Looking for some last-minute ideas for celebrating this Valentine’s Day weekend in Colorado Springs? We’ve got you covered with this list of themed dates that includes everything from Harry-Potter inspired cocktails, to go-kart racing and vintage treasuring hunting.
Forever young
These playful — but classic — activities are sure to make for an adventurous night with your Valentine as you embrace your youthful side. Kick off the night with some good, old-fashioned mini golf at Lost Island Adventure Park, which features two 18-hole courses.
Then, head to Overdrive Raceway to get your hearts racing with indoor, high-speed go-karting. You and your Valentine can choose from two exhilarating tracks. Keep up the casual, competitive energy at your final stop at Dave & Buster’s. This popular arcade chain is the perfect spot to end the night with drinks, food and games to win your sweetheart a prize.
Retro rendezvous
Crowds gather around BJ’s Velvet Freeze.
Gazette file
A sample of used vinyl records at The Leechpit in west Colorado Springs. The reemergence of vinyl surprises owner Adam Leech every day. “They ruled (vinyl) dead and gone for a long time,” Leech says. “The thought was, ‘You might as well throw your records away.’ ”
For a nostalgic Valentine’s Day in Colorado Springs, start at The Leechpit Records and Vintage, where you can discover hidden gems among vinyl records and unique vintage treasures and oddities. Then, make your way over to the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs to enjoy classic pinball machines and other vintage arcade games.
After some lighthearted competition, wrap up your rendezvous at BJ’s Velvet Freeze, a tiny drive-in that opened in 1954 and still serves delicious dipped cones, burgers, fries and shakes. If you’d prefer a sit-down restaurant, head to one of two Gunther Toody’s Diner locations. The restaurant, modeled after a 50’s style diner, serves hand-spun milkshakes, burgers, beer and cocktails.
Wild at heart
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Photo Credit: Cheri Alguire (iStock).
Cheri Alguire
Looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a lover of the outdoors? Colorado Springs offers plenty of outdoor adventures for couples. For about $70 a ticket, you can ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit of America’s Mountain, and at the top, enjoy fresh donuts with breathtaking views.
You can also enjoy a scenic hike through Red Rock Canyon Open Space or stroll hand in hand as the sun sets over Garden of the Gods. For a rare winter wonder, visit Rainbow Falls to see its frozen cascade—which will be accessible on two exclusive days, February 15th and 22nd. Click here for details on making a reservation to marvel at this hidden gem near Manitou Springs.
Accio Valentine’s Day!
Wizards and Muggles alike can celebrate the day with a bit of magic in Colorado Springs.
Both locations of Allusion Speakeasy, a themed cocktail bar in Colorado Springs, will be serving up Harry Potter-inspired drinks and ambiance. Start your evening by grabbing a boozy Butter Beer, or a Parseltongue or Baby Mandrake cocktail from either location. Then, head over to one of the city’s Cinemark locations for a special showing of Harry Potter on the big screen.
If you start at the downtown Allusion location, grab a treat at the Candy Bar on Tejon Street afterwards. At this sweet shop, you can often find Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans or a giant gold Gringott’s coin made of chocolate.
If you start at the Powers Boulevard location, you’ll be just steps away from the Cinemark Carefree Circle XD and IMAX.
Harry Potter showings start on Thursday Feb. 13 and run through the following week. Both theaters will be playing “Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets” at 7 p.m. Friday. If you’re heading out for a date on Saturday, There are 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. showings of “Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Storybook romance
Start at a local bookstore, drink ‘potions’ at a local coffee shop, and then end the night with dinner and drinks at the Rabbit Hole in this Alice in Wonderland-inspired date.
The Rabbit Hole’s stairway is illuminated by Christmas lights on a snowy Tuesday evening. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette)
Parker Seibold
A bowl of pozole verde and an Italiano sandwich sit on a table at Blk Mgk on May 1.
photos by Parker Seibold, the gazette
Begin your Wonderland date in the heart of downtown at a local bookstore, of course! Head to Poor Richard’s where you can explore shelves of books, grab a cup of tea and check out the adjacent Little Richard’s toy store. Afterward, make your way to Blk Mgk Coffee for a selection of “potions.” The artisanal coffee shop, located in the historic Mining Exchange building, serves up a variety of drink concoctions, including a “Love is in the Air Latte” and a handful of wellness tinctures.
End the night with dinner and drinks at the The Rabbit Hole. The underground restaurant is accessed by a set of subway steps. Their “Drink Me” menu includes a signature “White Rabbit” martini; a spicy “Tweedle Dum” cocktail, and the “Red Queen” — a cherry amaretto sour with a juicy red wine float. (We can’t promise they will help you shrink or grow in size the way they did for Alice.)