Dinner and a movie are the go-to Valentine’s Day date activities (probably followed pretty closely by trips to the ice skating rink), which means that theaters will be packed, and restaurants will have long waits and will be rushing you out to make room for the next wave of diners. To avoid the crowds (and the same ol’, same ol’), here are some suggestions for a memorable night.
- Make dinner… together. Of course it’s romantic and sweet for one person to cook for the other, but in the end that means that one person has done a whole lot of work while the other gets the benefit. Decide on a menu, gather the supplies, and hit the kitchen together. You’ll be making memories and a delicious meal.
- Play games. Be young at heart and take a trip to the arcade. Challenge your love to a few rounds of air hockey followed by a bit of Dance Dance Revolution.
- Get a couple’s massage. There’s no reason that one of you deserves more pampering than the other, so schedule some time for you to both relax and refresh.
- Hit a mixology class. You’ll learn how to make some great cocktails, have some laughs, and get a little tipsy.
- Go stargazing. If it’s a clear night (this may be a bit hard to control unless you’ve got an “in” with Mother Nature), do some stargazing. Bundle up, grab a few blankets and hot cocoa, and head for an area of town without many lights (perhaps the high school football field?) to snuggle up under the stars.
- Head to the karaoke bar. Pick a song that has some meaning to your relationship, or something you think would be hilarious to try to ace, and hit the stage. Make sure you cheer loudly and often for your fellow stage-goers, and they’ll do the same for you!
- Make it a habit. Just because V Day is once a year doesn’t mean it’s the only night you can do something extra-special. Write down some date ideas (things you keep saying you want to do but haven’t gotten around to) on some note cards, shuffle them up, and put them in an envelope. Once a month, reach in and do whatever the chosen card says.
Author: Courtney E. Danielson
