By Alie Mayes, Fish and Wildlife Education Division
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, love is in the air. If you would like to combine your love for nature with that special someone in your life, keep reading for a list of nature-themed dates.
Winter Star or Moon Gazing
Get starry-eyed with a celestial date night. While venturing out into the cold, dark night may not seem appealing, winter is the perfect time for stargazing. The cold air helps keep the skies clear and the stars appearing bright. This year, the full moon lands on Feb. 12, and you know what they say when the moon hits your eye … that’s amore! Whether you go stargazing or moon viewing, grab a pair of binoculars, a thermos of cocoa and some extra blankets before heading out.
Rock Climbing
While it might be too cold for scaling rocks outside, you and your love can have an adventurous time with indoor rock walls. If you are looking for a location on the eastern side of the state, check out Venture Climb — a 48-foot rock wall located within the Activity Center at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
Nebraska Nature-Inspired Dinner
Don your apron and light a few candles. Impress your date with a homecooked dinner with local ingredients, perhaps prosciutto-wrapped northern pike or a flaky venison pot pie. Check out more mouthwatering recipes featuring Nebraska wild ingredients at the Nebraskaland Food and Foraging Archive.
Learn Something New Together
A shared love of learning can help nourish and grow your relationship. Even the heartthrob Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice said his ideal mate “must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of [their] mind by extensive reading.” So, visit your local library or bookshop to pursue some nature-inspired books. Or keep up with the latest issue of Nebraskaland Magazine or hop over to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education YouTube page and curl up on the couch to watch a Nature Nerd Night or science video.
Explore a New Park
With over 70 locations to visit across the state, Nebraska’s parks system has something for everyone. These park lands include state parks, state recreation areas and state historical parks. These park areas also offer a diversity of habitats to explore and wildlife to view as well as a variety of amenities, such as cabins, lodges, naturalist programming and more. Some parks even offer Valentine’s Day packages with special pricing and activities for your stay.
Whether you want to stay home or take a quick weekend trip, there are plenty of ways to incorporate nature into your Valentine’s Day or future date plans. For more ideas, check out the Nebraska Outdoor Calendar, which is frequently updated with events and activities. No matter if you are looking to spend time with your partner, your friends or family, there is something for everyone in the Nebraska outdoors.