Collegiate Times

No plans? No problem. Many last-minute Valentine’s Day date ideas can be fun, creative and thoughtful without having to break the bank or your brain. Extravagant dates and reservations to a fancy restaurant may be nice, but there are plenty of other ways to show your significant other that you care.

1. Stargazing on the Drillfield

Grab a couple of blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate and head to the Drillfield with your date to look up at the stars. Although the Drillfield is a common Hokie hangout by day, it can transform into a romantic couples’ spot by night. The best part? It’s free and will make it seem like you spent a lot of time planning.

2. Dinner and a movie at home

Make dinner with your date or order a heart-shaped pizza from Benny’s — whatever is more your style. Then, watch a movie at home. To make it seem like it was planned, fill your Netflix queue with movie options or narrow down some of your personal movies for your special someone to choose from. 

3. Virginia Tech’s largest partner yoga

De-stress and relax on Valentine’s Day by taking your date to the gym for some athletic fun. McComas is hosting a large partner yoga class to promote balance and relaxation. The class is from 6 to 7 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. Make sure to arrive early to receive a special Subway offer and a free t-shirt. The event is open to all Tech patrons.

4. Learn a dance

To break out of your comfort zone and show off your fun, romantic side, learn to dance with your partner. You can learn anything from salsa to tango to a waltz without having to leave your living room. Just YouTube a “how to” video of one of the dances and then spend the night learning step by step. It will surprise your date, and even if you can’t master it, it will be fun trying.

5. Make your own chocolate fondue

If you’re too busy or broke to go out to eat, make your own dessert at home. All you need is a few ingredients to make your own chocolate fondue. Stop by the store after class and pick up a bag of chocolate chips to melt. Then, pick out anything you want dipped in chocolate, like pretzels, bananas, Nilla wafers, or strawberries. It will probably cost you under $20 and will only be a quick 10-minute stop, but it will be thoughtful.

6. Recreate your very first date or a momentous occasion in your relationship

If your first date was watching a movie in your dorm room, watch the same movie and try to recreate your first date. If your first kiss was at the duck pond, take a walk around the duck pond. Reminisce about the start of your relationship and talk about your favorite moments and memories.

Whatever you do on Valentine’s Day, just make sure your message gets through: that you care.

A version of this article appeared in the Feb 8 issue of the Collegiate Times.