Valentine’s Day is coming up, and you might be starting to scramble for the perfect date on that special day.
A lot of the classic Valentine’s Day dates you might be thinking of are cliché and overdone, so why not think of something outside the box? Step away from expensive dinners that’ll bleed your wallet dry and try looking at something a little more exciting.
Go on a picnic
A picnic might not be the most unique idea in the world, but it’s what you do during that picnic that makes it unique.
Sydney Johanson, a junior education major from Tooele, said for one Valentine’s Day in the past, her and her significant other picked up a pizza, set up a mattress in the bed of his truck and drove out to Pine Valley to stargaze.
“A picnic and painting date would be a lot of fun,” said Tyree Hale, a sophomore general studies major from Riverton. “It’s really about the thought and putting something together; it doesn’t have to be anything fancy.”
Watch a scary movie
While that may not seem romantic enough to you, what better to get you and your date cuddled up on the couch together than some jump scares? Throw on a good scary movie and watch as you get closer with each jump.
Be careful with what movie you put on, though, you’re not trying to terrify your date. Some scary movie ideas could be:
- “My Bloody Valentine” (1981)
- “My Valentine” (2020)
- “Cupid” (2020)
While these movies are Valentine’s Day related, the movie you watch doesn’t have to be. Throw on a scary movie, grab popcorn and candy, and enjoy each other’s company for the night.
Take a cooking class together
Instead of going out for that fancy dinner, why not make it together?
Instead of spending time prepping and cooking a meal by yourself, you can spend that time together making a restaurant-worthy. Whether it be virtual or in-person, you and your special someone can have a great night of learning together. Plus, there’s going to be good food; what else could you want?
If you’re not feeling like making an entire meal together, you can go a smaller and sweeter route. Make your own Valentine’s chocolates together.
Making your own chocolates gives you the freedom to add whatever you want. Not a fan of nuts in your chocolates? No worries, just don’t add them. Rather than spending too much money on boxed chocolates, take the fun route and do it at home. You can make it a fun competition with your date. Who can make the prettiest chocolates?
Go dancing
No, I do not mean dancing at a club — I mean real dancing. Go take a dance class with your partner, create your own dance floor at home or watch a YouTube tutorial on how to salsa. Spend the night, or at least a few hours, in each other’s arms as you learn a romantic dance together. No matter how bad you might be at dancing, you can still be romantic and try to learn. Just do your best, and maybe it’s the first time dancing for both of you.
It’s OK if you aren’t the best dancer or if you don’t have any dance experience at all. The entire point is to get close to your partner and have fun together. Whether you’re stepping on each other’s feet or not, as long as you’re having a good time together, that’s all that matters.
Go on a hot air balloon ride
Yes, this is a bit pricier, but it is an unforgettable experience. St. George is a hotspot for hot air balloons. Imagine taking your significant other or date up in a hot air balloon and spending the morning and early afternoon looking out over St. George.
“I think a hot air balloon ride would be a fun Valentine’s Day date because you get some alone time to get to know each other better while getting to look at the beautiful views of St. George,” said Johanson. “It would be an unforgettable date.”
Palledin Ballooon Excursions is the business over all the hot air balloons you see in St. George. They have been in business for over 35 years and have great reviews from their customers about the experience they receive on these rides.
There are plenty of unique and exciting dates you could go on without breaking the bank or being part of a cliché.
