I hate to be the bearer of bad news (and I’m hoping you already knew this) but it’s probably too late to get reservations at that nice fancy restaurant down the street for Valentine’s Day. But that doesn’t mean your evening has to be completely devoid of romance… Texas has some pretty swoon-worthy date spots if you know where to look. Check out this guide of last-minute ways to show your sweetheart how much you care for them — with little to no effort, cash or reservations required!
Pick Out Chocolates Together
Smooth your forgetting-to-buy-chocolates crisis into a fun date night. Texas has a wide range of creative confectioneries like Maggie Louise Confections, which offers glittery gourmet shapes and Wiseman House Chocolates that has delicious truffles, so visit with your Valentine and let them fill up on their choice of sweets. Check out the full list of gourmet chocolates across the state.
Toast a Glass of Wine or Beer
Merlot is red, rosé is pink. Get your Valentine a glass (or two or three!) of fine wines to drink. Since the Texas wine industry is rising in the national ranks, spending Valentine’s Day sipping through a wine trail is a no-brainer. There are tons of wineries in Texas with amazing views and luxurious wines! More a beer kinda-couple? Texas is packed with amazing craft breweries that require no reservations to visit their taprooms, and some even give tours! Here’s a list of Hill Country breweries to get you started.
Pick Flowers Together
Flowers are hard to find in the winter, but don’t sweat it. Take your Valentine to one of the state’s beautiful gardens. You can stop and smell the roses (literally) at Tyler’s Municipal Gardens or enjoy live music at The Dallas Arboretum. If you’re looking for a date that really sticks out, wander through East Austin Succulents‘ wide selection of cacti.
Get Outdoors
It just so happens that Valentine’s Day this year is gonna be a warm one. Take advantage of that great weather with a hike or picnic at one of the various state parks in Texas. Check this calendar for romantic park events that are ALL FREE and require NO RESERVATIONS, or start exploring with this list!
Stargaze
It’s the traditional old-Hollywood kinda date that’s pretty cheap and very romantic. You can hike to one of Texas’s prettiest sights at night and see the stars untouched by city lights, or, the less tiring option is to let the professionals do all the hard work for you at a star party at the McDonald Observatory or George Observatory.
Two-Step with your Sweetheart
Always a go-to Texan date! Grab your dancin’ boots and your Valentine, and head out to one of Texas’s historic dance halls for live music and a great time! There’s nothing quite as romantic as twirling across old, wooden floors with the one you love.
Catch a classic flick
Bring back the memories of young puppy-love and taking your high school crush to the movies by catching a classic black and white flick with your Valentine. It’ll be warm enough to hit the drive-in theater or check out one of Texas’s historic theaters that are still showing movies.
