February is here, which means Valentine's Day is nearly upon us.
While most people would like to give their loved ones a magical day, the continued sting of inflation can complicate that. That's why we're sharing some budget-friendly ideas you can mix and match to have a fun romantic day with your loved one.
Cook Together
One great option is to cook a nice meal together to avoid an expensive night out at a crowded restaurant and spend quality time in the kitchen. If you have a special recipe that's meaningful in mind, make sure to follow the tips in our Combatting Inflation blog on effectively planning your trip to the grocery store. If you're not an expert chef, there are a number of restaurants in Philadelphia that offer take-home DIY meal kits that are more affordable than dining in at those restaurants. Dock Street Brewery in Point Breeze offers make your own pizza kits, Tuna Bar in Old City has sushi making kits, Oyster House in Rittenhouse Square offers a variety of seafood making options, and Hudson Table in Northern Liberties offers an array of high-end meal kits. Whatever you are craving, there is likely a local DIY option for you this Valentine's Day.
Movie Night In
With the amount of movie options available on streaming services, there has never been a better time to have a relaxing movie night at home. Before the evening begins, consider stopping by the grocery store to pick up you and your partner's favorite snacks. Then, settle in, get cozy, and enjoy a movie marathon without having to worry about ballooning movie theater ticket and snack prices.
Scenic Hike
Weather dependent, being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, is good for the soul. There are a number of excellent options for hiking that offer a variety of different experiences within 90 minutes of Philly. There's the Pinnacle Loop in Hamburg, which offers views of the Lehigh Valley and surrounding ridges. At the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, you might be able to catch a glimpse of some red-tailed hawks, osprey, and bald eagles while on your hike. For the history buffs out there, there is the Valley Forge National Historic Park in King of Prussia, where you can walk through the very site the Continental Army camped during the winter of 1777-1778 in the midst of the Revolutionary War. Right in Philly there are couple of excellent options as well that provide an immersive nature experience such as Wissahickon Valley Park and the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. There's a trail out there for any couple looking for an enjoyable hike.
Get Artsy
Another option is to get your creativity flowing and create art together. There are a variety of different art studios in the Philadelphia area that allow creative couples of all skill levels to come and create. Some even allow you to enjoy a drink while doing so. Yay Clay in Kensington offers 2-hour instructional dates for those interested in pottery for $75 a person. They are also offering a special Valentine's Day Clay Date that is $225 for a couple that includes champagne or sparkling cider and chocolate along with the pottery class. If you're looking to paint and sip, there's a variety of choices including Painting With a Twist in Society Hill and Pinot's Palette in Cherry Hill. Both of those options offer paint at home kits for those that would like to get artsy from the comfort of home. They both also have classes on Valentine's Day with spots going for around $40 per person at each.
Game Night
Another dependable option is to feed your competitive nature with a game night. Whether you're into classic board games like Monopoly or Clue, or are a gamer and have one of the popular video game consoles, either is a recipe for a fun night in together. Something you can do to add to the fun is picking up something to drink for the other from a local brewery/distillery/winery, and there are plenty of mocktail options as well. You can have your own mini drink tasting while having some good, fun competition.
This Valentine's Day, you do not need to break the bank to have a nice day or evening with your loved one. Planning ahead with one of these options, you won't have to worry about this holiday's financial impact