I generally had good luck taking a girl to Toys R Us and then to a hotel lobby or the like.
Toys R Us works because childhood is generally any area where people have a good deal of positive memories that can serve as ice breakers and conversation starters. Buying a game or small Legos (or coloring books and crayons) at Toys R Us generally runs anywhere from $5-$25. You then do the activity, build or play the game while on the date at the hotel lobby.
You have to be the right kind of person for this to work, but I never stuck out with it and most girls appreciated the break from the high tension “normal” dates. You will get a few funny looks for playing Uno together in a hotel while all dressed up, but it gets the conversation going.