Top 5 Guide: Valentine’s Day Dates That Won’t Break the Bank

Greetings Bucket List readers! My name is Brandon Farler and I graduated from CU Boulder last year with a degree in communications. My significant other, Mitchell, and I are both Colorado natives, and we have been together for almost eight years and, in that time, have gone on a number of Valentine’s Day dates.

One thing Mitchell and I know from experience is that trying to afford to live in Colorado can be expensive; however, that doesn’t stop us from having a good time, as we have mastered the art of frugal spending. This can be a good skill for Valentine’s Day dates when most want to empty their wallets to impress their significant other.

But if you’re like me, and want to go on an awesome Valentine’s Day date without breaking the bank, then check out this guide which features five places and fun activities to do in the Denver metro area on Valentine’s Day.

Roller City

Roller skating, neon lights, an arcade and upbeat 80s music? What’s not to love about Roller City?

Now if you know your history, roller skating experienced a boom in popularity in the 1980s and is still popular to this day. It’s great because most roller skating rinks offer affordable rental prices and serve as casual places to visit with friends and indulge in yummy American foods like pizza and burgers.

Roller City in particular embraces a 1980s retro vibe. Walking in immediately is a throwback when you hear songs such as Michal Jackson’s “Thriller” or Cindy Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

The real fun though begins when you and your partner put on those old, but functional roller skates and hit the colorful and open rink. The roller skating space is very large and open, so even on a busy day, you should still have enough room for you and your partner to practice in your own little spot.

When you need a break from roller skating, there are a few designated rest areas with tables and chairs. One is where you can pick up some food, and another is a mini arcade room. The arcade itself, while not large, does offer a nice little distraction if you have a few spare quarters in your pocket. Some even award tickets so you could win your sweetheart a nice little souvenir if you’re determined.

When it comes to pricing, general admission is $15 a person for a two-hour session. However, that does not include shoe rental which is an additional 5$. There is also a $40 option for those who want an all-day pass if you and your partner are that hardcore for roller skating.

One final thing to mention is that if you and your sweetheart prefer a smaller crowd, then it is recommended that you go before the evening rush starts.

Roller City, 6803 West Alameda Avenue, Lakewood. Hours: Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m., Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.; Friday from 7 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 to 9 p.m. Learn more at www.rollercitywest.com.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Doing all that roller skating might leave you and your partner tired and ready to replenish. So what should you guys eat? Delectable chocolate sweets right down the street at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, of course. Because after all, it is Valentine’s Day, so spoil each other!

Oh yes, you and your partner will be salivating at the thought of eating fine exotic chocolates, fudge, brownies, and other delicacies. And the real kicker is, it is surprisingly inexpensive (depending on if you can control yourself, that is).

One important thing you must be aware of before going into the chocolate factory is the store manager. Yes, he can be a real bear to deal with, but don’t let that distract you from all the glorious treats and treasures that are inside.

When it comes to the selection of treats, let’s just say there is more than enough to get your fill. From sweet to savory, salty to even spicy, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers flavors that can scratch any sweet tooth itch in one form or another.

Take their candied apple selection for example. They come candied in many different ways compared to just your typical plain caramel. Some are themed after popular candy brands like Snickers, and others are made from an original recipe like Avalanche Apple which consisted of peanut butter and rice crispies and topped off with chocolate chips and drizzle. The asking price for these apples is about $9.50, but the apples are filling and satisfying.

The main counter is where most of the sweets are. They do offer free samples, so if you want to be cheap and just go sample a few flavors, you could do that, but don’t be surprised when you find yourself leaving with a few portions to take on the road for later. It’s worth noting that most of their desserts are reasonably priced, ranging from about $2-$5 per bar or chunk depending on the product.

Chocolate has always been one of the many staples of Valentine’s Day. Not only for its good flavor but for the warm feeling that comes with it. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers that warm feeling through its reasonably priced delights and welcoming atmosphere.

