Valentines Day in Seattle: Tips to Make it Special

Can't afford to give your sweetheart emeralds for Valentine's Day? Give the "Emerald City," instead - Seattle. Create a memory that will last a lifetime for that special someone in your life. The beautiful and vibrant city of Seattle is the perfect place to celebrate a romantic day, evening, or an intimate getaway for lovers. Whether this is your first Valentines Day together or one of many, Seattle offers everything you will need to make it a truly memorable celebration. It is a city that seems custom-made for love and romance. Start planning your ideal celebration in Seattle with these tips to make it special.

Valentines Day doesn't have to be all about flowers, chocolates, and a syrupy Hallmark Card. Create a unique celebration around famous landmarks like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, or the bustling and beautiful waterfront. All are within walking distance or a short cab ride of posh hotels, world class restaurants, and a varied and vibrant nightlife. Seattle offers so many great ways to make Valentines Day as extraordinary as your love for that special person in your life. Bring along the flowers, chocolates and card, if you must, but use these hints and tips to show your lover just how truly thoughtful you are.

Daytime Romance

Moonlight and roses aren't the only ways to show your love this Valentine's Day. Romance flourishes in the daytime, too. Treat your lover to a day of fun with favorite activities or a day of new discoveries:

- Give the gift of a team jersey and take in an afternoon ballgame.

- Explore local art museums. Do lunch in a quaint café along the way.

- Take along a digital camera - spend the afternoon playing "tourist" and ask people to take pictures of the two of you at local landmarks.

- Hold hands and snuggle in the dark during a movie matinee.

- Explore the city together. Sign up for a guided tour.

Romance After Dark

If moonlight becomes you and an evening on the town is your lover's idea of the perfect romantic evening, try one of these ideas for Valentine's Day love after dark:

- An intimate dinner is a sure bet, but spread your wings a little with an unusual cuisine. Give an inexpensive gift as a reminder of your culinary adventure - a French beret or Hawaiian lei, perhaps?

- Make it a formal night to remember. Rent the tux or put on the gown and make it a posh evening of symphony, opera, or ballet.

- Enjoy an evening of laughter with a dinner theater comedy, mystery night, or the gags of stand-up comics.

- Find a great piano bar for an evening of cocktails and music. Tip the piano player to play your lover's favorite songs.

Romantic Get-Away For Two

Many of the quality hotels in Seattle offer special Valentine's Day packages for lovers. Check the local newspaper or contact your favorite hotels for details and reservations. Make your reservations early, however. The better hotels fill up quickly well in advance of Valentine's Day. Add one of these special touches to your plans to make your romantic get-away for two extraordinary:

- Reserve a spa suite with a Jacuzzi tub for two and thick, fluffy bathrobes. Pack the scented candles, fragrant bath salts, and take along a bottle of bubbly to put on ice.

- Arrange for a late check-out time so you can linger over breakfast in bed. Don't forget the mimosas.

- Arrange for a surprise candlelit dinner to be set up in your room while you enjoy before-dinner cocktails and music in the hotel lounge.

- Schedule a morning-after visit to the hotel spa for both of you. Take a steam, lounge in the Jacuzzi, and enjoy a massage. It is a sure cure for hangover or lack of sleep.

However you choose to spend Valentines Day in Seattle, use these tips to make it special and memorable for your lover and for yourself. Nothing says "I love you" quite like going that extra mile to make your celebration in Seattle extraordinary.