 4th of July Barbecue Festival
- Gluten-Free & Allergen Friendly Expo
See if there is a similar special event near your city.
17. Board Game Night
Gather your friends for group fun or try one-on-one
Sometimes quality time with your friend is all she needs. Having a board game night is the perfect idea for an entertaining best friend date night. You can invite a few friends or even play by yourselves for a night of fun.
Playing board games is the perfect idea to relieve stress and have fun without going anywhere and spending money.
18. Create a Friendship Bucket List
This can help make accomplishing your future plans a breeze
What better way to celebrate your friendship than to create a bucket list of the things you want to do together?
Write down all the activities you want to do and places you want to visit, and dedicate some time throughout the year to tackling the things on your bucket list.
19. Go for a Bike Ride or Hike
Nothing like burning calories with your bestie
Does your friend like getting out in nature? Then plan a fun bike ride or hike in a national park or your local park. Sometimes all your friend needs is a way to relieve stress and spend some time with you, so hiking or biking is the perfect activity.
You can take it a step further and make it an overnight or weekend camping trip. If the idea of roughing it in the woods isn't appealing, try glamping instead.
Gift Card Ideas for Your Best Friend
Want to really make your friend’s day? Why not surprise them with a well-picked gift card on top of a fun outing! A gift card for their favorite brand is bound to get you a huge hug filled with gratitude and excitement.
Let’s consider the following popular retailers for gift cards.
1. Michaels
A gift for creative-minded people
If your best friend is someone who has a passion for expressing their emotions through art, then a Michaels gift card should definitely be at the top of your list. This arts and crafts retailer keeps an impressive inventory of products in stock for a variety of different art projects. Acrylic and oil paint, frames, beads and crystals, needlework, quilting supplies, bakeware, and art easels are only a fraction of the products you can find at your local Michaels.
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2. Harry & David
Because spoiling yourself is necessary
Giving your bestie a gift basket is an easy yet thoughtful way to show how grateful you are for their presence in your life. A gift basket from Harry & David is sure to make their face light up like a Christmas tree, especially when they get to pick their preferred gourmet products to ensure they get a basket full of exactly what they want.
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3. The Cheesecake Factory
You’ll want to take a bite out of everything on this menu
Buy a gift card to The Cheesecake Factory
Grabbing a bite to eat with your best friend is one of life’s simple joys; there’s nothing like catching up over a good meal with one of the people you care about the most. And when the restaurant the two of you decide on happens to be The Cheesecake Factory, you know you’re in for a world mouth-watering delights. Whether it’s for lunch, dinner, or just desserts, a forkful of something tasty is never far from your lips.
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4. Baskin Robbins
A scoop for every occasion
Buy a Baskin Robbins gift card
Ice cream is the perfect treat for any day of the week. Commemorating a special occasion? Ice cream. Down in the dumps? Ice cream. Need to satisfy your craving for a chilled treat? Ice cream, obviously.
Baskin Robbins is a staple ice cream retailer with locations all across the country. They have tons of delicious flavors to choose from such as classic chocolate, butterscotch, cotton candy, and butter pecan. Along with specialty cakes, pies, and other baked goodies, Baskin Robbins should be able to satisfy your sweet tooth with ease.
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5. Mastercard
Low on cash? Don’t sweat it
Your friend doesn’t need any grand gesture from you to know how much you care about them, but the occasional present doesn’t hurt, especially when it comes by way of a Mastercard gift card. Use it almost anywhere on nearly anything – it’s like magic in the form of a plastic card. It won’t weigh your wallet down like cash and coins, so it is a great gift for folks who prefer a minimalist lifestyle.
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Final Thoughts on Best Friend Date Ideas
The whole purpose behind the best date night ideas for your closest friends is to let them know you care and help them have a little fun. Whether that's getting out into nature, laughing at a comedy show, riding thrill rides, or something else, treat your friend to something fun.
And consider making it a regular event that you both look forward to, whether that's monthly or yearly. Commit to it no matter how busy the two of you get.
Which best friend date idea interests you the most?