Every Valentine's Day is the same: couples flaunting out and about and single folks searching for last minute plans. But what about the children? The poor kids get stuck with their babysitters year in and year out while their parents gallivant in the fields of love. Give your kids some extra TLC by making V-day a family affair this year. We can help! Here are some ways you can sweep your little sweetheart(s) right off their tiny feet:
Play Date at the Park
The park should be everyone's happy place - not just kids and dogs. Instead of releasing your child to play on his/her own, play with them! See who can go higher on the swings or who has the best hang time on the monkey bars. Do some geocaching or outdoor exploration at the Nature Center. Before you know it, hours will pass by and you will be the one begging for 30 more minutes. Not only will you look like the best parent ever, but your kids will inevitably think you are too.
Refuel With Some Family-Style Dining
Admit it. Sometimes the kids menu looks better than the adult ones. Well here is your chance to eat like a kid again. Treat the kid(s) to a burger and fries from Village Burger or Shake Shack. Then let them happily wash it all down with a milkshake. Remember - anything they can do, you can do better. *wink wink*
Alternatively, you could take the kids to HOBNOB for some good eats and a good game or too. Who said Family Game Night has to take place at home?
Get Chocolate Wasted
Since this is a very special occasion, let them be little and make all of their sugar dreams come true! We suggest a dessert themed dine around Dunwoody. First stop, Café Intermezzo dessert display. Grab your caffeine as they pick their dessert of choice from the glass case and enjoy some quality time on the patio.
Next stop, Novo Cucina's gelato. The Atlanta area’s only gelato artigianale lives right here in Dunwoody (fancy, huh?) where you will find handcrafted gelati and sorbetti made from scratch daily with fresh, wholesome milk and cream. Favorite staples and seasonal flavors await; and, if you are looking to soak up some of the sugar, consider ordering a pizza to share. Pizza and gelato, a match made in kid heaven.
And finally, grab a fresh-baked, WARM cookie or two (or three) from Ali's Cookies. Stop by this sweet cookie shop for cookies made the old-fashioned way with no preservatives and all-fresh, natural ingredients. These cookies are sure to put a smile on your little one's face (and nothing is cuter than a chocolate smeared smile).
End the Day on an even Sweeter Note
Seal the deal with a surprise trip to Perimeter Mall before heading home. More than a mall, this is truly a shopping destination. Head to Boxed Lunch to grab novelty items and toys from their favorite movies and shows or venture to Barnes and Noble to grab a new book or two for before bedtime. Don't forget to grab a little something for you too! Check out the directory of stores here. Before leaving, throw one more surprise their way with a visit to Lolli and Pops for a Willy Wonka-like experience. They can grab a bucket and go retail trick-or-treating for a sweet ending to an even sweeter day. Get yourself a candy bucket too, because you totally rocked this family date!
When you think about it, turning Valentine's Day into a family day makes things so much easier. If you were struggling to plan something different for the two of you, this is the perfect solution. And no one likes hopping from restaurant to restaurant for those coveted Valentine's Day reservations anyway. A family date will remind parents of all the many reasons they instantly fell in love with their kids.
But if you really do need a couples getaway, we can help with that too! After your family day in Dunwoody, the two of you will be looking to come back as many times as you possibly can. With so many things to do here, we don't blame you.