Plan Your Best Date Night

Treat your special someone to one-of-a-kind experiences and great bites right here in our county.
Cheryl De Leon,
4 Date Night

Romance is in the air, and we’re ready to celebrate love here in Bergen County. And we’re lucky this year—Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, so you can plan a whole day’s outing around your favorite person.

Just what goes into the perfect date, on Valentine’s or any other time? Flowers and chocolate are always a good start, as is picking the perfect look. But you can also get creative with dates and tailor an experience to your beau’s exact taste. Some ideas:

For athletes. If your sweetheart can’t get enough cardio, you might find a climbing gym to be the perfect date destination. Check out The Gravity Vault in Upper Saddle River (which offers both day passes and individual climbing sessions) and the Goat Climbing Gym in Hackensack (where you can book a one-hour private session for two climbers). Want some friendly competition? Reserve a court at the Bergen County Pickleball Club and test your skills against each other.

For artists. You can’t go wrong with good art and great wine. A paint-and-sip date night not only creates lasting memories, but it gives you the chance to take home a unique keepsake to mark the occasion. In Ridgewood, try Pinot’s Palette for guided art, drinks and great vibes. Or you can sign up for a class together at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey in New Milford—offerings include watercolor painting, introduction to stone working and printmaking. Want to browse art, not make it? The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell is filled with wildlife art to enjoy.

For chefs. There’s something delightfully intimate about cooking together, and taking a class on it together can open up endless more date night options in the future. Check out Bergen Culinary School in Bergenfield for classes focusing on specific international cuisine, kitchen skills or confections (a special Valentine’s Day couples class is being offered in addition to a Valentine’s Day brunch special) and the Ridgewood Culinary Studio in Ridgewood for a focus on full meals (keep your eye out for a Valentine’s dinner and wine pairing class).

For outdoorsmen (and women). This cold weather is going to continue but, as you probably already know if your sweetheart is an avid hiker, that doesn’t stop a passionate outdoor lover. For a stroll and fantastic views of the icy Hudson, try the State Line Lookout at Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine. You can warm up at the State Line Café, which has a menu filled with comforting crowd pleasers. Other quick walks not too far from great downtowns with hot drinks? Try Teaneck Creek Conservancy and the Closter Nature Center.

And then, of course, you’ll want an amazing meal to close out the night. For the perfect mix of ambiance, flavor and charm to make any evening feel special, check out these spots, all of them recent Readers’ Choice picks—make sure you make your reservations soon!

For more romantic inspiration, make sure you flip through the new issue of BERGEN magazine!

Categories: Bergen Health & Life