Before you consider the suggestions below, start by asking yourself how and why you met and connected in the first place: Do you both love biking? Or Shakespeare? Or a local band? Movies and concerts can be easy points of common interest, but they can also be drawn out, which doesn’t give you a lot of time to talk and get to know the person you’re on a date with. Here are some ideas to help expand your dating palette:

Winter weather tends to drive us indoors in search of something warm and cozy, but don’t think that’s the only place to meet a woman for a first date. There is something invigorating about heading outside to brave the elements for awhile, especially while re-living a bit of childhood fun, perhaps making a snowman and throwing a few snowballs. Having a warm place to go afterward for hot chocolate makes it all the more rewarding and romantic. Ideas for dates: Ice Skating, Snowshoeing, Hiking, Skiing, and Sledding.

Embarrassed that you couldn’t explain the difference between Manet and Monet? Bored out of your mind by minimalist sculpture? Don’t worry, museums can still be great first dates. First, look for local museums that are a little quirkier or more accessible. Science museums (or Zoos), for example, are often full of interactive or funny exhibits that will help make the conversation for you, taking the pressure off of you and your date to figure out what to say. If you want to brave the art world, a lot of museums and galleries feature photography shows, an art form that we can all relate to. While many museums close early, most have one night per week or month where they are open later into the evening.

Most bookstores and universities feature some of the world’s most promising authors and thinkers on a regular basis. A poetry reading might be too esoteric for a first date and that lecture on “ The Impact of Sea Urchins on Climate Change in East Africa” might seem a little dry. But keep your eyes open for provocative orators who might speak to common concerns or interests that you and your date share. Even if it’s not what you expected, at least you’ll have something to talk about afterward and she’ll know you’ve got a curious intellect that goes beyond reality TV.

Local tourist traps are usually anathema to most city dwellers: crowds, annoying vendors, overpriced everything. But many of these destinations have a certain magic that keeps drawing people to them from around the world, whether it is a jaw-dropping view, a historical significance, or a plethora of colorful street performers. A lot of the fun can just be had by taking it all in and letting your urban guard down a little.

There’s no use pretending otherwise: most men still aren’t raised to be handy over a hot stove. But that doesn’t mean your date won’t appreciate the effort, especially if you invite her to help you. You don’t have to start with Crème Brûlée, find an easier recipe for a delicious sounding cake or other treat. (Try www.epicurious.com for ideas.) Go shopping together for the ingredients and then relax together after you put it in the oven. Don’t worry about the end result; it’s really about having a chance to make conversation and make a mess in the kitchen together. There is nothing like getting a little powdered sugar on your face to lighten up a first date.

Walking tours are a great way for you and your date to bond over a little local pride, while discovering the secrets of places you’d otherwise never notice. Once you scratch below the usual tourist offerings, you might find mural walks, cemetery walks, architectural walks, and even tours of local political history or the seedy underbelly of your neighborhood’s past. All of these can be a great way to provoke conversation and find yourself in a new part of town where you can sneak off together and explore on your own.

Look for one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities: helping to clear a nature trail, ushering at a local performance or helping out at a food charity. (Check www.volunteermatch.org for opportunities, wherever you live in the US.) Whatever you find, make sure it’s something you can participate in together. If it goes well you’ll be doing something good for others while doing something good for your dating life at the same time.