Valentine’s Day in Colorado
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and that means it’s time to show that special someone just how much you care. But Valentine’s Day is different for everyone: some couples go all out on a weekend getaway or a fancy day at the spa, and others look forward to a quiet night at home with a bottle of wine and an evening spent snuggling on the couch with their favorite person. For some who have just started dating, Valentine’s Day can be a day of stress and unsurety if you don’t yet know where you stand in the relationship, and for others who have been together for decades, it might seem more like a monotonous, obligatory tradition with little meaning. But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be stressful or a chore, because there are endless ways to show your significant other that you care besides the standard flowers and candy. Every love story is different, but Colorado has the perfect romantic option for you, no matter what you’re looking for.
For the Foodie Couple
There are so many greats bars, pubs, and restaurants in Colorado that hold Valentine’s Day specials, so you can someplace new while also getting a great deal and a romantic setting. At Grand Junction Brewing Co., Valentine’s Day means an epic 5-course dinner, with each course specially paired with a different type of beer, and at Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club in Denver, V-Day dinner means four courses of oysters, crawfish gumbo, lobster risotto, house made chocolates, and the smooth sounds of a live jazz group. In Snowmass, Toro Kitchen has a special Aphrodisiac Menu, and in Estes Park, the Wine and Chocolate Festival lands on the weekend before Valentine’s Day.
For the Outdoorsy Couple
Pack small picnic, along with a bottle of champagne or a couple of cold beers in your backpack and head out with your loved one for a romantic hike. Along the way, stop to steal a few kisses and take a couple of selfies with a great backdrop. Colorado’s parks and trail systems boast some of the most spectacular views in the world, and you’ll enjoy the peaceful beauty of the great outdoors as a perfect excuse to spend time with one another.
For the Couple who Needs to Relax
The abundance of natural hot springs in Colorado offers a unique and romantic way to spend V-Day. At Strawberry Hot Springs near Steamboat, you can relax until midnight in one of many small, intimate pools while around you, snow falls and mingles with the steam coming off the 104 degree springs. At Glenwood Hot Springs Resort Pool, you can sit back and soak, or even do laps in the massive hot springs pool, or enjoy a relaxing couple’s massage at the Spa of the Rockies.
For Singles, or for the Couple that Doesn’t Really ‘Do’ Valentine’s Day
On Friday, February 15, hop on the Local Motive Party Bus in Colorado Springs for an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party Bus Bar Crawl to spend your night drinking, meeting new people, and burning old love letters. In Fort Collins, Pour Brothers hosts an annual Singles Awareness Party on February 14th, with drink specials and even a date auction which benefits a local animal rescue.
For the Couple on a Budget
Just because you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on dinner or events doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun and romantic Valentine’s Day. In Loveland, the 1st annual Sweetheart Festival has free entry, and includes live music, a love lock sculpture, a beer garden, and other art installations and entertainment options. You can also check out The Source in Denver, which is hosting a Craft Cacao & Chocolate pop-up market with some of the best chocolate retailers in Colorado, for a delicious excursion (also with free entry!).
For a Nontraditional Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to mean flowers or a fancy dinner. Spend your evening doing something new and fun with your sweetie, like taking a cake decorating class at My Make Studio in Denver (cakes are heart-shaped leading up to V-Day, but on February 15th, the theme will be ANTI-Valentine’s Day), or touring the Denver Botanic Gardens. You could also snuggle up for a scenic ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for their annual Romance on the Rails event on Saturday, February 16th.
For a Romantic Weekend Getaway
Maybe you’re parents, and you’ve managed to get a sitter for the entire weekend, or maybe you’re looking for a break from the real world, but either way, you’ve got options. Curl up in front of a roaring fire in one of these secluded mountain cabin destinations near Durango, or rent a rustic backcountry hut for even more privacy. For a weekend spent a little closer to civilization, or a more structured list of activities during your trip, try one of Colorado’s amazing mountain ski resorts, or rent a luxury home or apartment in the city for an exciting and romantic weekend on the town with your sweetheart.
For the Spontaneous (but Committed!) Couple
Every year at the Ptarmigan Roost Cabin, located at 12,050 feet, Lovalend Ski Area hosts their annual Mountaintop Matrimony, a mass wedding that has been a Loveland tradition for almost three decades. Couples looking to tie the knot in a unique way this Valentine’s Day will need to preregister online, after which they will receive information about the Marry Me Ski for Free lift ticket specials. Once you’ve said “I do”, you’ll ski down the slopes to attend the Honeymooner’s Apres Party which is held after the ceremony and features cake, drinks, music, and contests.
For Everyone
Whether you go all out on a fancy dinner or spend the night at home in a pair of sweatpants, one thing is for sure: Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to spend some quality time with the person you love most.
