Anti-Valentine's Day Activities

So you want to have an anti-Valentine's Day? All right. Here's where you start! Get some friends together. I don't think it matters if they're male or female, since I'm female but most of my friends aren't. You just need the people you're close to around, since that counteracts the "I'm alone" feelings some of us tend to get around the holiday. Now that you've got your friends together, you'll need to choose an activity. My advice is to steer clear of movies, since most of what you're likely to see is couples on dates. Restaurants may be the same thing, so my suggestions are going to be a little bit off kilter from most nights out.

Geocaching. In this activity, you need a GPS, and to go to their website. It's a treasure hunt with coordinates! This is a great outdoor activity that can not only get your mind off the holiday, but will get you exercise and you might even see places in your city you never knew were there- I certainly have. The website is free to join, and you can find some neat treasures in the caches sometimes.

Pool. You know, 8 ball and the like. Go to a pool hall, and have some fun with your friends. Designate a driver, if you're all of age, and have a few drinks. There aren't likely to be many couples in a crowded (or maybe not so crowded, if it's a weekday) pool hall. It should be sufficient to distract you all!

Laser Tag. Find a laster tag arena near you, and go shoot up your friends! If you're lucky, there might even be children there to target. (This is a joke, of course.) The most intimate thing you'll see here is that you shot one player 14 times during a game, and you'll have a lot of fun going Mission Impossible.

Sightseeing. Pick up one of those big blue atlases for your state, and find something close by you never knew was there. There will be little icons on the map to show parks, scenic views, and things like that. Go see them! Be a tourist, even if it's the off season; the businesses that thrive on summer tourists will be glad for it. If it's cold where you are, ice skating can be a fun alternative to boating, just make sure that ice is solid.

Rock climbing. There are lots of indoor rock arenas around. Grab those friends and get to one. With a group, most places will offer some lessons for free, and you can learn to not only climb, but belay as well. This is a great activity for those who don't mind something a little more strenuous. Works to conquer a fear of heights, too, if you work at it slowly.