A New Kind Of Personality Test: What Your Dream Date Says About You

Visit A Local Fair

When's the last time you and your friends visited a local fair? If you have to think about it, that means it's been a while and that's expected when your schedules are super busy. But, we think it's time to go back to the basics and let your inner kids play.

Whether you throw your hands in the hair as the ferris wheel goes around or decide to stuff your face with fair foods like funnel cake or smoked turkey legs, you're guaranteed to have a great time.

Go Thrift Shopping

Instead of going to a crowded mall this summer, plan a friend date at one of your local thrift stores. There's always hidden gems if you're willing to look for them and all the eclectic pieces you find can make for fun stories.

Also, you may be able to find cute decor that ranges from kitschy to boho without having to spend over $100 (IYKYK).

Take A Dance Class Together

Have you and your friends been looking for a fun way to work out after your Pilates class mishap? Tray taking a dance class together!

It's one of the best ways to stretch your muscles and move your body. Plus, there's music involved! We're a little biased, but we think dance classes tend to have the best tunes. If you're lucky, your dance class instructor may share some inspo for your at-home workout playlist!

Try A New Brunch Spot

If you and your friends are mad because your favorite brunch spot has started watering down its bottomless mimosas, it's time to search for a new one! Honestly, this is one of the best friend date ideas you can do this summer because food and tasty drinks always opens the door for amazing conversations.

We don't make the rules, but we sure live by them!

Have A Fun Photoshoot For Your Friend's Birthday

There's always that one friend in the group who swears they don't care about doing anything big for their birthday. You can respect their wishes by keeping things low key with a planned photoshoot that includes your closest friends!

You can go to a studio if you choose, but you can also set up a backdrop in your living room or backyard!

As for the friend who's celebrating their birthday, they'll cherish the fun photos you take.

Enjoy A Concert In The Park

We just had to include an outdoor concert on our list of friend date ideas because they're the key to making core memories. Watching over people literally bond over music — from non-stop singing or dancing — is something we'll never get over TBH.

Explore A New Part Of Town

This is one of those friend date ideas where you don't have to spend money if you don't want to. It's more about finding new places to explore if you've grown tired of sticking to one side of town.

There's always new vintage spots, food trucks, shopping plazas, and bookstores to be found if you're willing to do a little hunting.

Host Sip And Paint Party At Home

Not in the mood to be around people you don't know? Grab some art supplies and wine, call your friends up, and host your very own sip and paint party at your apartment.

It doesn't have to be a competition, just you and your friends laughing uncontrollably as you try to recreate an image.

Chicken Tikka Masala Naan Tacos

With this Indian take on tacos, you can customize to your preferences. Like it spicy? Add more chili. Like it saucy? Drizzle on that mint yogurt dressing, and dig in! (via Brit + Co)

Pasta with Pancetta and Tomato Sauce

Have your own Lady and the Tramp moment with this pancetta twist on your standard spaghetti. Date night is served! (via Brit + Co)

This tasty dish requires very little introduction. Tacos? Always. Carnitas? Yes, please. Done in under an hour? Duh. Plus the Instant Pot version beats slow-cooking it by a mile. (via Brit + Co)

Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka

The secret to this one-pot pasta from Half Baked Harvest? Basil pesto, and plenty of cheese on top. (via Brit + Co)

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

With a cast-iron skillet, store-bought dough and all the cheese you can imagine, you can easily make delicious pizza at home for the fraction of the price. Just add your favorite toppings! (via Brit + Co)

One Pot Chicken Couscous

This deliciously vibrant meal will impress your taste buds, and it's ready in just 30 minutes. (via Brit + Co)

Cheesy Garlicky Pasta

Spaghetti, when twirled in golden-brown garlic and hot olive oil, becomes perfectly coated in a simple mixture of spicy red pepper flakes, tangy lemon juice, and salty Parmesan cheese. Top your bowl with parsley and extra Parm, and you have dinner on the table (or the couch) for two. (via Brit + Co)

French Dip Sandwiches

Keep it casual with a fancy sandwich night. We love a good reason to use our Instant Pot, and this French Dip sandwich is better than most. Juicy and delicious, it's comfort food at its best! (via Brit + Co)

The Perfect Steak Recipe

With minimal seasoning and the right equipment, you can make a delicious steak that's seared to perfection in under five minutes. (via Brit + Co)

Vegetable Galette

Pre-made pie dough FTW! Add asparagus, leek, and Swiss chard for a seriously delish meal experience for you and your love. (via Brit + Co)

Pressure Cooker Chicken Pho

It can easily take 10 hours just to make broth for pho, but with the help of a pressure cooker, it can be ready in under an hour. It's fun to make — and to eat too! (via Brit + Co)

Cauliflower Rice Sushi

Full of color and flavor, there's just something about sushi recipes that our tastebuds love. Grab a handful of veggies and your favorite chopsticks, and try your hand at rolling your own sushi with a yummy cauliflower rice twist. (via Brit + Co)

Grilled Umami Burgers

When we sunk our teeth into the world-famous Umami Burger that's served in dining locations as far as Japan, it was love at first bite. Every component, from the Parmesan crisp to the caramelized onions to the seared patty itself, bursts with savory flavor — and now you can make it at home with this recipe from the cookbook Flavor Bombs: The Umami Ingredients That Make Taste Explode. (via Brit + Co)

