Whether you're single and mingling, recently engaged or married with children, making the effort to enjoy unique and exciting Valentine's Day goings-on can uplift your spirits and add some spice to a typically predictable holiday.
This Valentine's Day, dare yourself out of the dullness of flowers, dinner and a movie. Lehigh Valley is home to some fun and exclusive options to celebrate this “day of love.” Go for a change and try one of these five romantic alternatives.
1. Dance the Night Away
Even if you think you always embarrass yourself, there's nothing like having your special someone there with you. Grab your partner and mix it up with a Valentine's date full of music and dancing. Head over to The Gas House Dance Hall on February 13 at 7 p.m. for swing dance lessons, and then at 8 p.m., the Rockabilly band Tweed & the Sugardaddies will take the stage to rock your one-off, dance-filled Valentine's night.
$15 | The Gas House Dance Hall | 311 Front St., Catasauqua | 610.443.0707 | thegashousedancehall.com
2. Love Flights
At Clover Hill Winery's Breinigsville location on February 13 through February 16, taste something new or enjoy a local favorite—with a Valentine's twist. This annual Love Flights celebration invites you to choose from a flight of either four dry or four sweet wines, each paired with a sampling of food. Although tickets are $10 each (additional 10 percent discount for Senior Citizens on February 16), and reservations are required, make a mini-vacation out of it. Check out other interesting wineries on the legendary Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, or even better, plan a romantic stay at a nearby full-service hotel, resort or bed and breakfast.
Holiday Inn and Conference Center | Breinigsville | holidayinn.comBear Creek Mountain Resort | Macungie | bcmountainresort.comGlasbern Inn Country Inn Bed & Breakfast | Fogelsville | glasbern.com
3. A Murder Mystery for Two
Nothing turns Valentine's Day into an out of the ordinary experience like solving a murder. Mayhem at Hotel Bethlehem on February 19 through February 21 expands dinner theatre into a full weekend of immersive crime cracking. This Valentine's special includes a three day, two night interactive stay with Friday night hors d'oeuvres and cash bar, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet and a Sunday musical brunch when the murderer is revealed. Keith O'Leary and Margo Morrison produce this Murder Mystery Weekend, with clever plots beginning Friday night, when actors blend in and begin to incite the investigation. By the end of the weekend, detectives will have made you think about motives for murder and try to solve the mystery. But don't be too scared; there will be plenty of time to escape the mayhem and explore the romantic happenings in historic Bethlehem.
Starting at $449 | Hotel Bethlehem | 437 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.625.5000 | hotelbethlehem.com
4. Fitness Fun
Party with your partner—and get in shape too. The Spread the Love Fitness Party at the West End Youth Center on February 13 offers a special Valentine's Day workout session. The two-hour fitness party will feature Lehigh Valley's top group-certified instructors of Zumba, Ripped and Core training. While your date might be hesitant to spend your night together at the gym, participating in the Spread the Love Fitness Party will not only break the mold of a traditional date, but also bring you closer as you participate in some of the most effective fitness courses.
$10 | West End Youth Center | 848 N 20th St., Allentown | facebook.com
4. Paint Your Love
Get to know your sweetheart a little better this Valentine's Day by sharing your creative side. With sweet chocolates and snacks at each designing table decorated with flowers, Color Me Mine is inviting you to come and “paint for two” at their Valentine's Date Night on February 13. You and your date can pick your favorite ceramic “smooch” mugs and then paint them together. Laugh at each other's silly design or discover the Picasso in your partner. Staff will be there to help you personalize your design any way you like! Take your masterpiece home or come back in one week to get your mugs glazed, fired and finished. Sparkling cider is provided and you are welcome to BYOB; make your Valentine's Day this year a fun and quirky memory.
$50 | Color Me Mine | 25 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.791.2228 | colormemine.com
