Yes, evening dates have their charm: Your complexion looks better by candlelight and romance buds naturally after dark with wine involved. But when dueling schedules or a desire to break out of a dinner-date rut occur, a daytime date can be plenty romantic—even spontaneous, stimulating and fun. All you need is a little creative thinking... and on that front, we’ve done the legwork for you. Here are a few ideas for good dates before dusk, some of them directly from the daters who swear by them:

Get inspired by the past
If you both love window-shopping, go vintage shopping with your date for a fun day full of conversation fodder. If you share a flair for decor, hit the mid-century modern furniture stores; if you’re more pop-culture types, browse through the vintage posters and ads at a flea market. And before you say shopping is shallow, consider that going vintage shopping is a great way to learn about someone’s past, as the goods bring up memories of family, childhood, and past cultural references you two might share.

Toast each other at tea-time
Afternoon tea is one of the most elegant date activities possible. High-end hotels in big cities often offer a high tea: Examples include The Mandarin Oriental in New York City, the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, The Brown Palace in Denver, The Ritz in San Francisco, and The Four Seasons Fairmont in Seattle. Or check out English-type spots—Victorian-style bed and breakfasts sometimes serve high tea. It’s a leisurely treat to be served platefuls of scones, tiny sandwiches and yummy sweets, plus it’s less of a commitment than a big dinner, and downright memorable. And think of the bragging rights! "Yeah, on our date this weekend he took me to the Four Seasons."

Sample fun in a basket
If you’re not into eating out or are just bored with the cafes in your town, a picnic lunch is a surefire hit. "Pack a fab lunch, even if you can't cook," says Joel Askin, an event planner in New York. "Any gourmet store will have nice sandwiches and side dishes. Toss ’em in a picnic basket or backpack, and remember the plastic cups, utensils and corkscrew for the wine!" Potential locations are a park, the zoo (nothing bonds two people like happy monkeys), or a local botanical garden.

Get cultured at a museum...
... But avoid the usual suspects. You’ve both been to the Victorian Painters room too many times and feigning interest is hardly in the recipe for "fun." So pick an exhibit that’s a little offbeat, like a photographer neither of you have heard of or a silent-film showing. Check out your local historical society. These small sources often possess offbeat gems. Or go for a museum whose entire theme is odd, like the Mutter Museum (www.collphyphil.org/mutter.asp), in Philadelphia, which specializes in medical oddities, or the traveling Bodies exhibit (www.bodiestheexhibition.com). Hey, it’ll give you something to talk about...

Rediscover your hometown
In the flurry of our daily routines and comfort zones, we sometimes forget to discover the charming parts of our hometowns. "Find something in your hometown that you wouldn't normally take the time to do," says Askin. "The local country fair, the pickle contest, tubing on the river in the summer or down the slope in the winter." Or check with the local visitors’ bureau to discover unusual tours, such as haunted historical mansions, old cemeteries, or ethnic eateries.

Take a late lunch
There’s nothing like a late lunch to make yourself feel like your life is downright luxurious. Robison recommends a late (as in after 2 p.m.) lunch at a French cafe. "You could still enjoy some steak frites and a good bottle of champagne during the lunch rush, but the key is leaving in the late afternoon." Not only is that perfect for a long conversation, but it’s quieter than a crowded restaurant on a Saturday evening, where you might have to scream at each other over the dinner rolls.

Play a love note
If you’re both music lovers, visiting a bunch of record stores is a great anchor for a daytime date. From The Beatles to ABBA, there’s bound to be some lyric-reciting going on as you thumb through the shelves. And if things go well, you’ve got an easy segue to continue the date more intimately. "After hitting the music stores, you could go back to your place to play the tunes," says Eric Robison, a real-estate salesperson in Seattle, WA. Even if it doesn’t get that far, pair it with a cup of coffee and some cake, and you’ve got a fun afternoon.

Freelance writer and editor Stephen F. Milioti contributes to New York and Salon.