craftyaggie said:
Here to offer a female perspective:
If you don't know each other at all, a quick coffee date is excellent. It gives you both an "out" if the date sucks.
If you maybe know each other through a friend or have been chatting prior, a brewery or wine bar. Plenty of room to extend the date if it's going well but also easy enough to have a drink or two and be done without it being awkward.
Activities are great as long as she knows in advance so she can dress accordingly. Putt putt golf, indoor rock climbing, watching a football game at a bar if you share a love for the same team, wine tasting, one of those things where you pedal around and drink at the same time with a group of people, bowling, a bar with arcade games, tons of options!
But I guess take my answer with a grain of salt because I haven't been on a first date since 2016.
I wonder if username checks out?