Instead of just going to dinner for Valentine’s Day, surprise your significant other with one of these romantic, creative date ideas in the metro Phoenix area.
Oftentimes, Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming and overrated. With high expectations, it’s almost impossible to impress your lover.
Instead of going on a boring dinner date, enjoy one of these Phoenix shows and activities and score creativity points with your significant other. Even if you’re riding solo this year, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself or spending the day with a good friend on one of these date ideas.
For all events, it’s best to be proactive and book ahead; many activities book up fast because of the holiday.
Pip Coffee and Clay
Get crafty this year and take a pottery class on Valentine’s Day.
Pip Coffee and Clay is a coffee shop and pottery studio with a variety of classes available. On Valentine’s Day, Pip has beginner wheel-throwing classes available throughout the day.
During the class, an instructor will guide you through the basics of pottery, allowing you to craft your master creation. At the end of class, each participant can keep two of their pots, choose a color for them to be glazed and pick up their masterpiece a few weeks later when it’s done.
Pip Coffee and Clay also has other Valentine’s Day-themed art classes throughout February, such as punch needle coaster making on Feb. 7 and cookie decorating on Feb. 13.
All classes can be booked online; they fill up fast, so book soon. The cafe has two locations, one in Tempe and one in Phoenix, so make sure you know where you’re booking before committing.
Candlelight Concert
Amaze your date with a candlelight concert.
Keep it classy and watch an orchestra perform surrounded by hundreds of moody candles. The stage softly glows while you are filled with the beautiful music.
Candlelight concerts have two shows on Feb. 14. The first show starts at 7 p.m., with a string quartet performance of Beethoven and Mozart’s classics.
The second show begins 9 p.m. and is a string quartet tribute to The Beatles. You’ll hear favorites like “Here Comes the Sun,” “Hey Jude,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yesterday.”
Both shows are at Warehouse215 in downtown Phoenix. All tickets can be purchased online at candlelightexperience.com.
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum has something planned for all the lovers out there.
On Valentine’s Day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Phoenix Art Museum is hosting a date night featuring wine tasting, flash tattoos, photo booths, craft, live music and more.
Reservations can also be made at the Alden, Phoenix Art Museum’s fine dining experience, located right inside the museum. If you want dinner and a show, there will also be a 6 p.m. screening of “When Harry Met Sally.”
The event is free for Phoenix Art Museum members; tickets can also be purchased online at phxart.org.
Sunset Picnic at Dobbins Lookout
Keep it simple and thoughtful with a beautiful and personal picnic at the top of South Mountain.
The 2,330-foot elevation of the lookout point gives you views of the entire city while being able to stay in the comfort of your car. Bring a picnic and some blankets and cuddle up as the sun sets over the city and reveals the night lights.
There is no park admission to get to the lookout, making this the perfect cost-effective date.
The sun starts to set at about 5:30 p.m., and the park stops allowing entrances at 7 p.m., so plan accordingly.
Rent a swan boat at Tempe Town Lake
Take a romantic ride on a peddle boat around Tempe Town Lake.
Boat Rentals of America offers several different types of boat rentals, but the most romantic has got to be the swan boats.
Swans mate for life, so what better way to show your devotion to your partner than to pedal a giant swan around Tempe Town Lake? The boats are such a fun and silly way to spend time with your partner while feeling like you’re in your very own rom-com.
The boats can be rented for one to two hours and allow you to explore the water and paddle among the ducks. Try renting the boats around sunset to see the beautiful pink sky reflected off the glassy water.
Boat Rentals of America even offers a Swan Date Night Package, which comes with a decorated romantic swan boat and chocolates for you and your love to sample on the water.
Swan boats can be reserved and rented online at boats4rent.com/tempe-town/ along with several other boat and bike rental options.
Catch a movie at West Wind Drive-In
Embark on a date night classic and see a drive-in movie.
West Wind Drive-In in Glendale is a last of its kind movie experience, offering you a private and vintage screening experience. Drive-in movies allow you to chat with your partner about the movie without being shushed and create a unique viewing experience.
A reimagined retelling of the classic Emily Brontë romance novel “Wuthering Heights” is set to play at West Wind Drive-In on Valentine’s Day.
Tickets for “Wuthering Heights” and all movies can be purchased online at westwinddi.com/locations/glendale when they go on sale.
Reporting by Paige Moore, Arizona Republic
