n. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, c

Although human courtship is a year-round enterprise, there's still something special about summer. Maybe it's the childhood memory of those long days of freedom, or maybe it's a biological throwback to a time when spring babies had the best chance of survival. But whatever it is, the air is warm, the days are long, and love is in the air.

Summer is a wonderful time for romance--whether you're embarking on a new journey or breathing some extra life into a long-term partnership. To take full advantage of that summertime magic--my apologies to those in the southern hemisphere who will have to file these ideas away for a few more months--here are five unforgettable dates to experience with someone special.

1. Fireworks! Many nations and cultures celebrate various holidays with fireworks throughout the summer season. Never miss a chance to take a date to a fireworks show. Last year I spent the Fourth of July on a lake in a kayak with my own special someone, watching as the fireworks exploded almost overhead. Talk about unforgettable! I can't even begin to describe the sheer awe of the experience.

2. Picnics. People don't seem to picnic much anymore, but I don't for the life of me know why that is. Perhaps in our world of convenience--from fast food to mall shopping--picnics just seem like too much work. Or maybe they've simply fallen out of fashion so they don't often come to mind. But a picnic is much simpler than it may seem, and it's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Pack a blanket and some simple foods, slow down, and spend a summer day back in a time when we weren't ruled by cell phones and time management systems--when people still took the time to dream. The menu is completely up to you: sandwiches are always easy, fruit and cheese can add a romantic touch, antipasto and pasta salads are classic favorites.

Remember, a picnic doesn't have to be fancy to be worthwhile, and a rooftop can be as romantic as a day at the park with the right person. The key is to pick somewhere relatively quiet where you can really talk with one another, preferably with an interesting view. But you can always work with whatever's available. The human heart has a tremendous capacity to see beauty just about anywhere, if you're willing to look through loving eyes.

Just as an example, I once had a New Year's date for which our plans fell apart completely at the last minute. Instead of giving up hope for a special evening, I bought fruit, cheese, deli meats, cookies, and a bottle of champagne from a grocery store and put together an impromptu picnic that we ate on a bedspread in our hotel room. To this day, it remains one of my most cherished New Year's Eve celebrations.

3. Art Exhibits. Even if you're not big on "culture," don't write this one off just yet. Many fine art museums feature tremendous photography exhibits that appeal to a wide audience. You don't have to know anything about art or art history to be fascinated by photographs. Check the "Arts & Entertainment" section of your local newspaper or visit the websites of your local museums to find out what's currently on display.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of an art exhibit as a date is that it gives you a guaranteed topic of conversation. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, cr

the summer season. Never miss a chance to take a date to a fireworks show. Last year I spent the Fourth of July on a lake in a kayak with my own special someone, watching as the fireworks exploded almost overhead. Talk about unforgettable! I can't even begin to describe the sheer awe of the experience.

2. Picnics. People don't seem to picnic much anymore, but I don't for the life of me know why that is. Perhaps in our world of convenience--from fast food to mall shopping--picnics just seem like too much work. Or maybe they've simply fallen out of fashion so they don't often come to mind. But a picnic is much simpler than it may seem, and it's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Pack a blanket and some simple foods, slow down, and spend a summer day back in a time when we weren't ruled by cell phones and time management systems--when people still took the time to dream. The menu is completely up to you: sandwiches are always easy, fruit and cheese can add a romantic touch, antipasto and pasta salads are classic favorites.

Remember, a picnic doesn't have to be fancy to be worthwhile, and a rooftop can be as romantic as a day at the park with the right person. The key is to pick somewhere relatively quiet where you can really talk with one another, preferably with an interesting view. But you can always work with whatever's available. The human heart has a tremendous capacity to see beauty just about anywhere, if you're willing to look through loving eyes.

Just as an example, I once had a New Year's date for which our plans fell apart completely at the last minute. Instead of giving up hope for a special evening, I bought fruit, cheese, deli meats, cookies, and a bottle of champagne from a grocery store and put together an impromptu picnic that we ate on a bedspread in our hotel room. To this day, it remains one of my most cherished New Year's Eve celebrations.

