10 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas That Aren’t Dinner And A Movie

You don’t need to be a big sap who cries while watching Pretty Woman, and you don’t need to be overly materialistic to enjoy Valentine’s Day. It’s a celebration, much like other holidays. However, rather than celebrating a historical figure or the turn of the new year, this is a celebration of you two – a symbol of gratitude that you cherish your relationship and want to move forward in life with each other. 

Such an occasion calls for fun and romance, which oftentimes dinner and a movie do not make. C’est la vie, you only get one life, and I’m begging you not to spend it forking over $300 on a meal for two, but hey, if that’s your thing, then have at it, Julia Child. Otherwise, here are some ideas on how to nurture the flame between you two over mutual interests. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a romantic, an adventurer, or a laid-back low-maintenance woman, it’s liberating to try something you’ve never done before with your man on Valentine’s Day.

1. Get Away from Here

If you spend most of your life in the same place and can afford it, why not get away for a night or two and book a nice hotel? If you live somewhere hot and tropical, then somewhere along the beach is an obvious choice. 

Strolls along the beach, watching the sunset, and exploring the surrounding beach town is one of my personal favorite things to do in this world. However, if it’s cold, you can still get away somewhere to the mountains, a cabin in the middle of nowhere, or just go to a hotel you’ve always wanted to stay at for their amenities and breakfast buffet.

There’s nothing more romantic than getting some alone time far away from all the chaos back home, and sitting in a hot tub and getting wined and dined at a nice hotel isn’t a bad way to spend time together. If you’re tired of cooking and cleaning, just avoid Airbnbs.

2. Go to a Theme Park or Carnival

There’s something so innocent and teenage-like about going to a theme park with rides, cotton candy, popcorn, and fun carnival games. Whether it’s an amusement park, a waterpark, or a simple local carnival, this is a great wholesome date idea. There’s a reason every rom-com worth its salt features a man winning a giant stuffed animal for his date at a silly carnival game. 

It’s a great way to have fun together, especially if one of you is more scared than the other of rides (but hopefully not petrified). It can be a bonding experience to work through your fears with the support of your man. Plus, there’s nothing quite like riding on a Ferris Wheel at night, looking over the lit-up sky. If you’re in the beginning dating stages, doing something eventful like this is much more organic than having dinner, where you’re compelled to ask each other cliché questions like it’s a job interview. Instead, you can see how you get along while doing something fun, and it takes off the pressure.

3. Have a Romantic Picnic

Beautiful view, check. Delicious snacks, check. Quiet and picturesque park, check. A picnic is a classic but underutilized date idea. There’s something about laying on a comfy blanket, sipping on a sparkling beverage, and gobbling down finger sandwiches that conjures up the best conversation. Maybe it’s the perfect combo of views, serenity, and food favorites that leaves us feeling so content. 

The great thing about a picnic is that it’s so customizable. Anyone can have a picnic, but it’s the finer details that convey the romantic in you. If you know his favorite drinks and treats, be sure to pack them. Carefully select the location with his preferences in mind. You could have your picnic on the beach, in a park overlooking the city, or even indoors if you’re limited by weather conditions. In that case, I recommend sprucing up the room with decor, candles, and flowers to improve the ambiance, but it’s up to you!

4. Camp under the Stars

Some couples are more outdoorsy than others. For some, camping in a tent under the stars all night is a dream, and for others, their worst nightmare. This one is for my outdoor adventure couples or maybe just one of you likes the outdoors and the other wants to show interest in their hobbies. Camping can be done on a campsite, in the middle of nature, or right in your backyard. With the right amenities, gear, comfortable sleep padding, and food, you might just acquire a new taste for nature. 

5. Play Arcade Games and Mini Golf

It’s simply not possible to have a bad time playing games together in an arcade. It’s not just for kids and teenagers. Get a package where you can play games for hours and to top it off, do something extra special, like bumper cars, mini golf, laser tag, or bowling. Much like going to an amusement park, the simple things we used to get so much enjoyment from when we were younger are just as fun now – we just often choose not to do them anymore. Have a teenage romance for the night!

6. Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Odds are, you haven’t spent much time exploring the area you actually live in, or at least not the major city that it’s nearest to. Explore that quaint bookshop you’ve always wanted to go into, or go to an adorable coffee shop and eat pastries to your heart’s content. There’s a lot of excitement to be unlocked all around you. You don’t need to travel far or stay in a fancy hotel or even leave your city to act like tourists discovering new, interesting food and places together. 

In all likelihood, you’ll even come across something you had no idea was there. You can even join a guided tour if that’s your thing. Let’s face it, most of us have never done the “touristy things” that our local city is known for because that’s something only the tourists do, but why shouldn’t you learn about or experience it too?

7. Cook His Favorite Meal and Binge Watch Scary Movies

I know, I said no “dinner and a movie” ideas but hear me out. Forking over a ton of money at some pretentious restaurant and then sitting in a theater where you don’t talk to each other for a few hours might be your idea of romance, but it isn’t mine. However, with some minor adjustments, we can transform the archetypal dinner and a movie into a more personal and thoughtful night. Plan a three-course meal, and be sure to prepare all of his favorites. 

The labor of love is most appreciated when you put time and care into preparing something specially made for him. Then, you can eat the courses together at a romantically set table with a glass of wine or you can opt to eat while you watch some of your favorite films. If you hate horror, then by all means, substitute for whatever media you two bond over. However, the scarier it is, the closer you’ll feel.

8. Take a Class Together

Did you know that when couples do activities together like taking a painting or dancing class, their bodies release more oxytocin? Dancing can be a great way for couples with rhythm to connect physically. If you’re a nerd who likes studies, then here’s another one – couples who do physical activities like dancing together, stay together. 

The synchronicity of dance promotes bonding, leading to better relationship satisfaction. So, go take that ballroom dance class. Don’t know how to dance? Who cares? That’s why you’re taking a class! Even if you’re not a very good dancer, you can have some good laughs and collaborate. 

Speaking of classes, what about a Paint & Sip class? We’ve all seen couples proudly boast their paintings that were a product of one of these classes, and while they are becoming really popular, that doesn’t make it any less appealing. If you rarely do things outside the box, then attempting to recreate a Van Gogh artwork three glasses deep into a bottle of red will spruce you up. 

9. Go Ice Skating

The golden rules of maintaining a long-term relationship or devoted marriage are trust, love, honesty, compromise, and ice skating. Holding hands, falling on your butt on a slab of ice, being freezing cold, sipping on hot cocoa, racing each other, trying to pretend you’re a figure skater – if you check off all of these during your ice skating session, then you’re all set. If you go on Valentine’s Day, they’ll likely play romantic music or songs about love, for the cherry on top. 

10. Sign Up for a Life-Changing Dare Devil Experience

Are you and your boyfriend a little insane? Great, then this one is perfect for you. Having picnics and going ice skating may be nice, but if you’re both true adrenaline junkies, then you should capitalize on your shared unconventional bond. Couples who do strange things together make lasting memories and have deep bonds. 

At least, that’s what I’d tell myself if I needed to work up the courage to jump out of an airplane. If you’re willing to splurge because it’s a special anniversary or because you have the means to do it, then why not cross skydiving off your bucket list? Other slightly less extreme but still exhilarating activities include parasailing, bungee jumping, riding in a hot air balloon, or ziplining. If you can do these terrifying things together, you can conquer anything together.

Closing Thoughts

Valentine’s Day comes every year, but it’s never any less important. While dinner and a movie might sound nice to you, remember to switch things up every once and awhile. I highly encourage you to avoid doing the same things, especially on important dates like holidays and anniversaries. Couples should never stop courting each other, and putting in that extra effort to make days like this special communicates that you care. If you take anything away from this article, I hope it’s that you’re invigorated to try something new together.

Love Evie? Sign up for our newsletter and get curated content weekly!