Nontraditional ideas for Valentine's Day in Metro Detroit
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Glass gets broken (safely) during The Damage Zone's opening event in December. Photo: Courtesy of the City of Detroit via Flickr
Valentine's Day is just two weeks away, and we're here with ideas for some less traditional, more creative ways to spend this consumerism-fueled holiday in and around Detroit.
Why it matters: We're not convinced that your lovely date is going to be satisfied with just a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a dinner reservation this year.
- It's cold, and January feels like it has been about 57 days long, so injecting some adventure into your valentine's (or BFF's) life may be exactly the antidote you need.
🏌️ Just destroy some stuff: Let off steam with your loved one at The Damage Zone, Detroit's first rage room for safe stress relief. You can be "a responsible psycho," the website advertises.
- 30-minute sessions are $50 per person, including breakable items, refreshments, tools of destruction, and safety gear.
- Other options include the smash room at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park in Sterling Heights and Escape Room Zone rage rooms in Farmington and Madison Heights.
🐶 Dog date: If you're looking to include your furry children on a Valentine's outing, try a play date at dog park and bar Barkside in West Village.
- Or, for a more low-key vibe, meet up at Riverside's dog park, with its gorgeous view of the Ambassador Bridge. Then, grab takeout from nearby La Jalisciense or Sicily's Pizzeria & Subs.
😌 Drown 'em all out: If you're part of a duo that just plain needs a break, book sensory-deprivation tanks for quiet relaxation. These enclosures block out all sights and sounds so there's nothing but you and Epsom-salt-rich warm water.
- Try Motor City Float in Clawson, Sirona Wellness Spa in St. Clair Shores, or True Rest Float Spa in Utica or Farmington Hills.
💦 Sweat it out: If you've been meaning to check out Detroit's historic bathhouse but haven't yet, now is your time.
- The Schvitz offers visits for $40 with no reservations, as well as private bookings. Relax in a dry sauna, try the cold-plunge pool, and book massages and facials — or gorge from pop-up food vendors.
🐦 Spot some critters: Instead of bundling up to stroll around the zoo, bundle up and hike through the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton.
- See if you can spot any of the 300 species of birds that call the refuge home while walking a 2.25-mile out-and-back trail — we've been assured they didn't all fly south for the winter.