Valentine's Date Ideas

Love is in the air and in the pressure is on to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day date.  A swanky dine and wine experience in Louisville’s many delicious restaurants is the easiest and quickest way to satisfy many valentine’s expectation. But if low lighting and expensive meals are not really your thing, there are fun and stress-free alternatives.

These unique Valentine's Day activities could easily be done with friends, families or just by your own awesome self. If you still want to go to that fancy dinner, combine the two!  Valentine’s on a Saturday means you can have cheap fun in the day and a fancy dinner at night or vice versa.

Regardless of where you end up, have fun celebrating your love (as you should every day of the year).

Dine at the Castle 
If you're not one to take Valentine's Day seriously, White Castle is the place to be.  You’ll find fresh cut flowers, romantic candles, white table clothes, and five star table service at White Castle on Vday.  The best part is you can stuff yourself silly with cheap and well-loved menu items without breaking the bank.  This was by far my husband’s favorite Valentine’s spot and a fun experience for me.  It’s also a great place for a family dinner date with the kids.

Zip Line Under Louisville 
The money saved at a cheap dinner can go towards a one of a kind adventurous date at the world’s only underground zip line course.  Spend the next 2.5 hours flying high and fast through the six zip lines and two challenge bridges at Louisville Mega Cavern.  It’s currently rated as the #1 attraction in Louisville by visitors on Tripadvisor.  Photo source. 

Va Va Vixens Sexy Burlesque Show 
For a sexy fun time, take your date or all your single girl friends to see Va Va Vixen, a modern day burlesque variety show with a bit of vaudevillian flair. The talented 25 (men and women) member troupe will perform dances, acrobats, aerial acts, strip tease and singing at Headliners most weekends in February. Va Va Valentine Fairie’s Tail will definitely beat the boring dinner and movie routine.  Purchase tickets online or at the door.  The VIP tickets are sold out. Photo source. 

Museums, Crafts and Love Letters
For a more innocent and family friendly experience, spend a day on Museum Row browsing presidential love letters at Frazier or make valentine crafts at the KMAC MakersSpace.  As an added bonus, for the entire month of February, Kentucky and Indiana residents can visit Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Muhammad Ali Center for only $5 (a nice saving from the $9 - $13 normal admission). Photo Source.

Schimpff’s for Candy Lovers
For your sweethearts with a bit of a sweet tooth, why give them a meager box of chocolate when you can give them the entire store worth of sweets at Schimpff’s Confectionery. This living museum is Jeffersonville’s best kept secret, selling and making candies for 123 years. Browse the nostalgia-induced candy museum in the back, watch people make candy the old fashion way, and treat your valentine(s) to hundreds of candy variety.  This is a great place to take your tiny valentines.

Cupid’s Undie Run
For your athletic valentine, go naked! Uh..I mean half naked at the Cupid’s Undie Run, a 5k charity run benefiting the Children’s Tumor Foundation.  What better way to show love than raising money to a worthy cause while running half naked in your flashiest underwear with your valentine or in a team of your craziest friends. Photo Source.

Jefferson Memorial Forest Candlelit Hike
Combine nature and romance by taking your date on a romantic candlelit hike (1/2 mile) at Jefferson Memorial Forest that ends with a beautiful view of Louisville night lights from the county's second highest point.  The night will continue with hors d'oeuvres, desserts, warm beverage, board games inside the Forest Manor’s House, complete with two crackling fire places.  If weather permitting, bonfire and star gazing outside.  Call the welcome Center at 368-5404 to make reservation by 2/9/2015.

Solve A Murder Mystery
Add a bit of mystery and murder to your Valentine’s dinner at the Dinner Detective interactive and improvised comedic show. Throughout the duration of the four course sit down meal, you’ll be actively involved in solving a murder mystery using clues and help from detectives.  Saturday show is sold out but Friday is still available.

An Old Fashioned Romance 
Who says romance is Old Fashioned?  Come celebrate romance at Copper and King American Brandy's cocktail party. Make your own Old Fashioned cocktail to go with the hors d'oeuvres from Rye and desserts from Art Eatables, visit the new art exhibit while enjoying live music by Dane Waters and French Lounge.

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If Valentine's Day is inducing your gag reflex, you're definitely not alone! But there are ways to celebrate that too.  Join the Anti-Valentine's Day rebellion at Garage Bar Anti-Valentine's Day Tap Takeover with an anti-Vday themed beer list and small bites, both on Friday 2/13 and Saturday 2/14. Come laugh about love with Raanan Hersherb  Bitter Valentine's Day Comedy Show at the Bard's Town.  Or join the the a Peabody Award-winning Moth StorySLAM at Headliners to listen to "Love Hurts" stories told live and unrehearsed by audience members just like you on Tuesday 2/10/215. Photo source.

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Goat cheese frito from Cena

If you're still looking for a place to eat, here are 25 restaurants offering special menus on love day. These are nicer restaurants, so expect to pay a pretty price and to fight for a reservation.  I recommend Louis Le Francais for its cute French atmosphere (food is just okay for me), Gary's on Spring for an off the beaten track feel with a delicious and inventive menu, and Cena Italian Trattoria for amazing Italian with a twist (it also feels like an exclusive secret hideaway).