DATE #1 Learn how to Salsa Dance together!
Salsa Dancing is one of the sexiest dances out there and is easy and fun to learn.
You can drop in on a class during the afternoon of Valentine's Day or attend a few salsa dance parties with live music where salsa lessons are given for free or between $10-15 per a person.
DSG Dance Studios in SF
Lake Merritt Dance Center in Oakland
Jelly's on the pier
Most popular Sunday afternoon salsa party
www.jellyscafe.com
Sunday 14Julio Bravo y su Orquesta Salsabor w/ KPFA DJ Luis Medina 4:00 p.m.
$10 Azucar Latin Bistro - San Jose
Salsa dancing & dinner package
Salsa Lessons & Salsa Music
www.azucarsj.com
TIP: be sure to wear comfortable shoes to dance in!
DATE #2 Take a romantic drive to Wine Country and wine taste
Some of the most romantic Napa Valley wineries featured in my book and also my personal favorites are Artesa Winery, located in the Carneros region, Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga and Domaine Carneros in the Carneros region too.
All offer affordable wine tastings usually around $10 per a person. And these three in particular are perfect for couples because they have extremely romantic settings and are stunningly beautiful wineries.
For more information, visit:
DATE # 3 Take a Love Mixology Class, the Saturday before Valentine's Day.Held at one of San Francisco's landmark hotels, the Westin St. Francis where for $50 per a couple you can learn how about the art of bartending and make some sexy drinks such as Love Potion #9 and Cupid's Arrow.
The class includes a demo on how to make three love cocktails (with tastes of each) and couples then get to pick a cocktail to make for each other. There will also be a few small appetizers, referred to as 'love bites' and each couple receives a copy of all three cocktail recipes.
This is a great idea for first dates or a group of couples who want to enjoy Valentine's Day together.
For reservations call (415) 774-0264 or go to www.westinstfrancis.com
DATE #4 Pack a picnic lunch and explore the exquisite gardens in Golden Gate Park
They are San Francisco's secret gems and are very romantic. My two personal favorites are the Rose Garden and Japanese Tea Garden, however, there are also the Dutch Windmills and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, Garden of Shakespeare's Flowers, and quite a few more that are all free to visit.
The only garden that isn't free is the Japanese Tea garden which is $5 for local San Franciscan's or $7 otherwise You can sip tea at the Japanese Garden, rent bikes to cruise around the park or even rent an old-fashioned row boat and spend the afternoon rowing around Stow Lake.
Stow Lake would also be a great place then to have your picnic and all the rentals can be done through Stow Lake Bike & Boat Rentals for very affordable rates, usually under $20. For more information, visit www.golden-gate-park.com or goldengateparkbikeandskate.com
DATE #5 Bowling is a fun and affordable way to spend Valentine's Day!
Presido Bowling and Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling are open on Valentine's day and are decorated for the occasion. Couples can play two games and rent shoes for under fifty dollars. Enough should be left over for two ice cold beers for the game!
Presidio Bowling Center: www.presidiobowl.com
Yerba Buena Skating and Bowling: www.skatebowl.com
*Bonus date: Autumn's personal philosophy is that life is flat without bubbles so one of my favorite suggestions if celebrating Valentine's Day at the Bubble Lounge, which is a really romantic lounge in San Francisco that focuses on sparkling wine and champagne.
For $42 per a couple they are offering a complimentary rose when you arrive, 2 glasses of Bruno Paillard, a French Champagne, and sabering demonstration which is really thrilling to watch. They will have live music from Jazz Vocalist Jason Brock and offer an Aphrodisiacal Menu.
The Bubble Lounge San Francisco
714 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415-434-4204
Website: www.bubblelounge.com
About Autumn Millhouse:
Autumn Millhouse is an award-wining travel writer specializing in wine, food and romantic getaways. She is also an international trekker who has wined and dined across the globe from Barcelona to Beijing.
A self-proclaimed "hopeless-romantic" and author of Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider's Guide for Couples, Autumn is Lifestyle Editor of Napa Valley Life Magazine.
She is also the weekly wine, food and romantic travel contributor for Destinationidomagazine.com and Antibride.com, voted one of the best 100 wedding websites to follow in 2010 by Bride Tide. She resides in Napa Valley where she cultivates her wine and food relationships with top chefs, winemakers and a slew of other foodies.
Besides, sniffing, swirling and sipping wine daily, Autumn is currently working on her next travel book Romantic Sonoma Valley: An Insider's Guide for Couples.
For more information, visit www.romanticnapavalleybook.com
>> Buy this book on Amazon: Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider's Guide for Couples
Please join Autumn for a Book Signing:
Thursday, Feb 11th at 6 p.m.
Book Passage Bookstore
in the San Francisco Ferry Building
1 Ferry Building, #42
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 835-1020
Saturday, Feb 13th at 1 p.m.
NapaStyle
6525 Washington Street
Yountville, CA 94599-1300
Phone: (707) 945-1229
Saturday, Feb 13th at 4 p.m.
Wineries of Napa Valley
Downtown Napa
Sunday, Feb 14th at 6 p.m.
Hurley's Restaurant
6518 Washington Street
Yountville, CA 94599-1296
Phone: (707) 944-2345
Copperfields Books is doing a romantic giveaway that includes a romantic tour with author Autumn Millhouse for any couple that wins.
For more information, visit copperfieldsbooks.com
