Most people understand that you shouldn't have to spend a lot of money to have a great date. Unless people have lots of money to burn, big-spending is generally reserved for big occasions. The nicest dates are not about money.

Here are some ideas for dating activities that can actually be fairly romantic.

Head to the ocean, a lake, or the local park. Bring a ball, a frisbee, a boomerang (always a challenge to get out of the trees), and/or sit-down games. Stop at the grocery store for the makings of lunch, and store food and drinks in a cooler bag. Stopping for a latte on the way to or from the "picnic", or bringing a couple of coffees and Danishes with you will boost your energy for chasing that boomerang. Have a couple of bottles of bubble stuff or two new kazoos on hand. You'd be surprised at how many laughs kazoos can bring.

Hiking or just planning a long walk to somewhere nice doesn't cost much. Not everyone is the trail type, but many people will enjoy a day out on foot, seeing what there is to see, having a snack here or there, and just being together.

Biking. Whether you look for bike paths in a historic area or just head out to where your heart leads you, riding bikes together can make for really nice time together.

When the season is right, pick apples, blueberries, or pumpkins. Farms that offer apple picking or pumpkin-selecting often have a few other treats, like cider, scones, or pie. It doesn't take a whole day to pick apples, but you can stretch it into a few hours.

When the season and location are right, learn where you can go tobogganning. If you don't own a toboggan you may be able to rent or borrow one.

Find a nice school yard or park, where the tennis or basketball courts don't have a crowd, and practice your tennis or hoop-throwing together.

Spend a day in a city. Find outdoor sites that cost nothing to visit. Learn what museums offer admission free or almost free. Explore particularly nice libraries - always free. If there's a river or lake nearby watch the boats. If there's an airport nearby watch the planes. Find little coffee or sandwich shops where you can eat cheap at outdoor bistro tables.

Find out if there are programs in need of volunteers for a day (or indefinitely if you're in a long-term relationship). Consider spending some time volunteering.

Find out if local high schools or colleges are putting on plays, dance performances, or art exhibits. Tickets to these never cost much, and they can be a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Offer to rake an elderly neighbor's yard or paint a fence. Again, put together some version of a lunch or snacks from the grocery store, and turn it into a picnic.

When the season is right, go ice skating. Rinks don't charge very much, and well frozen ponds and lakes charge nothing.

Decide which game or two you both like, and make those games a regular thing. Add some tea or hot chocolate and some microwave popcorn, and you've got "Game Night". Don't be shy about splitting an order of fried rice or appetizers, or about cutting a grinder/sub sandwich in half if you want an inexpensive meal.

Wherever you go bring a camera. Not only will the camera inspire picture taking, but it will encourage conversation about particularly interesting subjects. Later you can get together to put the pictures in a shared book (or two identical books).

The zoo is a nice place to spend some time. Zoos don't usually charge very much.

Some towns offer outdoor concerts in good weather. Don't worry about whether the music is the genre of your choice. Enjoy the free music and the fresh air.