BREAKAWAY’S DATING SURVIVAL GUIDE
Dating shouldn’t trigger more fear than a trip to the dentist’s office. If you’re going to date, get off the emotional rollercoaster! We’ve filled these pages with dating tips, stuff to avoid, as well as well as creative ideas for just about any occasion.

by Michael and Tiffany Ross

DATES UNDER $20
• Enjoy a kids meal (big-kid style): Whether or not you grew up eating in fast food restaurants, this experience will take you back to your childhood. The meals are relatively small, but the toys have come a long way.

• Ride a bus — anywhere: This date offers a chance to be spontaneous while exploring the world of mass transit. Grab a map and let someone else do the driving. (Don’t forget your cell phone so you can check in with Mom and Dad.)

• Play a mean round of putt-putt: It’s amazingly fun to knock around brightly colored golf balls on artificial grass. Test your skill as you navigate windmills, streams, elephants and any other obstacle that stands in your way.

• Have some major fun at a minor league game: Baseball can be exciting at any level. But it’s great to watch minor league players battle for a spot in the majors. And the roasted peanuts are a must.

ADVENTURE DATES
• Take on a megacoaster: Loop, lunge, plunge, zip, flip, whirl. If your stomach can hold up, it’s an awesome feeling having your mind rattled and your body flung in a zillion different directions. Today’s megacoasters are faster, higher and wilder — not to mention safer — and use the latest computer technology. Some cars run backward, some are suspended below the track, and others blast through dark tunnels with special effects, such as laser shows, smoke and music.

• Become fat-tire fanatics (try mountain biking): While mountain biking is one of those grab-some-wheels-and-JUST-DO-IT sports, our inaugural blaze down a trail as a couple taught us a valuable lesson: (Inexperience + Pride + Pedals) x Tricky Mountain Trails = DISASTER. But you’ll have a great time if you follow two rules of the road: (1) Never tackle more trail than you can handle. (2) Don’t be kamikazes — defined by those in the sport as “idiots who scream down trails, endangering the physical and mental safety of others.”

• Learn to snowboard: If you can resist feeling self-conscious around your date — and count your first day on the slopes as the toughest — the two of you will have a good time mastering this sport together. Snowboarding has a really fast learning curve, especially compared to skiing and surfing.

• Go spelunking: The eerie, alien world of caves is fascinating and packed with mystery and adventure. But beware: Spelunking is an activity that will take you out of your comfort zone as you hike (and sometimes crawl) by the light of a headlamp. Go only with professional guides.

DATES WHILE YOU WAIT
• Make a date with Barnes & Noble: Spend a couple hours at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Family Christian Stores (or one of your other favorite book outlets), and pick out devotional guides for each other. Then linger over a cup of tea or coffee, reading a devotional entry, as well as sharing why you picked this particular book for your date.

• Get grungy for God: If your church hosts a workday, consider volunteering for an afternoon of loving sacrifice. This faith-focused date may involve some humble service: painting the sanctuary, scrubbing floors, cleaning nursery toys. But as you roll up your sleeves and break a sweat with your date, the two of you will have fun serving your church and discovering the depth of each other’s heart for God.

• Host a Super Bowl party: All you need are sodas, snacks, a TV and a bunch of sports-crazed friends. Plan this party with your partner — make it a date! In fact, this is an ideal idea for new couples. (Because it’s a group setting, you don’t have to worry about the awkwardness of a one-on-one date.) Above all, the two of you will share some laughs as you root for your favorite team.

• Distribute some next-to-new care packages. Most of us accumulate more stuff than we need. But isn’t it more fulfilling to give away some of that stuff instead of allowing it to gather dust in some long-forgotten corner of your room? Here’s an idea that lets you and your date bless the life of another with something you no longer need.

DATES YOU’LL HATE
If you’re heading off on a first date, absolutely do NOT . . .

Swim Together
It’s just a good idea to avoid any situation that requires bathing suits. There is no need to make yourself any more self-conscious as you try to make a good first impression.

Eat Spaghetti
Italian restaurants are great for romance and ambiance as long as you don’t try to eat spaghetti in front of your date. There is too much of a risk for slurping or dropping tomato sauce down the front of your shirt.

Go to an “Ex-Date Hangout”
Never make this type of comment on a first date: “Yea, Julie and I used to come here every Friday night,” or “Britney always loved this restaurant’s chocolate malts.”

Watch a “Flesh-Filled” Flick
Carefully choose a movie. At least check out the ratings so you are not bombarded with sex and nudity. It can be very embarrassing as you sit next to someone you are trying desperately to impress.

Go on a “Speedy Date”
Make sure you wisely plan your date. Start earlier than later to allow time for the date to continue if the conversation is going well. Your date might not feel very special if you have to fit her in between your favorite TV show and hanging out with your buddies.

THE ULTIMATE DATING GUIDE!
The Little Book of Great Dates by Michael and Tiffany Ross is a colorful, easy-to-read resource that’s packed with easy to extravagant ideas. You’ll find one at your favorite Christian bookstore.

WHAT GIRLS WANT (GIFTS, THAT IS)

Agonizing over what to get for that special girl in your life but short on cash? Breakaway went right to the source and has the answers you’re looking for. What to give a girl? That’s not such a problem! How about a bouquet of wildflowers? We love flowers — so long as they aren’t tacky plastic ones! Do you draw? Sketches are always nice. What does she collect? Stuffed animals are a winner. A red balloon with her name on it or a pencil is neat. Pick up a seashell or write a poem. Just knowing you care is nice. Jennifer, Hershey, Neb. Girls usually like stuffed animals, inexpensive flowers, cookies and balloons. Skip the cheap jewelry and trinkets. And always remember that most girls just want to spend time with you. Maria, Big Bear Lake, Calif. The type of inexpensive present I like most is a single flower; however, just a compliment can mean more than a gift. Kelly, Clearbrook, British Columbia A stuffed animal, a homemade card, candy or a flower are my favorites. (You don’t have to get a dozen flowers; only one is fine.) Kelly, New Albany, Ind. I love teddy bears! The gift isn’t important; it’s what’s in your heart that counts. I think cards with verses are the nicest gift. And don’t wait for special occasions. Kerrianne, Wandering River, Alberta I love funny items (gag gifts) and little cheap items that have some meaning (like something you both saw that made you laugh and you still talk about). Alicia, Glen Spey, N.Y.