Why settle for the typical dinner and movie this Valentine’s Day when you live so close to one of the hottest communities in the region? When you’re living at Rockwell, you are never confined to the ordinary. This Valentine’s Day, take advantage of one of the many unique experiences Guelph has to offer and plan something exceptional you can experience together. With any of these options, you and your date will find yourselves creating a story that you can share with each other for years to come.

Skating at Market Square

Located in the heart of downtown Guelph, the ice rink at Market Square is sure to be the perfect venue for a romantic Valentine’s Day evening. Surrounded by twinkling lights, curved benches, charming storefronts, and bundled up Guelphites, the 790 square-meter oval-shaped rink has a picturesque quality that would look at home in any holiday movie. The glass pavilion located next to the rink provides a perfect spot for you and your Valentine to warm up and people-watch when you’re done on the ice. Sure to satisfy the appetite you both worked up from all the skating is Bin 23 Restaurant. Located at 6 Carden Street, directly across the street from the rink, this restaurant specializes in North American continental food with a multicultural flair. It is sure to be the perfect conclusion to a truly extraordinary evening.

Play with Clay

Whether you have a degree in fine arts from University of Guelph or just a notebook full of doodles, a date at Play with Clay is sure to be a fun experience for people of all art-skill levels. At Play with Clay, located at 42 Wyndham Street North, you and your date can each choose a handmade piece of pottery and settle in for a cozy evening of painting together. There is no time limit to how long you can paint at the shop, and a helpful member of the Play with Clay staff is always on hand to offer project ideas, painting tips, and to fire and glaze your finished work for you. Another added bonus of Play with Clay is that they allow outside food and drinks in, meaning you and your Valentine can grab something to go from one of the many local artisanal coffee shops located steps from Play with Clay’s front door. By spending the evening at Play with Clay this Valentine’s Day, you’ll both be making memories and masterpieces that should last a lifetime.

The Round Table

If you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush this Valentine’s Day but aren’t quite up for a skydiving lesson, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything more heart pounding than a race against the clock. Escape rooms make the perfect date venue for many reasons. Not only do they boost adrenaline, they also encourage you and your date to communicate and work together. Even if the closest you’ve gotten to solving a puzzle is watching an episode of Sherlock, The Round Table, located at 32 Essex Street, has a room for every skill level. In addition to their immersive escape rooms, The Round Table also boasts an impressive collection of board games and other table-top games as well as a full menu to satisfy any appetite. With everything from game- and movie-inspired tapas and desserts, to cocktails, wine, and specialty coffees, The Round Table is literally a one-stop-shop for a truly one of a kind Valentine’s Day that will be sure to have you both laughing and your hearts pumping.

Woodlawn Bowl

Located at 253 Woodlawn Road West, Woodlawn Bowl is the perfect place for you to show off your bowling skills and to spark some friendly competition between you and your date. You’ll both love feeling like kids again spending a stress-free hour at the lanes and taking advantage of the fun photo-ops the sport and your matching goofy shoes provide. Once you’re done showing off your bowling skills, grab some food at RJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, conveniently located right inside Woodlawn Bowl, or keep the friendly competition going at the bowling alley’s interactive arcade. Even if you’re terrible at bowling, this date night idea certainly won’t strike out.

Jimmy Jazz

If you and your date are music lovers and pride yourselves in being the first to discover new hot talent, try Jimmy Jazz this Valentine’s Day, located at 52 Macdonell Street. Since February 14th falls on a Wednesday this year, the holiday coincides with Jimmy Jazz’s free weekly event, ANAF Live Music Wednesdays. These evenings feature live acoustic music and song circles in a casual atmosphere. In addition to the great local talent, you and your date can also discover Jimmy Jazz’s food and drink menu, which features a great selection of beers and pub-style food the two of you can chow down on while enjoying the music. If music is truly a passion of yours and your date’s, Jimmy Jazz is the perfect venue for a truly perfect Valentine’s Day evening.