Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Going out on the town
Susan Hance, ,

Finding the right celebration idea for your valentine isn’t difficult with a little pre-planning.  Men and women want the same thing: some special attention and showing that you know what is important.

Here’s some dates nights to try, no matter what mood you’re in:

FOR CLASSIC ROMANTICS

Candlelit dinner: A number of local restaurants offer special menus on Valentine’s Day. Check your favorites online closer to the date. Chefs prefer using fresh available ingredients and may not set the menu too far in advance. Reservations, however, must be made in advance for this busy night.  Circa 1922 (www.circa1922.com) typically offers a prix fixe menu with choice of salad and entrée with a special dessert. The Bridge Tender (www.thebridgetender.com) typically offers numerous à la carte items and a dessert such as truffles.

Roses, wine, chocolates, and a carriage ride: From February 13-16 Horsedrawn Tours Wilmington (www.horsedrawntours.com) offers a ride in its French evening coach through historic downtown Wilmington, complete with a box of chocolates and a red rose for your sweetheart. Call 251-8889 for reservations and to inquire about a private ride. Stop by a local wine shop such as Noni Bacca Winery (www.nbwinery.com) or The Wine Sampler (www.thewinesampler.com) and pick up a bottle to share later.

Bed and breakfasts: Rosehill Inn Bed and Breakfast (www.rosehill.com) on South Third Street offers a Romantic Escape package that includes two nights (Valentine’s is a weekend this year), dinner for two, and breakfast for two. Add on roses, chocolates, wine, or champagne for an additional charge. Graystone Inn (www.graystoneinn.com), also on South Third Street in the heart of downtown offers a Weekend Romance package that includes a two night stay, champagne in the room when you arrive, wine in the evening, and a gourmet breakfast for two.  The Verandas (www.verandas.com) on Nun Street offers a third night free if you can stay longer, good through February 28. Not so far away, The Winds Resort (www.thewinds.com) in Ocean Isle Beach offers a Valentine’s Weekend package that includes two night’s accommodations for two, the room decorated with rose petals, a bottle of champagne, and box of chocolate truffles, Valentine’s Day dinner for two at Roberto’s Italian Ristorante, breakfast for two, complimentary bikes to go exploring, and discounts to area businesses.

 

A CREATIVE TWIST

Singing telegram and chocolate: Set the evening off to a great start with a pound of handmade bon bons and a customized singing telegram. Charlene Dupray will take information and design custom lyrics to include details of the relationship. She and her husband, Pascal Siegler, merged their two cultures into a business called South ‘n France (www.southnfrance.com) with fun results. Make reservations early so you can schedule a time of your choice and give Charlene time to create clever lyrics.

Take it on the water: Cape Fear Riverboats (www.cfrboats.com) is planning a two-and-a-half hour dinner buffet and dance Valentine Cruise on the Henrietta III, boarding at 6 p.m. on February 14. The next day a Sweetheart Cruise is offered, including a buffet and entertainment.

Dinner theater: TheatreNow (www.theatrewilmington.com) performs a Valentine’s Day special dinner show. Check Please! tells the story of a series of blind dinner dates that continued to get worse. A three-course dinner is served, and there is a choice of two seatings.

Keep it quiet: For true art buffs, take a spin through the Cameron Art Museum (www.cameronartmuseum.org) before dinner (or on Saturday). “Art Among Friends” is a display from four private North Carolina Collections. The works were created between 1880 and 1940 and depict such movements as Impressionism and Urban Realism.

 

KEEPING IT CASUAL

Maybe a room full of people is not your style. Try some other ideas that say, “I hear you.”

Schedule a couple’s massage at Harbour Club Spa and Day Salon (www.harbourclubdayspa.com), which also offers a military discount.

Create your own IOUs: Make tickets to cash in on Valentine’s Day and in the future. For example: Cook Valentine’s Day Dinner for you, Give You a Massage, Go to the Poetry Reading, Take the Kids Out So You Can Soak, Give You a Girls’ Day Out, Breakfast in Bed.

Bicycle the area: Weather permitting, pack a picnic and take your bikes or rent bikes from Aussie Island Surf Shop (www.aussieisland.com) to explore Wrightsville Beach.