Frankly, in the great running history of romance we all have in our heads, another action flick with a side of spaghetti doesn't even register a blip. So, whether you're on your first date, or your 41st, pass on the popcorn. Just check out the ideas below for seven dates that will get your heart pounding in more ways than one.

1. Roller Skating Date

Take your date back to the fifth grade, to a world where glittering disco balls, neon shoelaces, and doing the Y.M.C.A are still cool. Sure, neither one of you will be able to skate backwards, and first-graders hopped up on birthday cake will probably leave you in the dust, but at least you'll know you're hooked up when they turn down the lights for the "Couples Skate." So geek, it's chic. See also Bumper Cars at Amusement Parks.

2. Habitat for Humanity Date

You're not just a great date, you're a great human being! Nothing brings people close together like doing something for others, such as building affordable, accessible housing. You'll be tired, you'll be proud, you'll be an ace with a circular saw. For a project near you, check out www.habitat.org. The atmosphere is great, you can pack your own picnic, and you'll both have the chance to show off your better side. Whether you help out for a single Saturday or dedicate yourself for a lifetime, it will be a date neither one of you will ever forget.

3. Ballroom Dancing Date

With the popularity of crooners on the rise, it only makes sense that ballroom dancing would be making a comeback in a huge way. It's romantic, it's fun, and most girls adore a guy who can really twirl them on the dance floor. Lisa Rinkus of Euroballroom says, "Ballroom dancing is one of the most romantic dates I know of. You can learn a lot about a person by the way they dance."

Not only that, it's a great way to get close (and get your heart pounding) in a non-threatening way. There's nothing that makes a woman swoon like a guy who can cut a rug. Lots of studios have beginner nights and one-time lessons; for a dance studio near you, check out www.havetodance.com which offers links and info on studios in the U.S. and Canada.