Updated December 27, 2022

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, many are looking for ideas to celebrate this day of love with family or friends. Here is a list of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois!

1. Winter Hike

Many people tend to avoid going outside in the winter, but winter makes for the prettiest views on hikes, especially if there’s snow. Enjoy a hike through the many great locations in Bloomington-Normal like Sugar Grove Nature Center off old Route 66. The nature center has many trails for hikers and is open from dawn to dusk. Bundle up and keep your loved one warm! For up-to-date information on the nature center, visit the Sugar Grove Nature Center Facebook page.

Or if you want to be more adventurous, take a drive up to Starved Rock in Ogelsby, IL where you might be luck enough to find frozen waterfalls! Or the Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail at Matthiessen State Park is a short 2 mile loop and a great find. 

2. Indoor Fitness

If being outside in the winter is a hard no for you, there is always indoor sports and recreation. The Bloomington Ice Center has open skate nearly every day in February. Check this calendar for the times on each day. Admission is $6 and skate rentals are $2.

Or be a kid again and try an indoor trampoline park! If you want to go when it’s less crowded with less kids, go during a typical dinner time. It’s $25 per person for 2 hours, plus $3 per person for a pair of required trampoline socks. Learn more about Altitude Trampoline Park off of GE Road/Vernon Avenue.

3. Paint Classes (in person or at home)

Want to get creative? Merlot and a Masterpiece in Bloomington is offering paint classes either in person or as take home kits so you can paint wherever and whenever you like. With the take home fee, you get canvases, brushes, paints, disposable aprons, a palette plate, and a water cup. Check out their website for the in-person class schedule and register! 

4. Food Tour

Make your own multi-course food tour visiting local restaurants in town, or have it all delivered!

Pick one place for appetizers, another for your main course, a third choice for dessert and an optional final after dinner nightcap!

Here is one sample itinerary, but think of your favorite restaurants and create your own. Or purposefully try restaurants you’ve never been to, as a new adventure and memories together.

Start at Destihl and get one of their delicious appetizers such as the beer-battered asparagus or cheese curds. Then drive over to Lucca’s and pick up a pizza. For dessert, maybe choose to stop into Theo’s Microcreamery and get some sweet treats to share with your person! And for a unique nightcap consider something special from Mystic Kitchen and Tasting Room or the new Shake It Up Cocktail Lounger & Eatery on Front Street.

5. Romantic Weekend at Local Bed and Breakfast

To really treat your loved one, spend a whole weekend at a cozy bed and breakfast the weekend before, the weekend after, or play hooky during the week and get away! The Vrooman Mansion Bed and Breakfast is the perfect getaway for a couple. Choose to stay in one of our seven rooms or rent out the entire Carriage House for some privacy. With over 15 additional packages and add-ons, really treat your loved one with an experience they will never forget.

To book a room at the Vrooman Mansion, you can simply book online or give us a call at (309)828-8816. For any questions, feel free to call us or you can reach us through email at information@vroomanmansion.com.