Heads up! Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and, because most of us leave things for the last minute, it can get pretty frantic when deciding what to do. It’s hard to be spontaneous when the only date night idea you can come up with is dinner and a movie for the third week in a row – but don’t worry, as always, Her Campus UPR has got you covered!
1. Switch going out to a movie and restaurant for a cozy night at home with Netflix.We all love Netflix (don’t even try to deny it!) and we all love home-made food (don’t try to deny that either!) So, why not combine both? Instead of splurging money on a fancy restaurant and movie tickets, take out your laptop and open up your Pinterest. Using this website you can find amazing, delicious and easy-to-make recipes for you and your partner or for you and your friends on a night-in. If you want to keep up with the Valentine’s theme, Netflix offers a plethora of romantic comedies to choose from. Ditch having to dress-up and stay in for a night of comfiness, great food and a good movie or two. If you are not that fond of homemade dishes (or being near a kitchen in general) you can always order some pizza (or you favorite takeout) and sip on some wine.
2. Go on a road trip .We brought you a list of Secret Spots to visit…now it’s time to use it! Grab your car keys, your perfect companion, a cooler full of wine, beer and other foods and go on that island-wide road trip. Some places in Puerto Rico are free of charge and they’re great date destinations. You can end the day by watching the sunset on the beach and trust us: it will be the perfect ending for a fun Valentine’s date.
3. Go play some sports.Even though some of us aren’t that athletic, it’s necesarry to recognize how fun it can be to kick a ball around or play some volleyball. Dare your partner to a game of two-on-two basketball, volleyball or soccer and put an ultimatum: loser pays for lunch. This one’s for those that want to stay active all throughout this year but at the same time spend a fun time with your special someone.
4. Have a picnic.A twist on the classic picnic, this date idea doesn’t have to be outside because we understand that not everyone has a backyard. To make it work, grab a blanket, move some furniture and use your living room as an empty field. Put some music (to make it more romantic or fun), turn the lights off and light some candles. For both interior and exterior picnics you should prepare a basket with different types of foods (course meals and appetizers are a must) along with some wine or champagne. If you opt for an outdoors picnic, get some Christmas lights and some lanterns and put them around so you can build a nice, romantic atmosphere.
5. Play some games.On #3 we suggested playing sports with your special someone but, if this is your first Valentine’s together (and don’t want to bring out the competitive guns) you could stay home and play your favorite board games with a fun twist. There are some themed monopoly games out there too like this Wine-Opoly or Chocolate-Opoly. If you’re not so into board games you could play “Twenty Questions”. The game consists of grabbing a piece of paper and writing down fun questions to get to know each other a bit more. More options are charades, Pictionary, or even poker! The choices are practically endless.
6. Hit the pins, the cars or the lasers.Get ready for a round of laser-tag or bumper cars! Take your partner on a fun and exciting date where you can compete against each other at Laser Tag and then show them who’s the best driver at bumper cars. You can go to Lazer Run in San Patricio Plaza for the bumper cars and lazer tag, or to a bowling alley around the metropolitan area. Caguas’ bowling alley features laser tagging and some bowling.
7. Stargaze. Open your linen closet, grab blankets, a few pillows, a radio and invade your own rooftop. Lay down with your partner to watch the skies talk a little and then dance under the light of the stars. If you have a telescope, take it with you. If by any reason climbing to your rooftop is difficult use your car (on the hood or on the back of a pickup). Creativity is key.
8. Be silly! Make a scavenger hunt. A list of dares. Drive to Condado or a place where you can sit and watch people pass by, improvise dialogues and situations between the people that pass by your side. Give a popsicle to the ones you laugh at the most and high five someone without telling them why. You’ll be bound to create memories the both of you will remember forever! And…what if you do this with your friends? Trust us: it will be a night to remember.
9. Watch a movie under the stars.We know it may seem as the least creative idea but it’s not the same watching a movie under the stars as going to a closed-up movie theater or your sofa. Therefore, take a trip down to the Arecibo Drive-In movie theater and get ready for a treat. Prepare a bag with munchies, a blanket and get there early. Once you are there take the blanket out and put it on your car’s front trunk and enjoy.
10. Design-It-Yourself date.Dress up nicely, think about places you’ve always wanted to go (restaurants, bars or so), come up with a random name and take pictures. Create a photo album doing things that you actually didn’t do. For example, go to the fanciest restaurant in town and sit down pretending that you have a reservation. Let the waiter bring the menu, take a pic of it, get up and leave. You are going to laugh after this and at the same time enjoy visiting lots of places.