Blog / 8 Easy & Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

8 Easy & Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast. Are you looking for an alternative to the traditional and often expensive dinner date night? Whether you’re on a budget or you just want to do something different, but special, here are some fun, easy and inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day that are sweeter than a box of chocolate.

1. Plan a Scenic Drive with a Picnic

Have you been wanting to check out a quaint little town or a stunning ocean or mountain view? Pack a picnic lunch or dinner, toss a few blankets in the car if it’s chilly, and hit the road. Exploring a new destination on Valentine’s Day (or the weekend before if you want to make a day out of it) makes it even more special.

2. Explore Your City

If you live near a city yet have never truly explored it, spend Valentine’s Day playing tourist. Check out your city’s bureau of tourism website to discover walking tours, museums you’ve never visited, or other hidden treasures. You can also look at these websites and travel apps for recommended sites to see in your city:

3. Binge-Watch Your Favorite Valentine’s Day Movies

Make a big batch of popcorn, light the fireplace, and line up your favorite classic romantic or rom-com movies. Here are some popular choices:

The Notebook
Moonstruck
You’ve Got Mail
Four Weddings and a Funeral
The Princess Bride
Pride and Prejudice
Waiting to Exhale
When Harry Met Sally
Bridget Jones Diary
Love Actually
Casablanca

4. Play Board or Card Games

Whether you’re celebrating with your significant other, the entire family or you’re hosting Galantine’s Day, pull out the board games or a deck of cards for some friendly competition. Make a pot of hot chocolate with marshmallows or pour some bubbly if everyone’s over 21 and get ready to face off.

5. Take a Cooking Class and Make a Fancy Dinner Together

If you enjoy cooking and want to expand your skills or learn a new dish, try a virtual or an in-person cooking class. Masterclass streams cooking classes on all different cuisines taught by top chefs. Sur la Table offers a variety of small group Date Night classes in their stores or Night-In classes that are held virtually — as in your own kitchen.

6. Order In and Stream Some Stand-Up Comedy

If cooking isn’t your thing (or you need a night off from washing dishes), treat yourself to take-out from Rubio’s. Set a pretty table, light some candles, and enjoy your favorite Taco Plate, Burrito, or Bowl by romantic candlelight. After dinner, check out some stand-up comedy on Netflix or your favorite streaming service and prepare to laugh as loud as you like — there’s no crowd to watch you.

7. Try Your Hand at Painting

There are lots of paint and wine studios around, but why not try it at home with some help and direction from an art teacher. YouTube has plenty of options for painting classes, like those from The Art Sherpa. Just hit the craft store ahead of time and pick up some canvas, paint, and brushes. Or keep your paint project even easier and pick up paint-by-number kits for adults at the craft store or on Amazon. As a bonus, you’ll get a few new pieces of art for your home.

8. Get Crafty with DIY Valentines

Sure, you can hit the drug store and buy a card, and chocolate is always good, but homemade cards and gifts are so much more thoughtful and special! Try your hand at these DIY gifts:

And for the taco lovers in your life, share these super-fun Rubio’s Valentines. They feature taco, burrito, or guac-inspired Valentine’s messages like You Guac My World. Download any or all these cute designs for printable cards or wallpaper for your phone or computer for free!

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Rubio’s!