3. Art Exhibits. Even if you're not big on "culture," don't write this one off just yet. Many fine art museums feature tremendous photography exhibits that appeal to a wide audience. You don't have to know anything about art or art history to be fascinated by photographs. Check the "Arts & Entertainment" section of your local newspaper or visit the websites of your local museums to find out what's currently on display.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of an art exhibit as a date is that it gives you a guaranteed topic of conversation. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, c

ell phones and time management systems--when people still took the time to dream. The menu is completely up to you: sandwiches are always easy, fruit and cheese can add a romantic touch, antipasto and pasta salads are classic favorites.

Remember, a picnic doesn't have to be fancy to be worthwhile, and a rooftop can be as romantic as a day at the park with the right person. The key is to pick somewhere relatively quiet where you can really talk with one another, preferably with an interesting view. But you can always work with whatever's available. The human heart has a tremendous capacity to see beauty just about anywhere, if you're willing to look through loving eyes.

Just as an example, I once had a New Year's date for which our plans fell apart completely at the last minute. Instead of giving up hope for a special evening, I bought fruit, cheese, deli meats, cookies, and a bottle of champagne from a grocery store and put together an impromptu picnic that we ate on a bedspread in our hotel room. To this day, it remains one of my most cherished New Year's Eve celebrations.

3. Art Exhibits. Even if you're not big on "culture," don't write this one off just yet. Many fine art museums feature tremendous photography exhibits that appeal to a wide audience. You don't have to know anything about art or art history to be fascinated by photographs. Check the "Arts & Entertainment" section of your local newspaper or visit the websites of your local museums to find out what's currently on display.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of an art exhibit as a date is that it gives you a guaranteed topic of conversation. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, c

special evening, I bought fruit, cheese, deli meats, cookies, and a bottle of champagne from a grocery store and put together an impromptu picnic that we ate on a bedspread in our hotel room. To this day, it remains one of my most cherished New Year's Eve celebrations.

3. Art Exhibits. Even if you're not big on "culture," don't write this one off just yet. Many fine art museums feature tremendous photography exhibits that appeal to a wide audience. You don't have to know anything about art or art history to be fascinated by photographs. Check the "Arts & Entertainment" section of your local newspaper or visit the websites of your local museums to find out what's currently on display.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of an art exhibit as a date is that it gives you a guaranteed topic of conversation. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, c

n. Even if you've been in a relationship with someone for years and communicating is easy and natural for you, an art exhibit is always something new to talk about.

And guys, especially if you're with someone new, this is a perfect way to share an emotionally bonding experience--which we women simply swoon over--without needing to talk about anything too personally sensitive. It will start to build that bridge of emotional trust in an interesting and emotionally safe environment. Best of all, she'll feel that you're really treating her to something special, which is a major key to any woman's heart.

4. Fairs and Festivals. Summertime is the season for fairs and festivals of all kinds. Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I can almost guarantee you that there are art festivals, craft fairs, or state fairs within easy reach.

These are slightly less "romantic" than either picnics or art museums, so they can represent a nice choice for those early days of courtship when you want to do something special without coming on too strong. They also represent a wonderfully lighthearted change of pace for a long-term relationship that sees its share of daily routine. Like art museums, they provide plenty of fodder for conversation, and like a good picnic, they'll get you out together into that magical summer sunshine.

5. Meteor Showers. Meteor showers make marvelously romantic excuses for sharing a blanket together on a late summer night. Another of my own most memorable evenings was spent in the middle of a country field, snuggling up to my favorite cowboy in the bed of a pickup truck, watching as one "star" after another streaked across the night sky.

Of course, you don't need a full-blown meteor shower just to sit outside together and watch for falling stars. It's a romantic thing to do on any summer night. But there is something downright mystical about watching one "shooting star" after another, especially when you can catch the natural drama of a fire trail or two. If you've never seen a true meteor shower, it's a phenomenon you really shouldn't miss. What could be better than a night full of wishes to make a dream or two come true!