Guest Author - Previous BellaOnline Editor

When you don’t have kids, you can do just about anything you want at a moment’s notice.

So here are some fun ideas for couples to try this summer!

1. Pack a picnic and head out to the nearest park! My husband and I have a favorite tree at a local park that we love to spread a blanket under and enjoy a picnic lunch. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but then again, it could be. You can splurge on some fancy cheeses and gourmet crackers. Or you can keep it simple with sandwiches and chips. Whatever you feel like doing!

2. Check out your local nature center or zoo for romantic evening activities. You can often find moonlit walking paths, jazz concerts, and cocktail parties at places like that.

3. Does the symphony orchestra closest to you have a summer series of concerts? Check their schedule and buy some tickets. Some have outdoor venues where you can come early with a picnic.

4. Find a restaurant near the water and get a table out on the deck. Even if it is only the next town over, I always feel like I am a million miles away from home!

5. Go hiking. Or take a walk or bike ride on a local path. Stop for some ice cream when you’re done!

6. Do you have a deck? A porch? A patio? Change things up a bit and have a candlelit dinner outside. Buy some pretty lights to jazz up your outdoor space. Find a couple of slow jazz CDs and turn it up so you can hear it outside. Linger after dinner over some wine.

7. Use your grill to make something more than just hot dogs and hamburgers! What about whipping up some grilled tomato salsa? Experiment with recipes. Try some grilled pound cake and banana skewers topped with vanilla ice cream. Or make a grilled pizza. A gourmet meal can make any night feel special!

8. Pretend you’re a teenager again and go to your county or state fair at night! Play games on the midway, eat some yummy carnival food, and go for a spin on the ferris wheel.

9. Spend a lazy summer afternoon at home. Buy an oversized hammock for two, grab a book, and whip up some homemade lemonade from scratch. It’s sometimes the most fun to do nothing at all…

10. Go to bed early! I love to cuddle with my husband in the twilight of a summer sunset, with the breeze blowing through the window of our bedroom. Let your imagination run wild…