Going on a first date can sometimes be a lot like taking a test drive in that shiny new car that caught your eye. It’s fun, exciting and promising but if things don’t run smoothly the first time around, there’s a pretty good chance that you won’t be driving it off the lot again anytime soon.

As intimidating as this thought may be, there is no need to agonize over a first date. A little bit of planning can go a long way to ensure that your first date goes as smoothly as possible. Since there is no way of knowing whether or not there will be a love connection between you and your date, it is probably a good idea to keep things simple and friendly.

An ideal first date would consist of two strangers enjoying each other’s company and getting to know a bit more about what makes the other tick. Unfortunately, however, first dates are rarely ever ideal. It’s easy to get nervous and shy, which can quickly turn a first date into a truly awkward experience and leave little, if any, room to get to know one another very well. Avoiding a first date disaster is often just a matter of choosing the right activity.

When most people think of potential activities for a first date, the typical dinner and a movie scenario usually comes to mind. As classic as this concept may be, it isn’t necessarily conducive to a successful first date. Rather than devote two or more hours of your attention to a big screen, consider planning an activity that allows you and your date to do something a little more interactive together.

Daytime events will help to ease some of the inevitable first date pressures and keep the atmosphere a bit more casual. Following are some suggestions for fun and friendly afternoon adventures that might help you to make your first date a success.

· Monkey Business – Take your date to the local zoo and spend the day exploring creatures of the jungle and if things go well, maybe a little bit of each other too.

· Appetite for Love– Plan to share a meal with your date. Arrange a casual afternoon picnic in a local, scenic park. Perhaps bring along a bottle of wine or champagne to help break the ice a bit. If you’d prefer something simpler, you might try meeting up at a local hot spot for lunch, coffee or ice cream.

· Fair Game – Fairs and festivals can be great fun for a first date. Playing midway games and going on Ferris wheel rides can help keep the atmosphere light and fun.

· Mini Golf – You don’t have to be a professional golf player to have some fun on the green. Mini golf is a fun way to get to know each other.

· Crafty – If you and your date have a common interest or hobby, pay a visit to your local craft store and choose an afternoon project to work on together.

· Bowling – This is one classic game that always makes for a great first date. Don’t let the tacky shoes deter you and your date from having some good old-fashioned fun.

· Class Act – What better way to get to know each other than to learn something new together? Check your local listings and sign up for a cooking class, a salsa class or whatever strikes your fancy.

· Artsy – Visit a local museum or check out an art show or poetry reading in your area.

· Make a Difference – If you and your date are passionate about the same causes, set up a volunteer date. Working together for a worthy cause is a great way to get to know each other better and do some good in the process.

· Treasure Hunting – Take your first date on a treasure hunt. Hit up all the local yard sales and see what interesting knick-knacks you come across. If there are no sales going on, you can take a trip to your local flea market. To keep things interesting, you could prepare a scavenger hunt list for each other and see who is first to collect all of the items.