With Valentine’s Day upon us, you may be scrambling for a perfect romantic date. Don’t just settle for dinner and a movie or a candlelit dinner at home in an effort to avoid crowded restaurants; take a look at the following Valentine hot spots that may have never popped into your brain.

Spice things up

Who needs a romantic getaway when you’ve got plenty to see right here in the city. Experience Calgary through the eyes of a tourist and reacquaint yourself with the city’s quintessential landmarks, such as the Calgary Tower, the Glenbow Museum or the Telus World of Science. By night, treat yourself to an aphrodisiac experience at the Palliser Hotel’s Death by Chocolate event featuring a mouthwatering selection of decadent desserts on Monday nights. If the sugar dose makes you feel frisky, you could book a room at the hotel and continue living out your fantasy as a tourist. Or, you could take a tour of the city’s extensive Plus-15 system and learn about the history linking the city’s tallest downtown buildings.

Winter delights

Calgarians don’t usually let the weather spoil a night out on the town. For those low-key “getting-to-know-you” dates, ice-skating is always fun — and almost always leads to playful handholding. Bowness Park’s expansive lagoon of winding canals flanked by snowy spruce trees is as romantic as winter gets. When you get chilly and want to snuggle, the park’s scattered fire pits will give you a chance to have a winter picnic with some hot chocolate and other delicious treats.

Get your culture on

For those wanting something a little different, put your feet to the pavement to explore the city’s contemporary art scene on an art stroll. Visit top-notch galleries like Newzones, Paul Kuhn, Virginia Christopher, Artfirm, Trépanier Baer and Herringer Kiss — all within a half-hour of each other, walking hand-in-hand. After you’ve soaked in the inspiration, head to Colour Me Mine in Kensington and bond while painting pottery pieces together. Trained professionals will help bring out the artist in you, and as a special Valentine’s Day promotion, get $5 off when you paint an in-store heart-shaped ceramic.

Dance extravaganza

What better way to get hot and steamy with your partner than to learn new steps together and dance the night away? Dance Energy is hosting a Valentine’s Salsa & Swing dance on Saturday, February 12. This fun-filled night starts at 8 p.m. with free salsa and West Coast dance lessons. A performance will follow at 10 p.m., and after that, two ballrooms will open up featuring salsa, bachata and merengue in one room and West Coast swing in the other.

Thrill seeker

If you are an adrenaline junkie and want to take your relationship to a heightened level, then maybe a bobsled ride at Canada Olympic Park will spark your flame. Until Sunday, February 13, you can ride with a professional down the intense 14-turn track, reaching speeds as fast as 120 km/h in 60 seconds. As a token of your experience, you will get to take home a commemorative photo, T-shirt and certificate. Later, compare your experiences over coffee!

Meat market

Valentine’s Day is as much about looking for love as it is about celebrating it. So, if you’re hopeful that cupid will strike you with a love arrow, you may want to go to Ranchman’s Venetian Singles Survival on February 12. Coloured bracelets will be given out to single hopefuls looking to cut to the chase. Red means you are taken, green is for singletons and yellow indicates you’re willing to negotiate. And if that’s not fun enough, wear a toga and receive free admission.

Show YOU the love!

Don’t have anyone special to share Valentine’s Day with? Stop moping around and take this opportunity to have some “you” time. Whether you spend it wearing some flannel pajamas, pampering yourself with homemade facial masks, or enjoying a day at the spa, do something totally uncharacteristic. Deliver flowers to yourself, curl up and read a romantic novel, enjoy a warm bubble bath — anything goes! We often get so bogged down trying to find love that we forget to give ourselves a little every now and then.

Anti-Valentine’s

If what you’re really looking for is a place to forget all the mushy love stuff and just have a good time with friends, rest assured there’s a place for you. F.A.T.S Bar & Grill Anti-Valentine’s Day party will have a DJ spinning tunes all night. For those needing a therapeutic release after a heartbreak, bring a photo of your ex-lover and shoot darts at it for prizes. Bittersweet!