Do you have a special someone but need some inspiration for where to go for a great evening? We’re here to help! Here are some of the best local date nights.
Hikes
Let’s start off the list with Grand Junction’s pastime- hiking! While several favorite trails are still snowed in this time of year, there are dozens more ready to be explored.
Rattlesnake Canyon has a few different trails and is perfect for dry winter days. Be sure to check the weather and directions though, because the road might be too muddy at times.
Opal Hill is a loop a little under 3 miles and is open year-round. If you go after a rainstorm, you may even be able to see the opals this hike was named for!
Dinosaur Hill is an easy, 1.5-mile loop. You can see exposed molds of dinosaur bones and learn about how they were extracted through the well-kept information signs. If your Valentine’s Day will include young ones, this is a great option for a fun outing for all involved!
Riverfront Trail in the Redlands is great if you can’t get out of town but want to be surrounded by nature. Most of the trails are paved and flat and there are several parking areas throughout.
Whispers from the Past Tour
Western Slope Paranormal offers tours to learn the histories and hauntings of various sites in the Grand Valley! If you are unable to schedule a tour due to weather, you can always learn more about the buildings they have investigated on their website and blog!
Art Night
Want to try your hand at art? Grand Junction has several locally-owned business options to choose from!
Amber Whiting Bradley Fine Art offers both a gallery of original work and a creative painting space.
The Palette offers classes, open paint nights, and take-home kits. All levels of painting experience are welcome!
At Angelo’s Pottery Studio, you can learn how to throw (with a reservation), paint premade ceramic pieces, or paint on canvases.
Fat Cat Pottery offers hundreds of ready-to-paint ceramic pieces, clay sculpting, and the option to sculpt and then paint your piece!
Active Competitions
Are you and your loved one competitive? Try your hand at Go Karts, Laser Tag, or Miniature Golf at Bananas Fun Park. Or you can try axe throwing at Kodiaxe or Axeology!
Antique Shops and Bookstores
Main Street is home to several antique shops, namely A Robin's Nest of Antiques & Treasures, Heirlooms for Hospice, and Mama’s Treasures. Anyone who has entered these stores knows the incredible, unique finds each one has. Robin’s Nest is the largest antique mall between Denver and Las Vegas. They claim that if you can’t find it, you haven’t looked in the right place. At Heirlooms for Hospice, all proceeds go towards the nonprofit HopeWest. You can find everything from furniture to jewelry. Mama’s Treasures is a charming shop that specializes in small, high-quality items. These are all within walking distance, so take an afternoon and enjoy browsing all of these stores!
Grand Valley Books is also located on Main Street. They have a beautiful selection of genres and regularly invite authors for signings and meet-and-greets. Second-hand books are available as well.
If you enjoy one of these date nights, take a picture and tag @grandjunctionlifestyle on Instagram. We’d love to see it!
Happy Valentine’s Day!