If you’ve never tried bird watching, don’t write it off yet. Not just for the avid biologist, bird watching is a brilliant way to slow down and focus not only on nature but also on your loved one. As you grab your guidebook and quietly keep your eyes and ears open, you’ll begin to experience a pace that will put you and your date in tune not just with the natural world but with each other.

There’s no better place to bird watch than the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, located on beautiful Plum Island. Grab your binoculars and look for charming songbirds, majestic waterfowl, and the quirky hop of the piping plover. However, don’t keep your eyes locked on the sky; make sure to also take in the numerous beaches, sand dunes, salt marshes, and maritime forests.

Spend the day rejoicing in the purity of your surroundings and then head back to the mainland to recount the highlights with your date.