Great Date Ideas for Valentine's Day in Memphis, Tennessee

Valentine's Day is right around the corner; are you prepared? Every year, millions of people will attempt to plan the perfect date for that special someone in their life, and spend countless hours asking friends and family for advice. Where do you take a date? Will it be fun? Well, you're in luck if you live in Memphis, Tennessee. I have recommendations for some of the best restaurants in town and a list of ideas for after dinner that will be a sure winner for your Valentine's Day date this year.

Before the dinner recommendations begin, let's quickly go over the big detail that so many guys forget - flowers. Come on guys, it Valentine's Day! Nothing says 'I love you' like roses! Or, if you are not ready for the 'I love you' just yet, there are several other flower types that are suitable, such as carnations, daisies, mums, etc. If you plan on having a date, go ahead and plan on beginning the date with flowers. They do not have to be expensive either - Wal-Mart usually has a nice assortment that is low cost.

In the Memphis area, there are several nice restaurants that you could chose from. The Tower Room, at the top of the Clark Tower on Poplar Avenue, is one of my favorite places since their menu is broad and has many options from seafood to steak. The Tower Room provides guests with an amazing view of Memphis, and a romantic, candlelit atmosphere. Another option is Texas de Brazil, which is located on Peabody Place near the Hampton Inn. Texas de Brazil is a unique dining experience - the continuously bring you meat, and their salad bar is wonderful. The hip atmosphere is energetic, and this would be a great place to start the night if you plan on visiting Beale Street later. Another restaurant that is different from others is Firebirds. Located at the Collierville Mall (off 385 and Houston Levee), Firebirds has a warm atmosphere that is inviting and relaxing. Firebirds is known for their wood burning oven, and in my opinion, they have the best salmon in town. If you are in the northern Mississippi area, a great seafood restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere is the Boiling Point (located at 55 and Church Road in Southaven). The Boiling Point has wonderful Cajun cuisine, and the restaurant has a great bar with a friendly atmosphere. Other restaurants worth considering include Ruth Chris steakhouse, Boscos restaurant and brewery in Overton Square, Bonefish Grill, Half Shell and Houston's.

Since it is Valentine's Day, and there will be many others that are out on a date as well, I would highly recommend making a dinner reservation. One of the major benefits to upscale dining is that most of them will accept either reservations or call ahead. For Valentine's Day, a reservation is a great way to not have to sit in the lobby for extended amounts of time.

Once dinner is over, what's next? There are several things to do in the Memphis area. You could always go the route of the tried and true - go to a movie. If you would rather go out on the town, there are several options as well. Overton Square has restaurants, such as Boscos, with great bars and drinks. This is a sophisticated crowd, and is always a good time. Beale Street downtown is where the nightlife of Memphis lives. From Blues City cafe to Coyote Ugly to Wet Willies and Silky O'Sullivan's, there is always good music, good drinks and good times. Most bars on Beale Street have live music, so check out their websites to see whats on the agenda for Valentine's Day.

A different kind of Valentine's Day date could include things like bowling or putt putt. Also, there is the possibility of playing laser tag (located off Poplar Avenue). Of course, never count out the fun of roller skating! Dates that go to places like these often bring out the inner-kid in us all. So definitely think about this as an option.

If you like sports, just not playing them, you could go to a Mississippi Riverkings game. The riverkings have a home game on Valentine's Day against Odessa. The riverkings play at the Desoto Civic Center in Southaven (off 55 and Church Road). Just to bring it up - the Boiling Point is 1/4 mile from the Desoto Civic Center, and many fans (and some of the players) will go to the Boiling Point after the game to enjoy drinks. The Boiling Point is a fun environment, and as mentioned earlier, they have great drinks.

Whatever you do decide to do on Valentine's Day in Memphis, just make sure to plan ahead. Know where you are taking your date to dinner, and have a game plan for what you will do after dinner. But most importantly, remember to enjoy the time you are spending with that special someone!