Maybe you’ve blown your wad on chocolates, flowers, and dinner. Maybe you’re tired of the same routine. Or maybe you’re single and are looking for something fun to do. Whether you’re hoping to hang with your sweetie or your friends, we have some ideas for cheap or free outings that will add some variety to your life.
1. Make a normal day Valentine’s Day. It may not be a designated holiday, but a normal Monday or Wednesday can be just as special. Make chocolate strawberries, spend quality time together, tell someone why you appreciate him or her. A kind word is free, and everybody likes it!
2. See a free show or sports event around UVa grounds. Part of what we pay for in our student fees is free admission to shows and sports events. Visit the drama department website or the sports calendar to find out what’s going on. Odds are, you’ll have a great time. And if you don’t—well, at least it was FREE!
3. Enjoy a picnic. It may be cold outside, but Charlottesville has variable enough weather that you could catch a warmer day. Take advantage of this momentary break and take your food outside. Visit the lawn, a garden, or an outdoor spot off-grounds and enjoy both your food and the sunshine.
4. Take a historical tour of UVa. How much do you know about your own school? Historical tours run every day at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm and last for about an hour. Learn a little bit more about what makes UVa special, and enjoy the scenery while you learn.
5. Test your knowledge at Mellow Trivia, or sing your heart out at Baja Bean. Get a group together for pizza and Trivia on Wednesday night or for tacos and Karaoke on a Tuesday or Thursday. The activity is free, and the food? Well… everybody has to eat…
6. Get a group together for a game night. Play a partner game to get some bonding time in, or put your honey on the opposite team – a little competition never hurt anyone.
7. Go on a hike, walk, or bike ride. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville is the perfect place to enjoy nature. Visit Albemarle County’s Parks and Recreation website to get complete lists of hiking and nature trails.
8. Go for a drive, and see where it takes you. Bring yummy snacks and good music, and jam in the car while you explore Charlottesville and its surrounding areas. There is so much more to see than just UVa!
9. Go on a “study” date. Mix up your study routine and try going somewhere else. Para Coffee, Hot Cakes, and Barnes & Noble all have cushy study spaces. And if you really need to get some serious studying done, try some of the graduate libraries. You won’t really know anyone else, so you might be able to concentrate – or at least not be spotted by a friend when you’re playing footsie under the table.
10. Have a movie night. Who says you have to pay $10 to see a movie? Rent a free movie from Clemons, pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and cuddle in the comfort of your own home.