Valentine’s Day is scary for everyone, and you can’t change my mind.
There is an immense amount of pressure placed on what you are doing two weeks into February. Is it romantic enough? Is it memorable enough? Is it expensive enough that you don’t look cheap, but not so much that you go broke?
It’s time to stop worrying about doing something grandiose to prove your everlasting love to your valentine. Sometimes you just want to do something easy, especially if the relationship is still new. There is plenty of romance in silly little things — that’s why people fall in love!
Whether you waited too long to make plans or you’re just the kind of couple that would rather do something simple, thinking outside the heart-shaped box can help you find the perfect Valentine’s Day activity.
Crafts
For some quality time that comes with a souvenir, look no further than a crafting date. Take a romantic stroll through the aisles of your local craft store to find any number of ideas. A romantic scroll through TikTok will also net you some cute suggestions, like painting and switching canvases every five minutes or making couples bracelets based on your lover’s eye colors.
Even if you or your valentine aren’t particularly artsy, it’s more about the process of creating something together. It doesn’t matter if you both fail spectacularly at making small clay animals; those little freaks are a testament to your love.
Multiplayer games
If you and your Player 2 can’t be together on Valentine’s Day in person, it’s easier than ever to enjoy one another’s company in the digital realm. Games like “Stardew Valley,” “Animal Crossing” and “Minecraft” are staples for long-distance lovers. Even if the distance is one couch cushion, playing games together on a cozy night-in is a severely underrated Valentine’s date.
What if you don’t want to be cozy? If you’re looking to add some drama to your night, “Pico Park” is a deceptively simple platforming game that will test your relationship with any and all loved ones involved. Get out any frustrations you may be harboring in a screaming match over whose fault that last death was.
Escape room
You already know you enjoy spending time with your significant other, so surely doing that in a locked room full of puzzles should be a piece of cake. If you yourself have been locked in a bunker for the last decade and don’t know what an escape room is, it’s exactly what it sounds like: you are in a room. Escape!
Escape rooms are themed puzzle-solving experiences where you and your team have to find a way out of anything from a classroom to an abandoned laboratory before time runs out. They come in a range of difficulties but are meant to be challenging, raising the stakes on a date you already wouldn’t want to get away from.
Many escape rooms require private bookings with several people, so grab some friends and have a double date while you try to escape. Whoever solves the most puzzles doesn’t have to pay for dinner.
Dig a really big hole
Cheaper than a fancy dinner!
Scavenger hunt stroll
If you and your special someone enjoy being active, consider taking a walk with a purpose. Create a list of simple and whimsical things to spot on your journey, or find one online. Having to search for something in a familiar area can lead you to notice things you never noticed before. Combine that with some quality conversation with your partner, and you’ll be making a happy memory in no time.
If you don’t feel like keeping your eyes peeled at all times for something specific, take a color walk instead. Pick a color together before you set out, then look for it in your surroundings as you stroll. See those purple flowers on a street you’ve never walked? Follow them and see where they lead.
Picnic
Big surprise, the list of date ideas is suggesting a romantic picnic. As cliché as it is, you can’t beat a nice picnic. Being outside with good food and company can be a fun and relaxing outing with minimal bug activity this time of year.
Don’t stress too much about the setup – you can have a perfectly good picnic on a beach towel. Pack your basket (or other picnic receptacle) with delicious food or snacks — and don’t forget a nice beverage! If you and your partner enjoy cooking, make the food prep a part of the experience.
For maximum quaintness, get dressed up and take the train to your chosen destination. Sonoma County is full of gorgeous scenery, so pick a park and picnic!
Visit a cat adoption center
Allergics beware, you’re in for some cat hair! If you and your valentine are animal lovers, spending some time at a cat cafe or adoption center might just be the cutest way to spend the day. Cat cafes have finally made their way to the Bay Area to allow us all to microdose the crazy cat lady experience.
Mini Cat Town kitten lounge and adoption center at the Santa Rosa Plaza is always bustling with kitty activity. Morti’s Used Book Nook & Cat Adoption Lounge in the Petaluma Village Premium Outlet Mall doubles as a bookstore, though it’s amazing they can keep anything on the shelves with cats on the loose. Stop by the Great Stuff Thrift Store a few doors down to meet the most adorable manager in Petaluma, Coconut the calico cat. Visiting these businesses helps support the cats they rescue, so whisk your valentine over to see some whiskers!
Being with your partner shouldn’t be stressful, so a whole day devoted to romance doesn’t have to be. If you do it with love and care, even the simple, silly things will always be sweet.
