First dates suck, it's a fact. Your palms get sweaty, your heart beats faster, you have to rush around and find an outfit that is aesthetically pleasing to both you and (hopefully) your date...it's one big nerve-wracking event that you're hoping turns into a second date.

But honestly, it doesn't have to be that bad...suck it up, wipe off your palms, change out of the badly printed shirt and give some of these a shot, okay?

First Date ideas

Going out to eat...is the perfect first date idea. If you're a self concicious person who's worried about shoveling food into their mouths in front of a new potential partner, or who will order salad so they don't look foolish - cut that out! Girls, guys enjoy a lady who can eat! Why not try an ethtnic cuisine? I love Indian food and most establishments offer a "couples" special for a set price - you'll get to sample different appetizers, soups, salads, main courses and desserts for a reasonable price, and you won't leave too stuffed! Trying Ethiopian food is also an adventurous first date...you get to eat with your hands and you're offered an interesting bread with several sides to choose from on a huge platter.

A movie aint a bad idea either! Sure, you won't get stimulating conversation for a few hours but that's what coffee after the movie is for. Go, sit, get hyped up on caffeine and talk about what you liked and disliked about the film you just saw. You're guaranteed a conversation topic; you might find out you share the same opinion (which is fun) or you might get into a heated argument, which can also be a blast! Who wants a boring partner that's always agreeable anyway?

If you're into art, or your date is - go to an exhibit at a museum. Unless you live in the sticks, most museums have hands on activities, movies and fun things for you to do, and it's pretty much guaranteed an all-day thing. Meet early or some breakfast, and coffee to get you pumped up, and spend the day looking at paintings, or dinosaur artifacts. Sounds good to me..!

Do something hands on: mini golf, bowling, bating cages...these are all fun low-key first date ideas! Grab some beers, get a little competition going, and have a blast. These dates are relatively cheap as well, last only as long as you want them to, and if you can't find anything to talk about, concentrate on kicking your dates ass in bowling.

Go to the bookstore! For a book nerd like me, this is an ideal first date. You can meet, grab a slice of cheesecake and a mocha sit and talk about books, and then send each other on a mission...find a book you think the other would enjoy.

Got pets? Go to the dog park...bonding over your love for animals is an awesome way to start off a potential date. Meet in the morning, let your dogs romp around and find a shady spot to sit, have a smoothie, and get to know each other. If you find the conversation is dwindling you can always take about how awesome your dogs are.

First dates don't have to be awful, and they aren't hard to come up with. Chances are the person you are taking out is just as nervous as you are - so don't sweat it!