With Valentine’s Day approaching, we have compiled a list of some unconventional dates ideas for you and whatever person you are trying to impress in this time of love and affection. There’s always the basic dinner and a movie, but you want to stand out and be remembered by your significant other, and that’s where our date ideas come into play. Take your date out to do something that they’ve never done before, because if they remember the date, they’ll remember you and how hot you were.

• Go to Mona Lisa, buy a baguette and Amish butter, and eat them together in Washington Park. A perfect combination that will undoubtedly soon apply to your relationship.
• Polar plunge at the Schuyler Quarry. It’s a bonding experience.
• Go to Red Lantern to get takeout and then watch the laundry machines next door. Classic coming-of-age movie scene.
• Go to the Asian Market to buy lanterns and throw a Chinese New Year party. You want someone with cultural sensitivity, and a taste for Chinese food.
• Get lost, then find each other at Ikea. Again, a bonding experience.
• Sneak into a second movie at the Violet Crown. What? We didn’t say that.

• Karaoke night at Wild Wing Café. Who knew your date would be so attracted to you singing John Denver off-key!

• Go to the restaurant in the back of the Mexican market, then eat tamarind candies for dessert.

• Find Alley Light. You don’t even have to eat there, just like…locate it?
• Go to the Observatory and watch the stars. 🙂 Adorable.
• Go cuddle baby goats. This is a no-brainer.
• Go to the lesser-known Humpback Rock: Dripping Rock. So unconventional.

• Have a picnic in Costco (after you’ve bought the food, of course). Pro tip: collect samples as your appetizers.

• Go to the carwash. Very clean.

• Don’t go tubing on the James River. Instead, go rope swinging on the Rivanna.

• Wake up at 5:30 to get donuts at 6AM from the Donut Kitchen. Check their Facebook to see the location and flavor of the donuts. You’ll never test your chemistry like waking up while it’s still dark out to get food.

• Go to the Winter Farmer’s Market for breakfast. Eat local, date local?
• Go to Circa. Antiquing for the win.

• Go try the Mexican popsicle place in Fifeville. I’ll save you from a bad paleta pun.

• Go to a Livestock Auction to buy a weird animal. Don’t actually do this.

• Invite Rob Walker on a date so you have access to cows to go cow tipping. Possession of cows is only one of this kid’s many charms.

• Go on a ramen tour of Charlottesville. All that ramen’ around will give you tons of time to talk.
• Buy fur coats from Goodwill, then go to the Opera at the Paramount. Waaaaaay old-school.