I would highly recommend taking your sweetie to be a part of your Valentine’s Day adventure. I also recommend you pick up a chocolate-dipped Twinky for $5. It left me with the same butterflies in my stomach feeling when I went on my first date with Michy.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 500 16th Street Site 118, Denver Pavilions. Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Learn more at www.rmcf.com.

Chipper Lanes

Bowling has always been one of the “go-tos” for affordable and casual dates. If you plan on taking your hot date out for bowling, why not make it a little more memorable? Thankfully, there is such a bowling alley; even better, it won’t break the bank. Introducing, Chipper Lanes!

So what makes Chippers Lanes extra extraordinary? It’s more than just a bowling alley. It features live music performances, community events, a tavern for good food and drinks, and a place to play laser tag and arcade games! All in one at their Broomfield location.

I’m happy to say that Chipper Lanes also passes the good vibe check. Some bowling alleys are old and run down and have a rigid look to them. Chipper Lanes however, feels a bit more clean and modern with an emphasis on fun.

In terms of pricing, they offer unlimited bowling for $17.45 per person (not including shoe rentals, which are $5). Pricing is subject to change for holidays and weekends so you may want to call to gauge how much they charge for Valentine’s Day

The bowling alley has a much more colorful and lively atmosphere. For example, the pins are always illuminated, colored, and well lit up. This wasn’t on a cosmic bowling night mind you, but on nights where they do host them, one could imagine the fun neon spectacle that would be.

In terms of quality, everything felt top-notch. The shoes were high-quality the balls weren’t dinted or out of shape, and the floors were all so shiny and clean, you could probably eat off them. (Not recommended).

After a couple of rounds of bowling, maybe you and your partner would want to think about enlisting in the laser wars. Aka, laser tag!

For $13 each, you could indulge yourselves in unlimited laser tag rounds. Each round lasts for about 15 minutes, but the time flies when you are in the heat of battle. By the time you get bored, you will be a bonafide space marine veteran.

Last but not least is the arcade room. It’s medium-sized (about 15 games or so) with a nice variety of games to play. A majority of them encourage multiplayer, such as the co-op shooters, or classic games like ski-ball and basketball hoops.

If you are interested in the live performances that happen periodically, you will need to consult with the band schedule on their official website.

Chipper Lanes, 100 Nickel Street, Broomfield. Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Learn more at www.chipperslanes.com.

Cherry Blossom Florist

Arguably, one of the biggest staples of Valentine’s Day is the giving of gifts to your love partner. With that said, every couple is different and has their special love language. One may be gifts, and one may simply be to spend quality time with each other.

But if you are trying to not break the bank, then one solution is to combine them both together and make it into a date itself. And since flowers are a staple of Valentine’s Day, I would personally recommend you check out Cherry Blossoms Florist in Westminster.

Part of the reason this place is so blooming wonderful is the founder. Cherrie Silverman started her career as a florist after achieving her Master Florist certification. She then opened her own business in 1988, where it still stands today.

It’s important to know when you come into her flower shop, you should expect quality. Her products have been showcased in extravagant weddings, to winning parade float competitions 18 years in a row. Even for a guy who is not into flowers, color me impressed!

You may be thinking that such prestigious awards, come with prestige establishments. But don’t let that scare you away from coming and seeing her product. The truth is, her store is very relaxed and casual.

Cherry Blossoms offers premade or custom-made bouquets. Prices can vary depending on the quality and the types of flowers. Some of her exotic flowers may cost more compared to your everyday flower options.

If you want to get your sweetheart some traditional roses for Valentine’s Day, then you’ve come to the right place for quality. Boutique options for a dozen roses begin at $75. She may also sell roses individually if you want to keep the budget down.

Cherry Blossoms also sells other gifts outside of floral products. To my surprise, there was a little section of the store that had a nice little collection of geeky pop-culture icon collectibles. There were also a lot of “cutesy” things like funny cat magnets that had me giggling.

