Love is in the air! Although the coronavirus pandemic may change our traditional celebrations of Valentine’s Day in 2021 it hasn’t stopped Cupid from slinging his arrows and reassuring us that “love conquers all.”
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, giving you and your significant other the opportunity to celebrate all weekend long. While it would be impossible to name every venue in Apex, here are 14 ways to enjoy…
Go Out for a Bite. Apex boasts more than 70 restaurants, offering a virtual culinary trip around the world. Whatever fare your heart desires on Valentine’s Day, you’re sure to find it in Apex: Italian (Carrabba’s, Daniel’s and Mamma Mia’s); American (Abbey Road Tavern and Grill, Hwy. 55 Burgers and Shakes, Rudy’s Pub & Grill, JD’s Tavern, Big Mike’s BBQ, Ruckus and Peak City Hots); Irish (Doherty’s Irish Pub); Indian (Barwarchi Grill & Spirits); Mexican (Los Tres, Aranda’s and La Rancherita); Asian (Baan Thai, Yamato Japanese, Sushi Iwa Mr. Dumpling and Wang’s Kitchen); tried-and-true chains (Chili’s, Glory Days Café, Red Robin and Lonestar Steakhouse); and many others. Downtown Apex restaurants offering delectable cuisine include The Peak on Salem, The Provincial and Vegan Community Kitchen.
Many eateries have reopened their dining rooms at reduced capacity, but others continue to offer take-out meals only. Be sure to check your restaurant of choice and make a reservation to ensure a table. (Note: At press time, Executive Order 181 states that all restaurants must close at 10 p.m. to slow the spread of coronavirus, so keep this in mind when dining in or ordering out.)
Try an Escape Room. There’s no better way to spend time with your beloved than getting locked in a room together, so why not play a game at the same time? Whole Brain Escape in Apex. Discover clues and solve puzzles in a limited amount of time to progress through the game and accomplish a very specific goal (like, breaking out of the room). This is an exhilarating way to discover how the other thinks!
Luxuriate at a Day Spa. While they may seem extravagant, day spas are actually good for our physical and mental health. Many spas in Apex offer therapeutic massages for couples, providing the ultimate way for a twosome to unwind.
Paint and Sip. Like to create art, especially with a paintbrush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other? Take advantage of a paint and sip “date night” with your art lover. Wine & Design offers instructional painting classes in February for love birds to take their creativity to another level and make romantic memories along the way.
Take a Hike or Ride a Bike. Apex is fortunate to have some of the prettiest nature trails, greenways and parks in the Triangle – and usually a bout of beautiful weather in February. Especially during the pandemic, it’s important to experience the transformative power of the outdoors – for our minds, hearts and bodies. Doing it with your very best friend makes it all the more meaningful.
Jump for Your Love. If bouncing on a trampoline brings out our inner child, holding hands while bouncing on a trampoline has to be especially good for our psyche. DEFY Apex and BounceU offer jumping sessions averaging 60-120 minutes in length, equaling one healthy and endearing workout!
Go Skating/Skateboarding. More adventurous couples can lace up their inline/roller skates or hop on a skateboard and spend any hour of the day or night grinding, shredding and swizzling at Rodgers Family Skate Park. This four-tiered skate plaza benefits from recent repairs and improvements, making it a more thrilling experience than ever before.
Grab a Pizza. Anna’s, Namoli’s, J&S New York Pizza, Big Sergio’s and Mezza Luna are just some of the family-owned establishments serving mouthwatering pizza, wings, breadsticks and more. There is no lack of pizzeria chains like Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Marco’s, Papa Murphy’s and Romeo’s in Apex as well.
Go Bar Hopping. Local pubs and bars are the perfect places to explore new beers, wines and cocktails in tandem. Several establishments – such as Peak of the Vine, Salem Street Pub, Scratch Kitchen and Taproom, and The Beer Dispensary – are conveniently located near each other on North Salem Street. Southern Peak Brewery and Brüeprint Brewing Company are a short distance away. Remember to drink responsibly. (Note: At press time, alcohol sales for on-site consumption cease at 9 p.m. to limit the spread of coronavirus, per Executive Order 183).
Eat a Sweet Treat. Who doesn’t love good ice cream or frozen yogurt, even in frigid February? Coldstone Creamery, Culver’s, Brusters, FRESH Local, Sweet Spoons, Baskin-Robbins, Dairy Queen, and Common Grounds Coffee and Desserts delight sweet tooths across Apex, as does the country’s newest rave: bubble tea. SipCha recently opened in Beaver Creek Commons and offers flavorful tea creations, floats, rolled ice cream and more.
Go Antiquing. North Carolina is renowned for its antique stores. Bring a little history home with you from local collections at Antiques on Salem Street, The Rusty Bucket or Gremlina Village. Venture farther afield to Pittsboro, the Triad, Charlotte or Selma/Smithfield for more antiquing adventures. Who knows what previously loved treasures you’ll find together?
Read a Book Together. Bookworms, rejoice! A silver lining of North Carolina’s Modified Stay-At-Home Order means that we can stay at home… and spend a lot more time losing ourselves in a good book. Devour the pages of a romance novel and take turns with your partner reading your favorite passages.
Cozy Up by Camping Out. If you don’t mind the cold temperatures and have enough outdoor space, make use of it by lighting a roaring fire pit, roasting s’mores and sipping hot chocolate or other soul-warming toddies (think: spiced cider, mulled wine, buttered rum and Irish coffee) – and snuggling under the stars together. Around the middle of February, a new moon will rise in the night sky, providing the perfect opportunity to view the winter constellations, distant galaxies and star clusters without the moonlight’s interference.
Enjoy Romance, Hollywood-Style. If you don’t feel safe venturing out these days, you can still get your hearts racing this Valentine’s Day by watching some of the best romance movies ever made, including “Dr. Zhivago,” “Roman Holiday,” “West Side Story,” “Annie Hall,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Love Story,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Dirty Dancing,” “The Notebook,” “Tootsie,” “Ghost,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “A Star is Born” (any of the four versions). Others that won’t disappoint are “As Good as It Gets,” “Sliding Doors,” “Notting Hill,” “Jerry McGuire” and “The Illusionist.”
