By Angelica Recierdo, inside columnist

With summer in full swing and temperatures rising, now is the perfect time to throw yourself into a steamy summer fling or heat things up with your significant other. If you’ve got that special someone in your life, don’t waste your time with them on the same,boring dinner-and-a-movie or coffee dates. The city is filled with exciting new places to explore and tons of fun events to attend. Get in touch with your adventurous side and try out some of these less conventional locales for your next date.

1. Explore the Harbor Islands by ferry

-Pack a yoga mat, hiking shoes, picnic basket, blanket and a swimsuit.

-Georges and Spectacle are the most popular of the islands for their proximity and plentiful sightseeing. Four others also offer camping.

-Tickets are $15 and the summer schedule departs every 15-30 minutes from Long Wharf. 

2. Make pottery at the Clay Room

-No need to get dressed up here, you’ll most likely get paint on yourself.

-Think of that scene from Ghost.

-Bring home an extra plate or mug because, honestly, we all need those.

3. Lay in the grass and eat arepas at the Boston Common

-They’re pretty much South American corn cakes that can be sweet or savory.

-This little cart is always parked near the gazebo, and also sells pretzels and lemonade.

4. Go upscale for the night and eat dinner amidst art at the Liquid Art House

-A restaurant so trendy, a waiter told me that the free-range chicken they serve lives better than him.

-The paintings right now feature street artists from around the world and you’re free to walk around and check everything out anytime. The exhibitions also change after several weeks, so the art will most likely be different every time you go.

-The bar is stunning, wrap-around painting, glass everything with a chandelier like you’ve never seen.

5. Take a writing workshop at Grub Street

-Workshops are either a one-day seminar or weekly.

-Finally sit down together and, under the guidance of encouraging and knowledgeable writing instructors, flesh out that story of how you two met.

-Hold back the feeling of wanting to submit it to the Modern Love column.

6. Go to a murder mystery dinner

-Dinners are hosted at the Hotel 140 in Back Bay.

-The script is unpredictable and funny.

-You’ll either be a dynamic investigating duo or fighting over whether the waiter is a suspect or not.

7. Eat “The World’s Best Ice Cream” at Toscanini’s

-There’s usually a line down the street and there is an espresso bar to boot.

-Last time I got Belgian Chocolate and Hazelnut specifically because I knew it would be Nutella-esque and was not disappointed.

-You know how at other places you only get a small because you know you’ll be full and regretful by the end of it? That doesn’t happen here.

8. The Comedy Studio

-It’s in the attic of a Chinese restaurant.

-Scorpion bowls are on the drink menu.

-The lineup is hilarious, especially the host, which is rarely the case.

9. Go mural hunting

-There’s a new one at Northeastern, right on the steps before the Columbus Lot.

-There’s one in every major neighborhood of Boston from Somerville to Jamaica Plain.

-It’s like “I Spy” or “Where’s Waldo?” for adults on the artsy side.

10. Take a pedal boat out on the Esplanade

-$10 cash only per person for a 30 minute ride.

-You’re not going as fast as the kayakers so it’s low-competition and you can take your time and kiss under the bridge.

-It’s essentially like riding a stationary bike with a life vest on, but it’s funny and if you’re dating the right person you know you’ll both get a kick out of it.

Photo courtesy Tim Sackton, Creative Commons