1. Butterfield Farms

Head on out to Oxford’s mecca of all things autumn: Butterfield Farms! While on your date, you can get lost during a corn maze adventure, snuggle up close on the hayride, and get cozy as you make s’mores by the bonfire. If you and your date are looking to get wild, make sure to ask to feed the farm’s cows! It’s a great opportunity for hilarious pictures and you’ll be sure to bond over how many cows accidentally licked you. After all, in the Midwest, nothing says romance like cows and corn.

2. Pumpkin Carving
Maybe it’s the feeling of scooping out handfuls upon handful of pumpkin goop that has the power to bring out the inner kid in the best of us, or maybe we never really grew up. Either way, this date idea is a great opportunity to be creative, playful, and even get a little messy. If you think your date has a sense of humor, go ahead and fling a bit of that orange pulp his way and see what happens! If he laughs it off, great he’s got a sense of humor. If he gets upset, smashes his pumpkin and storms out, then you should probably cancel date number two. And if he throws a handful back at you, watch out, because you might have just met your match!

3. Haunted House

As someone who once volunteered at a haunted house, I can attest that to the fact that this is a great way for couples to get closer. If you don’t trust my opinion, have no fear (pun intended). It has been scientifically proven that scaring your date can help him or her fall for you. According to DePaul University, the phenomenon is known as misattribution of arousal, or the tendency to mislabel fear arousal as feelings of romantic arousal. Ironically, the side effects of fear (a warm feeling, increased heart rate, and sweaty palms) are similar to those of romantic interest. So, when your date’s heart starts pumping because of the creepy clown chasing both of you with a chainsaw, he/she is likely convince themselves that you are a heartthrob. 

4. Apple Picking

Go ahead and put on a flannel and head on out to a local orchard. The two of you can enjoy the crisp autumn air as you fill your bags with nature-ripened apples. The organic nature of this date is sure to provide you with laughs, great conversation and a few healthy snacks along the way. When you have had your fill of picking, head on home and bake an apple pie with your sweetie-pie!

5. Scary Movie Marathon

If you’re still looking to take advantage of the effects of misattribution of arousal, but haunted houses aren’t your thing, try a scary movie marathon. Just pop some popcorn, kick back on the couch and watch anything from "The Conjuring" to "Insidious." If you happen to be of the fainter of hearts (like me) kick it old school with a Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus marathon. While this tactic might not be scientifically proven, have a little faith in the magic of Disney Channel Original Movies. 

6. The PSL Coffee Date

Yep, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for: a date that involves pumpkin spice lattes. If you two are just getting to know each other, have been dating for years, or are somewhere in the middle, this date is fool-proof. Take a walk to your local coffee shop, grab a pumpkin spice latte (and maybe a pumpkin muffin or scone or bread #pumpkineverything) and see where the conversation takes you. It's a classic. (And if the date turns out to be a dud, at least you got some free coffee.)

Peace, Love, Pumpkins & Happy Dating.