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Not the Same Old Valentine’s Day: Top LA date ideas for a fabulous February

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Nicole Cremer
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Madeline Hunt
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.

Cheesy cards, candy, and flowers.  Hmm…it must be Valentine’s Day!  Not that there is anything wrong with these traditional Valentine’s Day staples, but here are some hot date ideas to spice your up your love life!  Plus, if your guy is like 64% of men who, according to sheknows.com, do not make plans in advance for Valentine’s Day, HerCampus UCLA has you covered!   We’ve made a list of HC’s top picks of fun, easy, and affordable LA date ideas for you and your boyfriend, crush, or whoever that special guy might be.  And why celebrate for just one day?  Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year, all of us lady Bruins will mostly likely be busy with classes and our weekly happenings.  So, make an excuse to use some (or all!) of these Vday-worthy dates over an extended holiday weekend!  Let the romance begin!

A Trip to Santa Monica: 
It’s the perfect date location because it’s close to UCLA! Never thought of going to Santa Monica for a date?  With all of this gorgeous So-Cal winter weather we’ve been having, who wouldn’t want to spend a romantic day or evening at the beach?  Don’t forget to ride the Ferris wheel at sunset!

Hike to a Waterfall: Waterfalls in Los Angeles? Yes!  Escondido Canyon has a 4.2 mile round-trip hike with a scenic waterfall at the end.  Now you can have your happily ever after!  If you are too busy with classes on Valentines Day, this makes for a great weekend date.  Pack a picnic and have lunch overlooking the falls, this date is worth the wait!  Also, check out our article on hiking in LA for more trails to explore at www.hercampus.com/school/ucla/blaze-your-own-trail-bruins-5-best-los-angeles-hikes-will-have-you-breaking-sweat!

Plan a Scavenger Hunt: 
If you are looking for an easy date idea for Valentine’s Day here is a foolproof plan.  Give clues to your guy throughout the day through roommates, friends, or others and surprise him with dinner reservations, a movie, or a night out.  It’s simple, creative, and a laid-back way to show your guy you really care.

Movie Night: Order dinner in and turn on a romantic flick: A Walk to Remember, the Notebook, Pretty Woman, or whichever movie you are in the mood for!  Although this classic idea never gets old, change it up by going to a drive-in movie theater!  Try Vineland Drive-in Theater!  Its open 7 days a week with movies running at 7pm each night.  Call (626) 961-9262 for more details and check out their www.vinelanddriveintheater.com for a list of movies that are playing. 

Date Night at The Grove: For just $30 a ticket, you and your guy can enjoy a 3 course dinner, 2 movie tickets, and valet parking at The Grove mall.  To get tickets and make reservations in advance, just call 323-900-8080.  This awesome couples deal is not available on February 14th, but it is every other Monday thru Thursday night.

 
 
Pictures:
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Nicole Cremer is currently a sophomore at UCLA majoring in Neuroscience. She has a passion for journalism and loves being involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, including doing research at the UCLA Brain Tumor institute, volunteering with Global Medical Brigades where she traveled to Ghana this past winter to provide health care to over 1,200 people, contributing to the Daily Bruin newspaper as a Video Reporter, and being a part of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Before becoming the Her Campus Campus Correspond for UCLA, she was a founding member of Her Campus UCLA and wrote a weekly health blog. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys exploring new restaurants and sites around Los Angeles, listening to country music, running (and training for half marathons…maybe a full one someday!), hiking, and spending as much time as she can at the beach!
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Madeline Hunt is a senior at UCLA majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish. Originally from the laidback beach-town of Santa Barbara, the California native finds the fast-paced nature and eccentricity of LA extremely exciting. Once more, she decided to expand her horizons when she studied abroad this past fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Madeline wants to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and is considering broadcast journalism and public relations as potential options. On campus, she is currently the Public Relations & Marketing Director for the student- run organization Fashion and Student Trends and an intern at E! News. She served as an entertainment reporter on UCLA’s accredited student newspaper, The Daily Bruin, under the video division and is a current member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. During her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, exercising, going to the beach, shopping (online shopping will be the death of her!), reading Glamour and Cosmo, eating Mexican food and sushi, spending time with her friends, practicing her Spanish, and satisfying her weakness for caffeine with Starbuck’s lattes.