Celebrate the New Year with Love!

This time of year, couples are making special plans to show their love for one another with a special Valentine’s Day celebration. What do we do this year? Where do we go? Do we just stay home and watch a movie? Valentine’s Day is a day to express your love and to celebrate the spirit of love – so do something special for your loved one.

Flowers, candy, jewelry, candle-light dinner, a night at the movies, a day of shopping or even a get away weekend at a nice hotel/motel is always great. Athens and Limestone County businesses would enjoy the opportunity to help you celebrate.

Local florists will deliver bouquets to your loved one. Most women that work love having flowers delivered to their workplace. Valentine’s Day cards and candy are available at local stores as well as chocolate coated strawberries from Russell Stovers, Sugar Mama’s Sweet Treats, Bakery at Elkmont and other locations. Sonic is offering chocolate-cherry Sweetheart milkshakes and of course, Shoney’s has their delicious strawberry pies. Want something extra special – Southern Splendor Chorus will deliver a singing valentine to your sweetheart.

Go to one of our locally owned restaurants like LuVici’s and Village Pizza downtown on the square or Catfish Cabin, Clark’s Family Restaurant, 306 BBQ and others on Hwy 72 for a nice cozy meal. Take your sweetheart to a dinner theater show at Yesterdays Event Center, Spoon & Croon Valentine’s Lunch at the Athens State University (ASU) Sandridge Hall Ballroom hosted by the ASU Center for Life Long Learning or the Valentine’s Day Dinner at Canebrake.

Make your loved one feel special with a get away from the kids weekend (or just one night) at one of our local hotels/motels. Local properties will treat you like royalty when you spend the weekend with them. Most offer hot breakfast and two have indoor pools (Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn & Suites). Some hotels are offering special Valentine’s Day packages. Call around and see what’s available.

Gifts of all types are available throughout the county at the specialty shops and department stores. Stop by one of the jewelry stores (Hobbs Jewelers and Osborne’s Jewelers) and pick up a “shiny” surprise for your special person. Not sure what to get that special person, the sales personnel at downtown shops like Pablo’s, Pimento’s, Trinity’s, Crawford’s, Shoe Gallery, UG White and others will help you pick out something special. You can do something as simple as walking hand-in-hand through one of the parks or walking trails and watch the sunset. It’s all about showing your special person how important they are to you. You still have time to plan that special night!

If you need information about these or other events and attractions in Athens-Limestone, visit the Athens Visitors Center located at 100 North Beaty Street or call 256-232-5411. Information is also posted on our websites – www.VisitAthensAL.com.
By Jeanette Dunnavant Jones, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, Inc.