By: Heather Brown

Catchy country tunes serve as Music City’s theme songs, and love ballads are inherently included on the playlist. Nashville offers exciting restaurants and venues perfect for enjoying the city and spending time with loved ones. The capital is also the ideal scenery for a romantic rendezvous this February that will give Paris a run for its money as the “City of Love.” While dinner and a movie is always a solid option for Valentine’s Day, here are some unique date ideas to try this year.

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a significant other, your family, or friends, Nashville offers a plethora of activities to spread the affection. This year, Cupid’s holiday falls on a Wednesday, so it’s the perfect excuse to keep the celebrations going all week long. Here are the perfect date ideas in the city that will inspire you to write a love song of your own.

Photo: Franklin Farmers Market

Food is the way to anyone’s heart. Although Nashville offers an endless supply of amazing restaurants and cuisine, a fun date idea is to shop at the Franklin Farmers Market, then create a meal together. During the winter months, Franklin Farmers Market operates on Saturdays from 9:00-noon. You can shop for local produce then head home for an intimate home cooked meal. Don’t forget the most important ingredient when cooking:  love.

Photos: Jackalope Brewery and Yazoo Brewing Company

Vineyard trips are always romantic, pairing great wine with a beautiful backdrop. A great alternative to this date in the winter months is a brewery tour. You can learn about local breweries, support local businesses, and snuggle up with your loved one while sipping on some suds. Jackalope Brewery and Yazoo Brewing Company offer tours. Want to try more than one? You can even partake in Music City Brew Bus Tours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nashville is inundated with exceptional art. Murals and statues can be found in virtually every neighborhood. Looking for a creative date? Complete a mural scavenger hunt through a neighborhood or even across the city and take pictures.  The murals will function as amazing backgrounds. Murals like the floral collage at Green Pea Salon in 12^th South even feature a “Place to Kiss” spot. The pictures will serve as lasting memories and you’ll experience new areas of the city together.  Afterwards you can head to a local coffee shop to warm up.

Photo: Nashville Symphony

If you are searching for some culture this Valentine’s Day, you can catch a show at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). The venue features ballet, theater, and opera shows. Check out the website for upcoming events. Additionally, you could visit the Nashville Symphony for a night of enchanting music. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is jam packed with concerts.

Sucker for a good love song? Head out to a songwriter’s night to croon along with the city’s finest local artists. There are options throughout the week. On Monday nights, there’s the iconic Bluebird Open Mic Night and Whiskey Jam in midtown (which has extended to Thursdays). You can head over to Douglas Corner on Tuesdays. Lightning 100’s open mic night happens on Wednesdays at Family Wash in East Nashville. Thursdays feature songwriter shows at the Listening Room. Any night of the week, you’ll never be starved for live music in Nashville.

Still itching for a movie night? For those that want to keep the love going, Stardust Drive-In Movies starts back up in March. Pack up the car with blankets and snacks and head to Watertown for a fun movie viewing experience. It’s a date that will take you back in time.

Valentine’s Day often comes with a lot of pressure, but it can be the perfect opportunity to spend time with those you care about and try something new. Take advantage of Nashville’s adventure options this February. It is time to break out of hibernation mode and create an experience that’s perfect material for your own love story.

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Hailing from the Old Dominion, I've easily adapted my "Virginia is for Lovers" slogan to the "Nashville is for Music Lovers" lifestyle. After moving to Music City from Oklahoma City, I've explored middle Tennessee through the lens of artists' paintbrushes and urban canvasses.  I've enjoyed eating, sipping, and dancing my way through Tennessee's capital, while pausing periodically to strike a pose throughout the journey.
Blog: https://muralmission.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @hab6m
Email: hab6m11@gmail.com

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