Last minute ideas for a roadtrip romance

February 11, 2012 9:46 PM

#lastminuteValentineshelp what can I do for Valentine's Day between Tucson, AZ and Los Angeles, CA (inclusive)?

This Valentine's, I will be on the road, leaving Tucson in the morning and arriving in Los Angeles in the early evening. I am not beholden to any location or time, but there is one major hurdle: I'll be with my SO from now until then 24/7, so disappearing to gather secret supplies (say, for a romantic picnic at Joshua Tree) would be difficult. I am guessing "dinner in LA" is my best bet, but I want to hear what the hivemind thinks.

Budget: not much. $50 total at most (so $20ish per person for dinner).

Would be awesome but not necessary: this is one leg of a longer road trip to see America, so ideas that take us to spots that showcase the west, or the coast, or LA, etc. would be great.

posted by isnotchicago to Human Relations (6 answers total)

You could make a game out of gathering the supplies along the way, that way joshua tree is still a surprise (the anticipation can be just as exciting as the reveal). Maybe you could even blind fold her for certain parts of the drive or as you run into the store to get bread and cheese and wine etcetc. You could alternatively pay a trustworthy friend to set up a picnic for you there (or anywhere else that's scenic along the way) before you get there. Is she the type of girl that would enjoy dinner in LA just as much as a Joshua tree adventure? If so, then by all means just do a dinner. I, however, hands down would swoon over such a unique valentine's day. :)
posted by carpediem at 11:14 PM on February 11, 2012

Which route are you taking? Are you heading up to Phx first and taking the 10 or just taking the 8?
posted by lizjohn at 9:50 AM on February 12, 2012

Well, if you're trying to get to Los Angeles by the end of the day, Joshua Tree is a bit out of your way. But how about stopping for a soak in Desert Hot Springs? Sam's Family Spa is funky, fun and not expensive... and they have a newly mated pair of peacocks on display in an aviary. Also cool, free and just off the 10 is the Thousand Palms Oasis--you can stroll on a wooden boardwalk through the ancient stands of trees. And nothing says loving like a pro-creationism gift shop in the belly of a dinosaur (visiting the brontosaur is free, the T.Rex has an admission fee).
posted by Scram at 4:56 PM on February 12, 2012

Up to Phoenix than over on I-10 is the plan.
posted by isnotchicago at 4:56 PM on February 12, 2012

then* [/idiot]
posted by isnotchicago at 4:58 PM on February 12, 2012

Followup: I broke down and just told her I wanted to take her on a picnic, and we went to Thousand Palms Oasis. It was amazing. We only did a short trail, but even walking just 30 minutes through the hot, arid desert only to come across a huge grove of trees surrounding a pool of water...it was breathtaking.

tl;dr: Thousand Palms Oasis is totally cool.
posted by isnotchicago at 7:18 PM on February 16, 2012