In honor of Valentine’s Day, here is a collection of thoughtful and exciting dates throughout Texas to plan for in the month of February.
Gaze at the Galaxy – COLORADO BEND, TEXAS
Located about two hours northwest of Austin, travel to Colorado Bend State Park for a night spent under the stars and immersed in nature. This February 14, the state park is hosting a Gaze at the Galaxy event, where nature lovers can discover the interstellar phenomenons of space during the waning gibbous moon phase. The changing shadows of the moon-viewing will occur from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m at the north area campground. Do not forget to pack a couple of flashlights, portable chairs, and a cozy blanket to accompany the evening’s festivities. Valentine’s Day participants interested in camping, hiking, and the other activities Colorado Bend State Park offers should visit the website.
milk + honey day spa – AUSTIN, TEXAS
Indulge in a little tender loving care this Valentine’s Day at milk + honey day spa in Austin. Founded by Alissa Bayer, the University of Texas at Austin graduate began the retreat center after falling in love with the city but noticing it did not have an urban day spa. Milk + honey offers clients a large variety of soothing massages, facials, salon services, and more. The award-winning spa center also provides body treatments that focus on the relaxation, hydration, and exfoliation of the skin. For something a little more special, clients can schedule a Couples Retreat package, including a signature massage, facial, and manicure for you and your significant other. Enjoy the luxurious treatment of a spa day with the one you love at milk + honey day spa. For more information on their services and pricing, visit the website.
San Antonio Botanical Garden – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Take the scenic route with your Valentine at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Located in the heart of the city, the nature center offers a variety of color, texture, and aromas to visitors. Take a romantic stroll through the 38 acres of the botanical gardens, with every inch of the greenery being a picturesque opportunity. Immerse yourselves in the sweet fragrances of the Rose Garden or go exploring throughout the Lucile Halsell Conservatory, surrounded by the courtyard. There are endless opportunities for you and your significant other to participate in nature walks or birding adventures at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. For more information on the nature center’s hours of operation and location, visit the website.
Dallas by Chocolate – DALLAS, TEXAS
Get a taste of what Dallas has to offer for Valentine’s Day with a food tour. Perfect for food aficionados and chocolate lovers, the Dallas by Chocolate tours offer attendees the opportunity to taste and see the rich and savory establishments around the city. The tours began in 2012 after the creator, Jeanine Stevens, used the years she spent learning about the best chocolate factories and restaurants and turned it into a business. The Chicago-native and self-proclaimed chocoholic, along with her staff of tour guides, provide attendees with the unique eating experiences depending on the tour of choice. Valentine’s Tours range from decadent chocolate to champagne, to a delicious Italian dinner. Skip the box of chocolates this February, and take it to the next level. Check out the website for more information on how to book a Valentine’s Day tour in advance.
13 Celsius – HOUSTON, TEXAS
Looking to cuddle up with your significant other with a glass of wine in hand? An evening at 13 Celsius may be just the Valentine’s Day date for you. Located in Midtown, this Houston wine bar infuses the best libations and snack foods into a world-class experience. Taking their adventures from small European wine bars, the founders, Ian Rosenburg and Michael Sammons, created a new way to experience wine by opening 13 Celsius in December 2006. Their expert sommelier staff is equipped with ample knowledge of the elaborate selection of wines to serve on your date night, as they also host wine flights and wine tastings. If you and your Valentine fall in love with a specific bottle, 13 Celsuis’s entire selection is available to take home and enjoy. If you prefer a draft libation, the bar also focuses on seasonal and small production brews. Pair your wine to aged cheese, as part of their charcuterie program, and taste one of 13 Celsuis’s handmade truffles this Valentine’s Day. Visit their website for an extensive look at the menu and hours of operation.
house. wine. & bistro. – MCALLEN, TEXAS
Wine and dine your Valentine with a classic romantic dinner date at house. wine. & bistro. The McAllen restaurant, created by Larry and Jessica Delgado, aims to tear down the frigidity of upscale restaurant stuffiness and encourage an environment for all to enjoy flavorful food. The husband and wife duo manage the Delgado collective, including SALT New American Table and Salome on Main. Begin dinner with one of their starters from a charcuterie board of the chef’s seasonal selections to the French escargot with heirloom tomatoes. Try the house. wine. & bistro. house favorites: butternut squash risotto, lamb chops, or even their homemade semolina pasta. End your date night on a sweet note with a selection from the dessert menu, with each decadent pastry perfectly paired with the ideal dessert wine. Take the worry out of dinner plans by experiencing what house. wine. & bistro has to offer this Cupid’s day. For more information about their menu items, location, and hours of operation, visit the website.
