14+ Ideas for Valentine’s Day Dates with Your Kids

Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love. Treat your child to a fun date to do something you’ll both enjoy and create special memories. Maybe you can even make it a family tradition!

A Sweet Treat

Valentine’s Day is all about the desserts. Head to a delicious restaurant to celebrate the day or make it special at home.

Splurge: Sugar Factory is a two-story restaurant with a full-service café and confectionery shop. In the main dining room, spot the one-of-a-kind Gummy Bears Chandelier, and view the signature floor-to-ceiling candy wall. Choose from more than 500 types of sweet treats, including novelty and bulk candy, milkshakes and more. Menu prices range from $10-$150. Atlanta.

Moderate: For a special dessert, head to The Yard Milkshake Bar. With two Atlanta locations, this sweet spot has deliciously indulgent and over-the-top milkshakes; flavors include Birthday Cake, The Cereal Killer, The Mermaid and more. Specialty shakes are $17 and include a souvenir jar. Atlanta.

Budget: Watch trains chug by at The Frosty Caboose, which features 36 flavors of locally made ice cream whenever you visit. Chamblee.

DIY: Set up an ice cream buffet at home or work together to bake your child’s favorite cookies or cake. You can also set up a candy bar for the day with different gummies and chocolates for small splurges throughout the day.

Friend to Animals

Does your child love critters and creatures? If so, spend the day connecting over a shared passion.

Splurge: Zoo Atlanta offers extra special animal encounters for an up-close and personal experience. The behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters activities include getting close to lemurs, elephants, tortoises, giant pandas and warthogs. Some experiences are available seasonally. $35-$200; Zoo admission, extra. Atlanta.

Moderate: Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary is home to bison, peacocks, pigs, wallabies and more, and they have a Petting Zoo, interactive exhibits and Keeper Talks. $20; ages 3-12, $13. Lilburn. Visit Creekwater Alpaca Farm for a barn tour that includes petting and feeding the alpacas, and viewing bunnies, goats, pigs and horses. $17; ages 3-13, $12. Snellville.

Budget: Travel to Athens for Bear Hollow Zoo, the home to a variety of non-releasable wildlife residents. Animals include reptiles, owls, an American alligator and more. Free admission. Athens.

DIY: Take your dog to a nearby dog park for time outdoors with your child and your pet. Check the minimum age at your local animal shelter for a volunteer opportunity you can do with your kid. You can also collect items a shelter needs and drop them off; on the way home, stop for a treat your child will love.

A Spot of Tea

Get dolled up for a fancy meal and plenty of time to chat and catch up.

Splurge: In Candler Park, drop by Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party for a private High Tea party in the piano parlor, which includes a private entrance, the whimsical piano room and a back garden patio. Enjoy a pot of tea and delicious scones, quiche and sandwiches. The High Tea is $470 for 1-15 guests; additional items are also available. Atlanta.

Moderate: Sip on afternoon or high tea at The Ginger Room with reservations in their parlor or the Walbrook Room. Food includes finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, various desserts and more. Tea is $47.95-$57.95 per person. Alpharetta.

Budget: Just Add Honey’s parTEA experience includes hot or iced tea, a chicken salad sandwich, a scone and jam and desserts for a fun twist on a traditional tea service, which costs $28 per person. Atlanta.

DIY: Break out your china plates and pretty mugs or teacups for an at-home tea party. If your child is old enough, ask them to help you decorate and make finger sandwiches and desserts.

A Master Artiste

Encourage your child’s blooming creativity and curiosity with an artsy experience.

Splurge: Watch the work of impressionist Claude Monet come to life at Claude Monet: The  Immersive Experience. Immerse yourself in his masterpieces with a 360-degree show, explore the gardens that inspired him, learn about his life, and more. For an extra cost, enjoy a one-of-a-kind VR experience. $33.90-$36.90; ages 4-12, $22.90-$24.90; ages 3 and younger, free. Doraville.

