Bee Original — 8 Creative Valentine’s Day Date Ideas and Gifts

Red roses, expensive champagne and crowded restaurants fit the bill for some people, but they aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for creative ways to say, “I love you,” try turning to meaningful experiences and fun activities from your childhood for inspiration this Valentine’s Day rather than dropping a boatload of money.

After all, the most valuable gifts you can give your loved ones are your time, attention and creating memories together.

Here are eight fun things to do around the U.S. that will hopefully get your creative juices flowing… whether it be for a random romantic night out or for Valentine’s Day 2016:

• Brooklyn — “You Make My Heart Soar” — Big top tents conjure up the joy of being a kid and experiencing the circus for the first time. In Brooklyn, run away to the circus with your significant other by attending a flying trapeze or trampoline class at STREB.
• Chicago — “I’m Sweet on You” — Treat your baby to an ice cream cone and tell them that they’ll always be an “A” in your book. Margie’s Candies has been around since the 1930s and those who grew up in Chicago might be familiar with Margie’s rather unique policy. If you’re a Chicago school district kid, you can bring in your report card and score free sweets. An “A” earns you a free ice cream cone!
• San Francisco — “Honey, You Mead the World to Me” — Share an adventurous experience you won’t forget as a couple. San Francisco Honey & Pollen Company offers hands on introductions to beekeeping classes. After your buzzy class, tell your sweetie how much you “mead” them by sampling a few of the brews at the San Francisco Mead Company next door.
• Alaska — “I Love You Beary Much” — Take your love for a real bear hug… in Alaska. Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations offers a 50 minute flight out of Anchorage to, you guessed it, BearCamp! At Lake Clark National Park BearCamp, you’ll get to see tons of these fuzzy critters in their natural habitat. If you’re looking for a real adventure, you can stay overnight in a tent and listen to the bears outside.
• Los Angeles — “Puppy Love” — Remember when you were a kid and you’d ask your parents if you could take the dog out for a walk with your high school sweetheart? Well, The Dog Cafe lets you snuggle with puppies and sip grown up lattes at the same time. If you’re ready to make a real commitment, all the pooches in the cafe are rescues available for adoption.
• North Carolina — “Go Fly a Kite” — Let your love take flight by spending the day flying a kite. Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head gets rave reviews for its kite options and toy store.
• Washington D.C. — “Up Your Game” — Table tennis was a rad way to spend a few hours when you were a kid, but now that you’re all grown up, consider a date night out at Ping Pong Dim Sum. What’s not to likely about deconstructed mimosas and an East meets West brunch on V-Day? Before or after your meal, wander around D.C.’s small historic Chinatown neighborhood.
• New York City — “Your Love Spins Me Right Round” — Most kids have fond memories of riding the carousel as a kid, but do you know many kids, or adults, who’ve ridden a carousel made of glowing fish? The Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park is one ride you won’t forget. “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” As a kid you probably got pushed in a swing and enjoyed it, as an adult, you might want to consider pushing yourself into a swing class. Swing 46 is a jazz and supper club that offers a special menu on Valentine’s Day.

Have you ever had a great Valentine’s Day experience sprung on you or do you have a creative last-minute romantic idea to add to our list? Feel to note them below.

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