There’s nothing better than being out in nature. The smell of pine, the crunch of leaves under your hiking boots, the feeling of accomplishment you get when you finally summit the mountain you’ve been climbing all day—there’s no better way to spend your day.

If you are dating an adventurer, you know there’s nothing like getting out in a natural setting with the person you love most in the world. When Valentine’s Day comes around, it’s time to think beyond chocolate and flowers. Instead, why not plan a date that perfectly reflects your desire and love for adventure? Below, we’ve gathered some of our best outdoor-themed Valentine’s Day date ideas.

Camp out somewhere new for the weekend

Is there a camping spot both you and your S.O. want to check out? Valentine’s Day weekend is a great time to finally go camp there. Of course, you’ll need to make those camping reservations far off in advance. And you’ll need to make sure that you have the right gear. If you’re hiking into your spot, you’ll need hiking boots, a tent, food, water, and fire supplies. Need some inspiration for a new camping spot? We’ve got some inspiration right here:

• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
• Acadia National Park, Maine
• White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
• Assateague Island Campgrounds, Maryland
• Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
• Big Bend National Park, Texas
• Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
• Badlands National Park, South Dakota
• Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho
• Glacier National Park, Montana
• Big Sur, California

Have a rural picnic

Pick up all of your partner’s favorite foods, pick them up, blindfold them, and drive out to a meadow or other beautiful natural spot. Then, lead them out into the open and set up a nice picnic. Don’t forget to bring some bubbly and surprise them with Valentine’s flowers as well. Here are our favorite picnic food ideas:

• Deviled ham
• Chips and guac
• Salami and crackers
• Grapes
• Champagne
• Red wine

Nobody can resist the rustic allure of eating out in the middle of nature. Just make sure you get a cozy picnic blanket to comfortably fit your entire spread.

Go tubing

Grab a pair of pool floaties during summer, acquire some adult beverages, and gently float down a river while soaking up the sun. Or, if you want to really take a risk, go in winter and do a Polar Plunge event. Sure, it will be miserable for a few minutes before you dry off, but the stories that will come from it will last your whole lifetime.

Amateur sports game

Sure, watching amateur sports is a little bit lower budget than going to a professional sports game, but it’s still a great way to spend your time. Tickets are usually cheap – and so are the drinks and snacks.

River rafting

If you and your S.O. really want an adrenaline rush, you might want to consider river rafting. Not only is it fun, but it’s an exciting way to spend your day. It can help reignite that spark your relationship has been missing lately.

Geocaching

A fun, interactive way to engage your date is by going geocaching. It’s simple. All you have to do is download the geocaching app and find a set of GPS coordinates in your local areas. When you’re in the right location, you get to hunt down the geocaching container which holds a special prize.

Dine al fresco

If you’re not quite the hike or bike type, you can still get an adequate dose of the outdoors by dining al fresco. Sure, it’s not really “roughing it,” if you are on a busy city street, but there’s nothing wrong with making reservations for a rooftop patio or somewhere where there is a large space for sitting outside.

Drive-in theater

Although they’re a dying breed, there are still some drive-in theaters you can go to around the country. It’s a good idea if it’s warm out and you can roll down the car windows and enjoy a cinematic masterpiece.

Takeaways

Going on an outdoor-themed date is a good way to get to know somebody and also reward a special someone in your life with an extraordinary experience. This Valentine’s Day, it’s time to get out and step away from traditional expectations. So, put on your hiking boots, pick up a map, and set out on your next  

trek. The world is waiting.