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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the pressure is on to make the day special for you and a loved one. Since Rob and I don’t like to spend too much on Valentine’s Day, and prefer being active (it’s a running joke that I can’t sit still), I thought I’d share a few date ideas if you and your SO are the same way.

If you’re going the present route, check out how to put together 12 months of dates.

Have a Wine, Cheese, and a Movie Night – Even though we are not good at sitting still, when you arrange some new types of cheese on a Cheese Board and a delicious wine in front of me, I am usually good for almost an entire movie. Having something to do (eat cheese) while watching a film (from Netflix or Redbox) makes for a fun evening.

If your King Soopers has a cheese section, they have small samples of cheeses for $5 or less!

Bar Hop – A few weekends ago, Rob and I decided to stop for one drink in each of the bars in Old Town Littleton that we had not been too. We had a blast sipping cocktails at four different places and then moving on. We indulged by getting drinks we normally would never order like Prosecco and a Whiskey-Absinthe concoction.

Compete in a Game Night – Get a little friendly competition going with a board game or two. Scrabble is a good game for two players. Take it outside to play (if the weather in your area is nice), or make it more interesting by only playing words that have to do with a specific category (i.e. nature, food, movies).

See a Movie at a Theater with Recliner Seats – Before seeing the Hunger Games over winter break, Rob and I hadn’t been to a movie theater in over 6 months. The theater we went to had recliner seats, huge arms rests, and about 50 people total. It was such a fun and special experience for us!

Take a Cooking Class – Rob and I had a blast during our stay-cation honeymoon taking an Iron Chef cooking class at Stir to Learn. It was a bit pricey, and probably the most expensive date on this list, but it was a complete blast! Check if there is a cooking class in your town and schedule a spot. Stir to Learn had a bartender as well, which gave the night an even more special feel.

Run a Race – Adventure races, 5k’s, and other fun competitions are available just about every weekend. Pick a race and have fun either competing against each other, or just having fun together on the course. You get up, get active, and many races offer some tasty libations after the event.

Chopped Night – One of our favorite channels is the Food Network, and a favorite show is Chopped. For a little fun, head to the grocery store and pick out a 4 ingredients that the other person has to use to cook something for dinner, dessert, or an appetizer. Good luck!

Pick Out a Groupon Experience (and then go have it). – Rob and I are huge fans of giving experiences rather than things. As such, we spend a lot of time pursuing Groupon. Make a date to pick out an experience and then go have it! Who knows what you will discover!

See a Show – Old Town Littleton has a super cute little theater that only sells tickets to their shows an hour before curtain. The tickets are inexpensive (under $40), the shows are pretty good, and it makes for a special evening out. Find a local theater in your neck of the woods and try it out.

Have an Active Day – If the sun is out, and it’s warm enough, plan an activity day. The only requirement is to do two activities or more in one day. That way a long hike doesn’t get boring, and the faster cyclist doesn’t leave the other person behind all day. We like to go for a bike ride and then a short run or hike at the place we rode to. Bring snacks and plenty of water!

Go Wine/Beer Tasting – The best part of going wine or beer tasting? Often times there is more than one place to taste. You get to move locations, try new things, and talk to new people. Check Groupon for deals to make it a bit less expensive.

Visit a Casino – Laughlin, day or spend night – While we’re not huge gamblers, some of our fondest memories were spending a night or two at a casino. Laughlin, the cheap version of Vegas, was a blast. Find a casino near you to visit for the day, or the night if you can swing it, take $5-10 each and see how long you can make it last. You’re up, you’re moving, and you’re doing something together.

Take a Fitness Class You’ve Been Wanting to Try – Many gyms (like Orangetheory) offer a first class free and some Corepower Yoga’s offer a free class once a week. Head out for a new sweat fest you can enjoy experiencing together.

Now that you have plenty ideas on how to make the 14th special, start planning them!

RQ: What are some of your favorite cheap and active dates?

Brooke Selb

I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.