93% Seek Adventure-Based Alternatives to Traditional Dates

American daters say they are no longer satisfied with traditional-style date nights. Among the more than 1,000 people surveyed recently, 93% said they are tired of lackluster conversations, the oh-so-familiar dating app cycle, and the boring “Let’s get drinks” dating experience, according to a Virgin Experience Gifts study.

Instead, they’re seeking literal thrills in addition to emotional ones. 

As dating professionals, we know singles are craving exciting ways to gauge chemistry and bond in offline settings. Injecting adrenaline into traditional date ideas is an increasingly popular way to meet these demands.

Dating platforms, matchmakers, and coaches can suggest thrill-based connections for a modern twist on traditional date formats. 

Travel, too, is not a typical dating experience early in a relationship, but according to Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for Going, it’s something more daters are open to exploring.

“Dating today feels very much gamified, while travel still feels very grounding,” Nastro told DatingNews. “Combining the two would capture not just an audience, but an opportunity for greater connection.”

Adrenaline Dates Can Jump-Start Stagnant Relationships

Showing off how tough you are isn’t the point of an adrenaline date (though it is a nice perk). 

As Nastro described, it’s the “need for human connection” — stronger now than ever thanks to the time we all spent isolating ourselves during the pandemic — that has made “more and more singles [seek] out opportunities to connect offline and in-person through activities like sports and community groups.”

The value of these in-person activities is how they can spur interesting conversations and deepen vulnerability. 

Dating professionals can use their expertise to provide these types of experiences for clients. After all, turning an ordinary date into a memorable experience is a simple, and even rewarding, way to encourage connection.  

“Taking an already stressful scenario [the date] and making it shared in a way is an instant bonding mechanism,” Nastro explained. “You’ll likely always remember the first date where you ended up white water rafting!”

More than 80% of daters surveyed by Virgin Experience Gifts took this a step further, saying that adrenaline dates actually push a relationship forward and help avoid stagnancy. 

Half of the survey’s respondents said they’ve been on dates that were ruined by awkward conversation, and 35% blamed cellphones for being a source of distraction. Both of these scenarios can be avoided by more stimulating activities that dispel awkwardness and encourage relaxation and vulnerability. 

When daters are in the zone during a go-cart race, proving their bravery on a zip line, or gripping their partner’s hand while on an amusement park rollercoaster, it’s hard for them to feel awkward. Surveyed respondents ranked these three activities — amusement parks (55%), zip-lining (39%), and go-cart racing (35%) — as the most popular.

Adventure Provides Insight into a Person’s Character

The merit of adventure dates goes beyond merely avoiding boredom or encouraging bonding. Adventure dates can provide important insight into a date’s behavior, according to the Virgin Experience Gifts survey: 

“Whether it’s flying experiences, go-kart racing, or tackling an escape room, these kinds of dates offer a window into how a potential partner handles pressure, solves problems, and supports others,” according to the site. 

Respondents agreed that adventure dates can reveal a few pivotal qualities in a date: 55% said it reveals whether someone is calm under pressure; 51% said it’s a good gauge of playfulness; 49% said it reveals how brave someone is; and another 49% said it reveals problem-solving skills.

Forty-two percent pointed out that adrenaline dates also force both participants to be vulnerable, exposing a side of themselves that otherwise would not have come out until later in the relationship.

This jibes with the Gen-Z “vulnerability is key” mindset. Almost all (98%) of surveyed respondents in that age group said they were excited about adrenaline dates. The clear benefits of adventurous dates puts the onus on app developers and dating professionals to make non-traditional date options available to singles. 

And the need for non-traditional dating experiences goes further than simple offline connections (although restaurant dinners, nature walks, and coffee dates are still Americans’ favorite traditional date ideas). 

Forty-two percent of Gen Z daters said skydiving would build connections better than other adventure dates, suggesting that today’s daters aren’t only interested in offline connections, but in offline connections that quickly sort the timid from the bold — and become unforgettable experiences. 

Travel is a Thriving Form of Adrenaline Dating 

Whether they’re going on a trip with a new partner or seeking love while solo traveling, today’s daters sometimes turn to travel to spice up their love lives. “I definitely see an opportunity for travel providers to capitalize on this growing desire to meet IRL,” Nastro told DatingNews. 

After all, “the desire to seek out experiences when traveling” — including romantic ones — “is not going anywhere,” she added. 

Of the adventurous date ideas listed by Virgin Experience Gifts, most are great excuses to travel: Surfing, jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving, rock climbing, and ATV riding are popular possibilities. They’re also ways for travelers to leave their comfort zones while exploring new areas, according to Nastro. 

“There are definitely in-market opportunities for people who are looking to date while traveling,” she said. “A travel provider might try to capitalize on this by creating experiences geared towards first dates, blind dates, or offering services to ensure the travelers feel safe while attempting to meet someone in the market.”

The survey also found that 96% of millennial respondents said they are as excited about adrenaline dates as Gen Z (98%). Even 3 out of 4 baby boomers in the survey said they are willing to find out what adventurous dates have to offer. 

That’s good news because more brands are “trying to find ways to authentically personalize their target audience’s experience,” said Nastro.

As Virgin Experience Gifts wrote, “The rush of trying something new together creates shared memories that last long after the initial thrill fades.”