Non-Traditional Valentine’s Day Dates

Today’s guest blogger, Amanda, is originally from Florida, but now happily calls San Francisco home, along with her husband and their mischievous dog, Chumley. She’s the voice behind A Life Well Lived, a blog devoted to food, travel, and life on the West Coast.

One of the best parts about living in the West is the endless opportunity for adventure—which makes my ideal Valentine’s Day date a toss up between an afternoon kayaking on the Tomales Bay or catching an ‘80s cover band concert in San Francisco. With so many things to choose from, why not skip the prix fix meal and spice things up a bit this year?

Northwest

Hop on a romantic ferry ride across the Puget Sound with beautiful views of the Seattle skyline. Get off at Bainbridge Island and walk to the downtown area, which has multiple places to sip some vino. Island Vintners is a great spot that showcases local wines.

Get your hands dirty and try a cooking class in Seattle. Tonight, Blue Ribbon Cooking offers two options: A special dinner and a truffle-making class (followed by a lesson in pairing sweets with dessert wines).

Northern California

Walk on the wild side during a walking ghost tour with San Francisco Ghost Hunt around San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood. Dig into the neighborhood’s storied past, and maybe meet one of its previous residents.

Sign up for Pt. Reyes Outdoors’ group or private kayaking tours on stunning Tomales Bay, which is about an hour and a half north of San Francisco. Or stay landside and take a guided hike or bike tour.

Southern California

Take a leap of faith at Sky High Sport, an indoor trampoline park that’s open until midnight on the weekends. They even have trampoline dodgeball if you’re feeling a little competitive.

For those not ready to bounce off the walls, head up to Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and star gaze above the City of Lights. Telescope demonstrators are on hand to help you understand what you’re seeing. Bonus: The grounds and  public telescopes are free! (But head out early; the spot gets busy.)

Mountain

Sip something a little less traditional: Go on a whiskey tour and tasting at Park City’s  High West Saloon. After becoming whiskey connoisseurs, you can stay for dinner and try the spirit in one of their signature cocktails.

In the Denver area? Try Colorado Brewery Bus tours, which takes you all over the city to taste local handcrafted beers. Or, get some laughs at Denver’s Voodoo Comedy Club which features improv and stand up. For a Valentine’s Day you’ll never forget (but maybe wish you could), stay after the show for karaoke.

Southwest

For a taste of adventure, buckle up and take a ride on Pink Jeep Tours. With multiple locations throughout the southwest, this adventure company will show you the great outdoors in a whole new way.

Or stay inside and take a private dance class at Dance Starz AZ. They can teach you any type of dance from the Waltz to the Rumba to the 2 Step.