"Green" Date Ideas for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is coming up quick! And while we know that the day is traditionally celebrated by expressing your love for another human being, there’s no rule that says you can’t express your love for God’s creation at the same time. Especially if it means saving a few bucks too. Now, we’re not recommending that you try these just because they’re cheap – they’re also creative, fun, and can be romantic. Don’t just buy your beau a box of chocolates and some flowers (emphasis on the word JUST), enjoy an out of the box Valentine’s experience they’ll always cherish.

Get In – or Out – to Nature!

Believe it or not, there is a world out there to explore that isn’t on your phone. Take a jaunt to one of our parks with a picnic basket and a camera and enjoy the great outdoors. Enjoy a traditional PB&J or egg salad sandwich, then take a hike or seek out some wildlife or exotic plants you can only find in Florida. Visit one of our award-winning beaches – or better yet, visit one of the less well known beaches for a fun romantic stroll in the surf. Siesta Key, Lido Beach, Longboat Key, Nokomis and Manasota are always nice. St. Armand’s Circle may be known for the shopping, but you don’t have to spend money to enjoy the old town Florida feel. Wander around the circle, check out their historic Lutheran church, and maybe even pop in to grab some Ben & Jerry’s. Combine a road trip and a nature adventure! Check out one of the many historic park areas on the Gulf Coast of Florida like Spanish Point, Oscar Scherer State Park, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, or the Gamble Plantation, It’s a little longer drive, so pack a lunch and zip down to Ding Darling to see the ancient mangroves, flocks of flamingos, other rarer birds, reptiles and amphibians. You might even catch Barbara Manatee! You could even linger long enough to take a stroll on one of the nice beaches they have nearby.

Go for Some Heavy Petting

A word of warning – this may lead to an unexpected new family member! Plan a trip to the local animal shelter or rescue and keep your idle hands busy with some new furry friends. Find a place where they let the dogs or cats roam around and share the loving. Some shelters will let volunteers walk the dogs. We don’t have one of those fancy cat cafes they have in some cities, but here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, we did them one bigger – for under $20 per person, you can check out the Big Cat Habitat! Plus, they don’t just feature Florida mountain lions and tigers, but also bears, camels, and Chance the Chimp and his primate pals.

Artsy or Crafty

If you’ve got a shared interest in art or history, what better place to get closer than one of the Gulf Coast’s many varied museums? In addition to the outdoors historical sites, we’ve got the nautical Maritime Museum, the Railroad Museum in Parrish, Manatee Village, Art Center Manatee (which also offers classes) – or really immerse yourselves at the Village of the Arts! Not only can you visit Bradenton’s best art galleries, but because it’s an arts community, you can actually watch the art being created! Sure, they made a movie about PT Barnum, but he’d be far less remembered if it weren’t for his late partners in the circus, John & Mabel Ringling. Check out the circus museum, as well as their palatial home right out of the Great Gatsby, Ca’ d’Zan. If you like going hands-on, book a couple hours at Arts A Blaze, the Artful Giraffe or stop by the ‘open’ Craft Bar for some fun do-it-yourself-without-too-much-work pottery, painting and crafts galore. What better way to find out if you’re ready to tie the knot than by actually trying to?

Try Photo-Mining

You’ve heard of photo bombing? This activity takes a little more pre-planning, but can be great fun, especially if you want to do a group dating challenge. A photo scavenger hunt involves choosing specific items to look for, but rather than collecting them, you’re snapping pics. The more challenging a photo is to get, like having to interact with strangers, or work cooperatively, the higher points it’s worth. There are several places online to download hints and lists of ideas. Or, as an alternative, simply pick a starting place and a final stop and grab random photos of interesting things – in alphabetical order. No cheating! The hardest part is remembering the proper order without resorting to reciting your Kindergarten training songs. Having a fun romantic, and most importantly, memorable Valentine’s Day (or weekend) doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. When done right, it really is the thought that counts (although you really should keep the chocolates and flowers in the mix – trust us on this!). If you’re planning to end your Valentine’s Day adventure in a, well, more adult fashion, you’ll want to keep your eyes out for bedbugs. Yep, they’re not just for hotels anymore! Luckily, Good News Pest Solutions is experienced in ridding your home of bedbugs and various other creepy crawlies that can put a damper on your romantic evening. Ask any of our happy customers from Lakewood Ranch to North Port, they’ll tell you the best thing they did to get rid of pests was to give us a call! And have a happy, romantic Valentine’s Day, however you choose to spend it.