The holiday season is the perfect time to focus on strengthening your bond with your partner. We know firsthand that it can get tricky to keep focus on your relationship when you’re working extra hours to finish out the year, traveling a lot, or focusing on gift giving and visits with others.
Dallas offers countless ways to connect, enjoy, and create meaningful memories together.
Whether you're looking for something adventurous, cozy, or creative, we wanted to help get your juices flowing on some meaningful ideas. Here are 10 things to do in Dallas this holiday season to bring you closer as a couple.
1. Get Cozy with Couples Question Cards
When it’s too chilly to go out, turn a quiet evening at home into a meaningful experience with couples question cards. These decks are designed to spark conversations that deepen your understanding of each other’s thoughts, dreams, and feelings. You might be surprised by what you learn about your partner, even if you’ve been together for years!
A few of our favorites:
Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin question deck
The Gottman Institute’s Salsa Card Deck: prioritizing sex and romance!
Best Self Intimacy deck: meaningful relationship building card deck
2. Explore the Dallas Arboretum Holiday Display
Stroll hand-in-hand through the breathtaking holiday lights and themed displays at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Take your time admiring the sparkling gardens, enjoying hot cocoa, and snapping photos to commemorate the evening. This simple but magical experience is perfect for couples seeking a peaceful and romantic outing.
3. Try a Couples Fencing Class
Sharpen your communication skills—literally! Taking a fencing class together is a unique, fun and energizing way to bond. Fencing requires teamwork, focus, and mutual encouragement, which translates into better communication and cooperation off the mat. Several studios in Dallas offer beginner-friendly sessions, so you’ll laugh, learn, and lunge your way to a stronger connection.
4. Cook Up Fun with a Couples Food Activity
Cooking together is a classic way to strengthen your bond, and Dallas offers plenty of opportunities to do just that. Sign up for a holiday-themed cooking class at a local culinary school or spend a cozy night baking festive treats at home. You could even explore Dallas Farmers Market for unique ingredients to create a memorable meal together.
Sur La Table is offering a bunch of cooking class options this season!
Central Market offers a variety of class options at multiple locations in the metroplex.
5. Try Couples Board Games
Dallas has several board game cafes, like Common Ground Games, where you can try out fun, interactive games designed for couples. Alternatively, stock up on couples-friendly board games at home for those chilly evenings. Games like "Fog of Love" or trivia-style challenges encourage teamwork, strategy, and even a bit of flirtatious competition.
We also like:
6. Take a Holiday Carriage Ride
Transport yourselves to a romantic wonderland with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Dallas’s Highland Park neighborhood, known for its extravagant holiday lights. Wrap yourselves in a blanket, sip on warm drinks, and enjoy the serene beauty of the season together.
Check out Brazos Carriage Rides or DFW Carriages for reservations!
7. Tour Dallas Museums for a Creative Date
Expand your minds and spark inspiration by exploring some of Dallas's renowned museums. From the artistic wonders at the Dallas Museum of Art to the interactive exhibits at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, a museum date encourages thoughtful conversation and shared curiosity.
8. Volunteer Together
One of the most heartwarming ways to connect as a couple is by giving back. Find a local charity or food drive in Dallas and spend time volunteering together. Whether you’re serving meals, wrapping gifts for children, or collecting donations, working side-by-side toward a good cause can deepen your shared sense of purpose and teamwork. This is also a known activity to help with seasonal anxiety and depression.
9. Enjoy a Couples Spa Day
Unwind and reconnect by indulging in a couples spa experience. Many Dallas spas offer packages specifically for two, complete with massages, aromatherapy, and soothing environments to help you relax and recharge together during the holiday hustle.
We’re fans of Riviera Spa and love checking out the variety of local hotels which often offer room + spa packages.
10. Have a DIY Ornament Night
Get creative together with a night of DIY holiday crafting. Head to a local craft store or an organized holiday crafting event, or stay home and make your own ornaments to decorate your tree. This playful, low-pressure activity encourages collaboration and laughter—and leaves you with a keepsake to remember the night by.
Here’s a simple recipe for salt dough ornaments you can make and paint together. (Seriously, crafting can be a bonding a tension-reducing activity for couples!)
Strengthen Your Bond This Holiday Season
From fencing to festive lights, Dallas offers plenty of opportunities for couples to grow closer this holiday season. Whether you're stepping out for an adventurous date or cozying up at home, the key is to be intentional about spending time together and creating experiences that deepen your connection.
Which of these activities will you try first? Let us know in the comments!
Ashley Marie is one of our experienced couples therapists at MLC who specializes in helping couples find creative ways to strengthen their relationships. Learn more about her amazing work with couples at our Dallas office and online.
Liz is the founder of MLC and the host of The Millennial Life Podcast! Want to learn more about how to have a healthier relationship now? Check out Liz’s free relationship e-book on 5 of the most common relationship mistakes we make, and what to do about them.
Click here to download. Here’s to your relationship!