You may also find that the store smells really good. No, not just from the flowers, but from the other scented products she sells.

While I was browsing I saw a little collection of custom-made soaps that caught my eye. They looked like literal desserts and foods. One even looked like a clump of black coffee beans which admittedly, I was tempted to buy just to fulfill my dream of bathing in sweet-scented coffee.

Cherry Blossoms Florist is a pleasant store to visit. The friendly atmosphere from the workers and owner provides a welcoming place where visitors can browse for some last-minute Valentine’s gifts.

So if you want to get your special someone flowers or a special gift, why keep it a surprise of where you got it? You make the experience extra special by going in together and understanding the types of gifts you want while being in a friendly, cozy environment.

Cherry Blossoms Florist, 9975 Wadsworth Parkway Suite F, Westminster. Hours: Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at cherryblossomsflorist.com.

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Some people aren’t fans of flowers. Rather, they prefer gifts that are non-perishable, and will last longer and be there to provide memories of that special someone.

What might be a good gift option for those types of people? A sweet teddy bear of course! But not just any teddy, one that you could give to your partner that captures their personality and interests. To get such a bear, you would need to go to Build-A-Bear Workshop, located in Broomfield’s Flatirons Mall.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is a fun little shop that lets you create your own stuffed animal from scratch. You go in and select the skin, along with some clothing (optional) and other features to truly make something that is original and exclusive to you.

Build-A-Bear knows that it’s a big hit for Valentine’s Day, which is why at the time of this article, you can build two bears for $45 each, which makes it a pretty good value proposition considering you both leave with a nice gift in hand.

The selection of skins is pretty decent. Most of them are bears, but they also have other animals like rabbits ponies, dogs, and cats you can customize. They even have licensed skins from franchises like Minions and Paw Patrol if you are into that kind of thing.

The atmosphere is very lit up and fun, yet, a bit hectic. Mitchell and I went during the day midweek and it seemed pretty busy. So if you plan on going on Valentine’s Day, be ready to deal with some crowds.

Upon touring the store, we couldn’t help but notice all the clothing options there were for your custom stuffed animal. There are many different kinds of shirts, pants dresses, shoes and headwear. You can mix and match to your heart’s content.

Other options push customization even further, such as voice box options. This costs about $10 more, so bear that in mind.

For voice boxes, you can either record your own voice or browse a selection from their own audio library. They range from simple sayings and phrases to random animal noises, to even lines from characters from other TV series and shows.

As one could imagine, if you wanted to make something that was bizarre, like having a bear with Darth Vaders’s mechanical breathing nose, you could do that. I bring that up because that is actually a good idea and it should be done.

So once you clothe your stuffy, and give them a voice (or lack of one), it’s time for the fun part; filling your stuffy full of stuffing!

To do that, there is a machine that you hook up your skin to and it will fill it with as much stuffing as you want by putting your foot on the pedal. If you want a stuffed animal that’s more firm, then fill it as tight as you can. Softer, then be sure not to go overboard! A staff member will be there to help you to ensure that it comes out the way you want it.

Our experience with Build-A-Bear Workshop was nothing short of a blast. Mitchell and I both appreciated the creative freedoms we had when customizing our bear. The experience takes the gift-giving element of Valentine’s Day to a whole new level by making it more interactive and personal.

So if your partner happens to like stuffed animals, or things that are sentimental and meaningful, give it a shot. You are never too old to enjoy the warm presence of a stuffed animal.

Build-A-Bear Work Shop 1 West Flatiron Crossing Drive #2080, Broomfield. Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more at www.buildabear.com.

So there you have it. As you can see, there are many ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day with your special someone without spending a lot of money.

However you decide to spend Valentine’s Day with your special someone, just remember that the most important thing is to spend time with them. Take it from a guy who’s been with his partner for almost eight years. I hope that this guide has given you some creative ideas, and we here at Bucket List wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!