Moderate: Vinings School of Art has Mommy & Me/Daddy & Me classes for ages 3 and older for creating beautiful art together, starting at $20 per child. Smyrna. Choose from more than 700 items of pottery at All Fired Up for a creative get together that will result in a keepsake. Deposit for reservations cost $25. Three metro Atlanta locations.

Budget: Head to the High Museum of Art on Feb. 12 for their free UPS Second Sunday programming. Enjoy art-making activities, music by a DJ, playing with the smARTbox and access to the permanent and special exhibitions. Free admission. Atlanta.

DIY: Pick up a paint-by-number or pottery kit at your local craft store for exploring creativity at home. Or, grab a canvas and paint your family’s portrait. You can even repaint a room or update some furniture for your artsy project.

For the Gamer

From video games to escape rooms, and the addition of some yummy food (if you want), these daring dates are sure to please.

Splurge: If your kid loves to play games that require strategic skills, consider booking an escape room. Ultimate Escape Game, Mystery Room and The Escape Game all have themed rooms with different difficulty levels depending on what you think your child can solve.

Moderate: Battle & Brew is a gaming restaurant featuring Nintendo, Playstation 4, Xbox and tabletop games. You can play board games, book a PC station or a duo table, or a TV station or couch area for more than three people from $7-$30. Sandy Springs. Skyline Park on The Roof at Ponce City Market has a Coney Island-style boardwalk featuring mini golf, horse derby race, basketball, skee ball and goblet toss. The Roof is ages 21+ after 5 p.m. on Fri.-Sat.  $15; ages 3-12, $7; ages 2 and younger, free; activities, extra. Atlanta.

Budget: Round1 at Cumberland Mall has bowling, arcade games, karaoke and Spo-Cha, an indoor sports complex. Activities cost $5-$17. Atlanta.

DIY: Play your favorite board or card games together. Or, try your hand at your child’s top pick video game (even if the last time you played one was in 1995). Games are great for lots of laughs and some fun competition.

More fun ideas:

Walk The BeltLine

Walk, bike or run the 22-mile trail that connects many Atlanta neighborhoods. Admire murals, search for the Tiny Doors and stop for a treat at Krog Street Market or Ponce City Market along the way.

Go Ice Skating

Practice your twists and twirls or improve on last year’s moves at these outdoor ice skating rinks around Atlanta. Call before visiting to check for hours and weather changes.

Hop on an Atlanta Streetcar

You don’t have to visit New Orleans or San Francisco to experience the fun of street cars, take a ride on the loop and visit the playground at Woodruff Park.

See a Show

In February, see a show at the Alliance Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts and more listed in our calendar.

Play in the Snow

Be transported to a wintry vacation state with snow tubing, snow slides, ice skating and more at License to Chill Snow Island at Lake Lanier’s Margaritaville (through Feb. 26).

Visit a Garden

Valentine’s Day is traditionally all about flowers so why not visit a garden to see some? Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s children’s garden or the Woodlands Garden tucked in Decatur. Road trip to Callaway Gardens or Gibbs Gardens.

Visit a Jump Place

Let kids burn off all of the sweets. These indoor play places and trampoline parks will keep the kids bouncing.

Visit the Zoo

There’s always something happening at Zoo Atlanta, where kids can see – and learn about – all types of animals.

Have a Sweet Treat

Even though your kids will be overloaded with sugar, you may still want to take them for a special treat. Visit one of these ice cream shops on our list of favorites.

Attend a Valentine’s Day Dance

Many community centers around Atlanta are hosting special dances. We compiled a list of some of the best.

Enjoy a Special Meal

We have a list of some of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Atlanta, choose from one of these for a special mom and son or dad and daughter lunch or dinner date.

Visit a Museum

Check out these exhibits in the metro area.

Get Artsy

Check out these open studios and drop-in art classes in metro Atlanta where your kids can unleash their inner Matisse.

Go Hiking

Step outside and experience nature –there are so many beautiful places for easy hikes near Atlanta. Try these out next time you’re looking for free and cheap fun with the kids.

Check out these ideas for date night ideas with your partner.