Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and although everything is different this year I do have to say it is probably the most normal holiday we are going to get during this pandemic. 

Yes we had to buckle down during Christmas and party over Zoom for Halloween but Valentine’s Day is going to be this sacred day where we can actually do what we are used to doing on a particular holiday. 

Maybe you are taken and you have a significant other that is firmly in your bubble and you might be going to a restaurant to celebrate your love for each other or you might be having a nice night in, eating food as well and basking in each other’s presence. 

Or for my brutally single friends out there (I hear you, I see you) you will be at home eating ice cream and pretending the day doesn’t exist… but I may have just gotten that idea from a Bridget Jones’s Diary movie. 

Either way this holiday is going to feel (relatively) normal so we might as well enjoy it! So I have some ideas on how you can celebrate this year either at home, out on the town, or if you have no interest in supporting this capitalistic holiday but still like the idea of celebrating love with your partner. I got you covered! 

As always folks remain socially distanced and masked when you are out, let’s be grateful things are open and respectful of the people around us, and without further adieu, let’s get into this!

Capilano Suspension Bridge: I’m big into holidays and still going out and doing things during this time (if it’s open and it’s safe I’ll be going) and this is no exception to something I’ll be going to and dragging my boyfriend along with me (he is a trooper). 

The dazzling lights of Capilano Suspension Bridge, the ones that reign supreme all throughout the holiday season are here until February 15th bringing everyone who visits some  magic to their night. Tickets are more on the pricey side (but there is a student discount) and I imagine they would be going quick for a major tourist destination like this, so swipe them up and reserve your time slot before it is too late. 

Price: $54.95 Adults, $41.95 Student

Tickets: Purchase Here

Bloedel Conservatory: We can’t escape the winter blues this year like we normally do, by going on a tropical vacation and pretending that snow and rain don’t exist while we are there. But being stuck in “Raincouver” this year Bloedel Conservatory is the next best thing. A tropical oasis inside a dome filled with exotic plants and birds, you will feel like you are in a jungle instead. So if you and your partner have been missing the heat this is a great substitute and for an affordable price. Tickets have to be pre purchased online and masks are mandatory inside, so keep that in mind if you can’t stand feeling muggy and sweaty in a mask. 

Price: $7.05 (actually so well priced, what the heck?)

Tickets: Purchase Here

💘 Love is in the air!

We're excited to announce that we are now accepting limited capacity booking requests for weddings, family photography, and other rentals at Bloedel Conservatory!

Visit https://t.co/pX3xPWmgDo for details.

📸: Nancy Bree Photo pic.twitter.com/jb9vxrseZL

— Bloedel Conservatory (@BloedelConserv) February 2, 2021

Hot Chocolate Festival: I mention this activity every time I do an article about something to do in Vancouver, but for good reason! With over 30 locations participating there are bound to be some restaurants you have not tried yet, and there are so many unique, chocolatey options to choose from. Plus cozy, sweet (depending on the location, spiked) drinks are the perfect way to warm up with your bae. 

Price: Depending on the Location 

Where: Find participating locations and the drinks they are offering here. 

Have a Pizza Night: Never mind chocolate covered strawberries and champagne, I think pizza is the ultimate romance food because everyone loves it and it’s shareable (if you can deal with sharing your pizza). So make a night out of it, make a toppings station and get some good pizza dough and create your own masterpieces in pizza form together. It’s also pretty cheap and an easy way to use stuff up in your refrigerator. Turn it into a movie night with a great film on Netflix and some good drinks (which does not have to be champagne). 

Price: Depending on the Ingredients you need 

Where: Home

Take an Online Class Together: This may not scream romance but putting effort into trying something your partner wants to do will make them feel more valued. Or think about the things you have in common and try to find something you both will enjoy together, and I don’t mean to take an English literature class. I mean like, baking a crazy cake or watching an old Bob Ross painting class. 

The point is to bring you two together with a common goal and something you can both invest your time in.There are a bunch of other really cool online classes out there that are free or for a small price. 

One that I personally want my boyfriend and I to try is a mixology class because both of us love cocktails and since it is frowned upon to go to bars we can try to make our favourites at home. 

Price: Free to Dependent on Class Price 

Where: Home 

Play Board Games: At the beginning of the pandemic my boyfriend and I (and my family a lot of the time) were obsessed with board games and card games. It would be a weekly tradition that we managed to lose once restrictions lightened up around the beginning of summer. But it is something I personally want to bring back and Valentine’s Day is a good way to reintroduce it. 

Although it can be hard to find two person games, card games are usually better but there is also the option to do a double date and call up another set of couple friends and play games online. 

Price: Free 

Where: Home 

Have a safe and romantic Valentines everyone!