Summer time is in high gear, and that means plenty of opportunities to get “out and about” to meet other singles. Online dating services are of course a great way to meet up with someone whose interests match with your own, but there will always be a role for in person, face to face interactions when it comes to the dating world.

That’s why Match.com conducted its annual Singles Summer Travel Survey to find the very best places for singles to travel this year if they want to find lots of opportunities to meet other singles.

And this year’s winner? Miami, Florida, of course! Who wouldn’t want to take a summer trip to this beautiful city which is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere?

In fact, it is the availability of beautiful beaches that most singles say is one of the major deciding factors in their choosing of a summer vacation destination. A great beach is a “must have” for over 70% of the singles who responded to the survey, with a great swimming pool coming in a distant second with about 43% of the singles saying it was a “must have” for them.

If you can’t make it to Miami this year, though, take heart because there are a number of other great beach destinations that are also top picks for singles. These include Manhattan Beach, California; Waikiki Beach, Hawaii; and South Padre Island, Texas. So wherever you might be, there’s a great beach near you for meeting and connecting with other singles this summer!

News & Views Holidays, Match.com, Summer, Survey

Erin go braugh, Ireland forever, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is a holiday just made for parties, filled with drinking green beer and hanging out with friends. It seems everyone is “Irish for a day” on St. Patrick’s Day, making it one of the top reasons (or excuses, depending on your perspective) to go out and have fun.

Unlike many other holidays where the emphasis is on that “special someone” (think Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and of course Valentine’s Day), the very nature of St. Patrick’s Day is all about having fun, fun, and more fun. This makes it a terrific opportunity for singles to get out of the house, get out on the town, and simply enjoy themselves for the evening.

If you’re not sure where to go or what to do on St. Patrick’s Day, a quick look through the local paper or events calendar should be all it takes to find something appealing. Many communities have activities underway all day long, from fun runs in the morning to parades in the afternoon to concerts, dances, and beer gardens in the evening and into the night. Grab a friend (or even better, a group of friends) and head out to whatever event or activity strikes your fancy. Approach the evening as a chance to relax and have fun without the pressure of being on a date or having to interact with just one person. Laugh, play, dance, sing karaoke….whatever you want to do because it’s a day to celebrate the spirit and joyous approach to life of the Irish people.

Just remember, if you’re planning to drink alcohol don’t drive; designate a driver to make sure everyone can have a terrific time and get home safely at the end of the evening!

News & Views Fun, Holidays, Irish, Party

You’ve made it through the holiday season and into the New Year, a period of time that is often quite difficult for singles and online daters. All of that pressure to “find someone special” can make what are supposed to be happy times into depressed and unpleasant times.

But now it’s February and those dismal, depressed times should be long gone, right? Wrong! Just because the holidays are over does not mean online daters aren’t still feeling the winter blahs. It’s still getting dark early, the weather is still pretty crummy, and it’s still hard sometimes to find yourself looking for dates and feeling quite alone.

So what can you do to overcome these winter dating blahs? As it turns out, plenty!

Keep to a routine – Establish a routine and stick to it because this kind of structure has a positive effect on your mood. The best routines include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and getting enough sleep each night.

Keep your friends close – The winter blahs are all about feeling a lack of energy, so fight them off by keeping in contact with your friends who energize you. Talk regularly on the phone, set up regular coffee or lunch dates, and make sure you have regular contact with those people who are most energizing and fun to be around.

Practice optimism – It’s easy to get “stuck” in negativity during the winter months; it’s too hard to find dates, the weather is too ugly to go outside, and the like. Remember, though, that the power of positive thinking and optimism are real. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of what you’re feeling and experiencing, make a point of paying attention to the positive aspects of your life. It sounds silly, but it really does work.

Dating Essentials Depression, Friends, Holidays, Winter