Make Moscow romantic for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is back once again.
Moscow may not seem like the most romantic place in the world. Potatoes, wheat fields and more potatoes do not normally make for a romantic getaway, but for the creative Idahoan, the Palouse offers potential for some interesting activities.
Cy Whitling
They say Venice is a romantic place. This is mainly due to the city’s funky little boats rowed by men in goofy hats. Apparently, adding the possibility of drowning to a date makes it more romantic. Never fear, the same kind of watery adventure is available in Moscow.
Rent a canoe from the Outdoor Center and tell your significant other to meet at Mountain View Park. From there, paddle down Paradise Creek. Where the creek flows through campus, disembark for a short but romantic appetizer at Bob’s or Denny’s before continuing downstream to Pullman.
In Pullman, treat your significant other to something romantic. There is a gas station right by the creek that has some pretty killer corn dogs, maybe top it off with a slurpee while trying to hitchhike back to Moscow with a canoe.
It is totally possible to make this voyage, just beware of culverts, bushes, legal issues and the distinct possibility that this may be the last time spent with your significant other should authorities be involved.
For those looking for a less watery vacation, I’d recommend looking to the French for inspiration. Why is Paris called the city of love? It may have something to do with the Eiffel tower, wine and possibly cheese.
For a local Paris experience, look no further than Pullman. They have cheese (Cougar Gold), they have wine (or grape juice) and they have towers. From grain silos to the Bell Tower to the weird miniature Washington Monument, Pullman is overflowing with towers. Sure, they might not have beautiful French music wafting through the sunset, but all it takes to fix that is a boombox and the Pandora accordion station.
If you tell your significant other you are taking them to the “Paris of the Palouse,” and you end up sipping grape juice and eating cheese in the rain while staring at a miniature Washington Monument, don’t be surprised if you find yourself single by the next day.
Finally, for those without a significant other, treat yourself to a nice beach vacation. Crank the thermostat and get out your chaise lounge. Who needs Tahiti when there are tropical island screensavers and the summery scent of sunscreen?
To complete the island experience, get a pan of clean kitty litter to rest your toes in, put some ocean sounds on and use some of the money you saved for plane tickets on a margarita mix.
The prospect of a Valentine’s Day in northern Idaho can be daunting, but all it takes is a little creativity and ingenuity with a splash of suspended belief to experience a romantic Valentine’s Day right here on the Palouse.
Cy Whitling can be reached at [email protected]