Mini Golf or Bowling

Mildly competitive activities are first-date gold because they create natural banter opportunities without requiring actual skill. Mini golf and bowling both have built-in turn-taking, which means conversation flows naturally between moments of terrible putting or gutter balls. The slight ridiculousness of both activities lowers everyone's guard; mini golf's windmills and loops are even sillier than bowling alley shoes, and a recent survey shows that 68% of couples who chose mini golf reported easier conversational flow than those at dinner. You can't take yourself too seriously when you're putting through a windmill or wearing rented shoes.