Five Unique Valentine's Day Dates

A unique Valentine's date is one pursuit that need not be complicated. After all, Valentine's day comes once a year, and is not necessarily something that should dictate the success or failure of a relationship. Still, offering a great Valentine date can keep you out of the doghouse and leave your sweetheart thinking highly of your romantic skills. Here are five great Valentine's dates you may have never considered:

Visit a Chocolatier. Chocolate is a Valentine staple, and many chocolate factories offer factory tours for chocolate fans nationwide. Hershey's even has a chocolate park you can visit. No local chocolate factory? Consider scheduling a "tour" of local confection shops an bakeries that offer homemade selections you can watch being made. Be sure to budget a little out for bringing home a sample from each shop and take plenty of photos as permitted. Online chocolate tours are also available for those who can't get out. Be sure to order samples of each company's wares prior to starting your online tour and call it an evening of decadent chocolate tasting.

A photo session can be fun. To have a great afternoon, the first step is to get together a great wardrobe. Head to a thrift store and buy plenty of great gear. Set up a special area in your house for getting ready, using purchased long mirrors to make the perfect place to dress. Have a few backdrops in different colors, and play photog. Take turns, and be sure to have fun. End the day with a picnic on the floor.

Indoor gardens like Indiana's White River Gardens can provide romantics with information on where their favorite blooms originate and how some of the best flowers are grown. Many of these gardens are year-round destinations that allow visitors to get up close and personal with plants, some of which can be rare. A Valentine's Day without flowers is like a colorless playground. They make romance so much more romantic and fragrant, but who says you have to buy the flowers. For an even better gesture, purchase year passes, or for free gardens offer to return monthly to watch the progression of the plants.

Stimulating the mind can be much more memorable than a box of candy and a rose. Consider purchasing annual passes to a zoo, museum, or civic program and heading there for a wonderful Valentine afternoon. Not only will this Valentine date be a memorable one, it can also provide many more dates and experiences. Most zoos and museums offer special members only programs in addition to free admission after the initial membership purchase.

Trying something new can make a fun Valentine date. Is there a cuisine that you have never tried? How about an evening tasting unique fruit or investigating varieties of wine or spirits? Do you know the difference between types of cheese? An afternoon of discovery might be a great Valentine surprise. Be sure to share opinions, laugh, and even critique together.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, and remember that maintaining love, curiosity, and compassion every day is the best way to keep romance alive. One day a year is set aside for lovers, but true love should never need a special day to express itself.