Here are some ideas for an unconventional Valentine's Day

Emily DeLetter, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read

Are you tired of a traditional Valentine's Day, one involving chocolates, flowers and an expensive dinner out?

It's 2022, and this could be the year to switch things up and experiment by showing your love for your partner (or friends, parents, children, etc.) through an unconventional Valentine's Day. And if you live in Greater Cincinnati, you're in luck: The Enquirer has compiled a list of nontraditional things to do around the region.

With the Feb. 14 holiday the day after the Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, it will surely be a Valentine's Day to remember.

We have everything from White Castle to ax-throwing in this list. For a fun and still romantic day, here's what we recommend

Ax-throwing

Take out your aggression in a positive way and work on your aim in a fun and interactive date by visiting one of Greater Cincinnati's ax-throwing locations. There are a bunch of locations to choose from, including Urban Axes in Over-the-Rhine, Class Axe Throwing in West Chester and Full Throttle in Springdale and Florence.

Axes!: Lebanon ax-thrower competes on TBS' 'Go-Big Show' 🪓🎯

Escape rooms

What's more romantic than being locked in a themed puzzle room looking for clues to get out with a ticking timer? Not much, we think. In Cincinnati, there's the Escape Game and Cincinnati Escape Room, Downtown, OTR Escape in Over-the-Rhine, Breakout Games Cincinnati in Hyde Park and Escape Room Family in Sharonville, to name a few.

Cincinnati Museum Center

It’s not quite on Valentine’s Day, but celebrate your love both for museums and for each other before or after the holiday by visiting the museum during its new extended evening hours on Fridays.

The "Science Behind Pixar" exhibit and the Omnimax Theater will both remain open to 8 p.m. Limited food and drink options, including beer and wine, will also be available.

Dates include Feb. 18, March 4 and 18, April 1 and 8, 15 and 22.

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

Through Feb. 25, the public library is hosting a winter checkout challenge, where participants can check out library materials, either from the physical locations or from home. Complete at least five activities and be entered to win prizes.

The challenge activities, which would make a great date night, include:

  • Check out five items in one visit.

  • Attend a library or virtual event.

  • Check out an eBook.

  • Check out a winter-themed DVD or stream a movie on Hoopla.

  • Place a hold on library materials.

  • Follow @cincylibrary on social media.

  • Visit a library branch you've never visited.

  • Listen to an audiobook.

  • Tell a friend about the library.

  • Download the CHPL app.

  • Check out a book from a library display.

  • Check out a book recommended by library staff.

Grand prizes include a cozy reading kit, self-care and wellness kit, great outdoors winter bundle and, of course, an at-home date night.

Lost and Found - OTR

For a limited time, the Over-the-Rhine restaurant and bar is offering "Booze Boxes" for Valentine's Day. The boxes are already on pre-sale, and for $125, it includes a flower arrangement, a treat from Georgie's Pies and Scar of the Sea Pet Nat naturally sparkling wine.

Also included are cocktails, which serve two:

  • Siren: Agricole rum, white rum, guava, blood orange, demerara and lime.

  • Dandy: Botanical gin, yellow chartreuse, lemon, ginger and violette liqueur.

Pickup dates for the boxes from Lost and Found are Feb. 12 from 2-4 p.m. and Feb. 13 from 2-4 p.m.

For an additional $80, you can add a massage from the JunkYard, a community wellness center.

More: How to keep your Valentine's Day flowers alive longer

More: Shop sweet Valentine's Day chocolate deals from Godiva, Harry & David, QVC and more

White Castle, to-go

Ditch the five-star restaurant and settle in for something more casual and intimate. While White Castle isn’t hosting diners for its traditional Valentine’s Day candlelit dinner as it has since 1991, the restaurant is creating a “Love Cube” meal for two, a hot pink to-go box that includes eight cheese sliders, two small soft drinks and a choice of shareable sides.

There's also a new romantic dessert-on-a-stick. You heard that right: White Castle is introducing strawberry swirl cheesecake, which features a swirl of strawberry filling and a chocolate cookie crust, all on a stick.

White Castle is also offering free delivery to customers on Valentine's Day through its delivery partners for all orders of $15 or more.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Unconventional Valentine's Day date night ideas