Blue Starlite Mini Boutique Drive-In – AUSTIN, TEXAS
What began over ten years ago has turned into a retro drive-in for Austinites and Texans to enjoy. The Blue Starlite Mini Boutique Drive-In, based in the middle of Austin, offers an exclusive take on the classic date of drive-in movie theatres. With its fame rising in the 1950s, drive-in movie theaters offered movie lovers across the United States the opportunity to watch several movies at a time within the comfort of their own vehicle. Today, this Texas boutique drive-in offers a more intimate and retro approach to watching movies with your significant other this Valentine’s Day. The smaller lot and limited amount of tickets per show limits the number of moviegoers in attendance, creating a more intimate setting for the holiday date night. With their Valentine’s Day pre-registration package, select which of the classic movies your significant other would prefer to watch, from Breakfast at Tiffany’s to The Notebook, and how you wish to experience it. Drive-in attendees can choose between watching the movie under the stars or in your vehicle as spectators did in the 1950s. Visit the Blue Starlight Drive-In website for more information on their Valentines at the Drive-In dates, availability, and pricing.
JAZZ, TX – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Escape the mundane every day into a world of jazz this Cupid’s day. A combination of Texas dance hall and restaurant, Jazz, TX presents a new way to appreciate the intricate and melodic genre of jazz in San Antonio. The upscale jazz club is located in the Bottling House at the Historic Pearl Brewery, a location picturesque from every angle. Owner and musician Doc Watkins and his orchestra perform a variety of music including the blues, salsa, Texas Swing, and more while guests sip on the Texas beer on tap or trendy cocktails. This Valentine’s Day, the band will perform a classic arrangement of the genre’s greatest artists: Sinatra, Ellington, and Bassie. The two shows on Friday, February 14 will occur at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Read more about Doc Watkins and the Jazz, TX origin story in our article Home in San Antone at Jazz, TX. To listen and dance to the live music at Jazz, TX, visit the website for information regarding pricing and availability on Valentine’s Day.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier – GALVESTON, TEXAS
Bring out the kid in your significant other this Valentine’s Day with a trip to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The Texas amusement park, located just off the Gulf of Mexico, packs that nostalgic fun with classic rides and games to enjoy. After a 2012 multi-million dollar renovation made by Landry’s, Inc. the park, originally built as a recreational facility for the military during World War II, was reopened to the public as a premier amusement park. Take your relationship to new heights with rides like the Texas Star Flyer or the Gulf Glider. End the night of fun with dinner at one of the pier’s several dining options from seafood to steak. Do not forget to sneak an amusement park snack like cotton candy or a caramel apple before you leave. Visit the website for detailed information on restaurants, shops, and other visitor questions.
Moonlight Musicals – LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Spend the evening beneath the stars at a classic amphitheater up in the Panhandle of Texas. Moonlight Musicals provides world-class live performances of some of Broadway’s most beloved shows in Lubbock, Texas. The theater’s origin story begins fifteen years ago, with Gerald and Karen Dolter. A voice professor at Texas Tech University and former performer, Gerald and Karen opened the Moonlight Musicals with a christening show of Oklahoma!, and have delivered show-stopping performances ever since. A visit to the amphitheater is a casual twist to a night at the theater, as Moonlight Musicals provides a unique environment and relaxed atmosphere. Feel free to bring your favorite chairs or even set up a romantic picnic to enjoy during the musical performance. Catch one of their exquisite Moonlight Broadway Series performances, in which they have produced premier shows like CATS, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and Mary Poppins. This February, the Lubbock Civic Center will host performances of Disney’s The Little Mermaid as a part of this series. Visit the Moonlight Musicals website for more information regarding ticket pricing and availability.