Roasted Salmon Nicoise

Roasted Salmon Nicoise

With the success of our one pot wonders like Skillet Pan Pizza, we are pleased to introduce our next dish, Roasted Salmon Nicoise. While our pizza recipe was fun, our salmon is a decidedly fancier take on the one pot wonder. (via Brit + Co)

Deep Fried Oysters

Oysters are a little bit like eggs – they can be served so many different ways. There's the classic raw oyster, salty and delicious. Then there's the barbecued oyster, so tasty with toppings. We can't forget the oyster Rockefeller, baked with cheesy deliciousness. Here's one breaded in chips and deep fried, like a dessert and an appetizer in one. (via Brit + Co)

Instant Pot Paleo Orange Chicken

Skip your usual Chinese takeout and try our paleo version of the classic American-Chinese dish orange chicken. It's like bringing the restaurant to you – yum! (via Brit + Co)

Lemony Shrimp Linguine with Spinach

Lemony Shrimp Linguine With Spinach

With a little more effort (and not that much more time), it's possible to cook up a complete pasta meal (as in veg, protein, and carb) in one pot. Here's proof! (viaBrit + Co)

Honey Mustard Chicken

Do a bit of arranging, brushing, and drizzling, then let the oven take care of the rest of the work to create a dinner that's sure to end up on the regular recipe rotation! We use chopped potatoes, carrots, and red onion in this recipe, but you could easily replace with baby new potatoes, baby carrots, and shallots or scallions to skip the knife work! (via Brit + Co)

Pesto Pasta Smoked Salmon

Pesto Pasta Smoked Salmon

For this one-pot meal, we're also adding mascarpone, asparagus and smoked salmon to give this pesto/spaghetti dish a luxurious feel. An amazing 20-minute meal, made in one pan — you don't even need dishes! (via Brit + Co)

Tilapia Fish Tacos

One bite of these flavorful and crispy fish tacos, and you'll be hooked. (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Tomato and White Bean Casserole

This vegan bite delivers a harmonious mix of veggies for a filling meal for two. (via Brit + Co)

Venice, Italy

Bali, Indonesia

Once an idyllic paradise, Bali now suffers from traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and overcrowded beaches. The island’s resources are strained under the weight of mass tourism, but there are efforts underway to promote sustainability like putting a moratorium on new hotels.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Overtourism has led to erosion and damage to this ancient Incan citadel. A quota system and mandatory guides are helping preserve this popular South American destination.

Tulum, Mexico

Once a tranquil paradise known for its pristine beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, and eco-chic vibe, Tulum has become a cautionary tale of overtourism. The surge in popularity, fueled by Instagram-worthy scenery, has brought overcrowding, environmental strain, and rising costs. The Guardianreported that locals are being pushed out by developers and despite the thinking that tourism helps local communities, poverty nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020. Local ecosystems, including fragile mangroves and coral reefs, are threatened by unchecked construction and pollution too. The local ruins have implemented stricter rules like no food or drink to limit trash and environmental impact from tourists.

Santorini, Greece

Instagram fame has turned this once-serene island into a tourist hotspot. Narrow streets are perpetually clogged, and locals are struggling with soaring costs of living due to tourism demand. The government has since capped the number of daily cruise ship visitors to keep overtourism at bay.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Known for its colorful cliffside villages and breathtaking coastal views, these once-quiet fishing towns now see millions of visitors annually, way more than they can handle. To combat issues like congestion and cruise ships, local authorities have introduced visitor caps and encourage sustainable travel to protect Cinque Terre’s charm.

Reykjavík, Iceland

Is there anyone not going to Iceland these days? A small country with breathtaking landscapes, Iceland has been overwhelmed by tourists flocking to Instagram-famous sites like the Blue Lagoon and Diamond Beach. It's best to travel during the off season (November to April) and travel to lesser known spots like the Sturlungalaug hot spring.

Maya Bay, Thailand (Phi Phi Islands)

This iconic beach, popularized by the DiCaprio film The Beach, suffered ecological devastation from hordes of visitors and anchored boats. Coral reefs were destroyed, and the beach was closed for years to allow recovery. It has since reopened after a huge revitalization project, but they have introduced visitor caps.

Kyoto, Japan

Traditionally quiet streets of this ancient capital city now teem with tourists during peak season. An increase in litter from tourists has required the city to install more trash bins to handle the crowds, and peaceful geishas are often chased down for photos. To mitigate the problem, Kyoto is considering running special buses to popular sites to reduce overcrowding, and temples and shrines are encouraging visitors to come early in the morning.

Mount Everest, Nepal

The ultimate challenge for adventurers, Mount Everest has experienced overcrowding on the slopes and at base camps, leading to dangerous conditions, with litter and human waste piling up on the mountain. Permits are now harder to get, and stricter regulations for climbers are being enforced.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Game of Thrones effect brought an influx of fans to this medieval city. Overcrowded streets and cruise ship arrivals have made it difficult to appreciate its beauty. The local government is taking steps to limit daily visitors and impose stricter cruise ship regulations.

Lisbon, Portugal

Short-term rentals dominate the housing market now, thanks to affordable flights and the digital nomad craze. This has led to skyrocketing rents and displaced locals. Historic neighborhoods are inundated with tourists, making them less charming too. Everything from public transport to waste management struggles to keep pace with the influx. I went in December and it still felt a bit like Disneyland. Douro Valley and Madeira might be more favorable destinations any time of year.