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Mark Sasser

Outdoor Writer at FresYes.com

Having been born and raised in the Valley and spending his complete adult life exploring the outdoors gives Mark a unique look at what we all see each day. From cycling to backpacking, solo or with friends, Fresno proper to the mountains above can at any time be where Mark is found living his life outdoors.

Latest posts by Mark Sasser (see all)

• Invitation to the Ball - November 6, 2015
• Sportsman’s Warehouse, the New Kid In Town - July 20, 2015
• The Freewheel Project - July 13, 2015

With Valentines day fast approaching I’ve been thinking about what makes romance blossom and created an outdoors how to for some of the FresYes romantics this year. Guys follow along for a sure-fire winner of a date, and ladies if your significant other needs some help have them read this early and often.

The root of this plan started with a date night with  my wife to Gazebo Gardens on a beautiful fall night last year. We had been given the recommendation from a friend who told us about the Friday and Saturday night activities as a good fit for us as a couple. First tip to creating a romantic evening is finding something that is fun and low stress for both. Nothing kills romance like stress and this trip was definitely low stress. As we walked into the gardens my wife was instantly relaxed by just being there, I was instantly relaxed as I saw the beer bar stocked with a countless number of great craft beers at the ready for a night in the garden. There was music in the air, laughter of families and couples old and young, friends having fun and smiles all around. I tried to find someone who looked grumpy, I really did, couldn’t find anyone not even a tired toddler who wasn’t having a great night. Near the back fence there was a line of food trucks serving up the best of the best of the FresYes mobile dining world. We walked, ate, snuggled, had a drink or two and just sat leaning on each other enjoying the night.

That brings us to todays guide to Valentines Day Outdoors edition and guys Valentines Day is on a Saturday this year so plan for a full day if you can. Yes I realize its 3 weeks away, plan now and be awesome…… Wait for the 13th and find out the hard way how that’s going to work out.

Part one should start with an outdoors adventure with your sweetheart, not too early but not so late that it will create stress for the evening.

This could be a hike up at Bass Lake along the Willow Creek trail, mountain biking the San Joaquin River Trail, day trip to the beach or an urban crawl on your bikes around town. It doesn’t matter what you do for the activity as long as its fun, adventurous and something you can do together and be excited about.  Yes, guys most women enjoy the outdoors, its science. What they do not tend to like is being in the outdoors with us when we forget they are there or worse yet insist of showing them how macho we are and dominate the day with how awesome we think we are. Engage with your date and have fun, talk, laugh and maybe sneak a kiss if you can. Make time to take some photo’s of the day while you are out there because its V Day and who doesn’t like a new profile pic of a cute couple every once in a while.

Part two of the day should be a well thought out dinner that is equal parts great food and a memorable setting. This could be a nice restaurant you both love or it could be your favorite hang out. The number one thing to remember is it has to be relaxing and comfortable if you want it to be romantic. A picnic with a basket of good food and a bottle of wine in the right spot is much more romantic that waiting at the door for over an hour for a seat, trust me on this one. If you have that special restaurant in mind make reservations now, I did. Another tip to a great night is “accidentally” leave your phone in the car if that’s what you need to do to not check it while on your date. Nobody cares that you checked in here or there or that you took a selfie in the bar waiting for your table. Be present and attentive, engage and be the awesome person that your date wanted to go out with.

Part three of this quick list should be to take an after dinner walk. Even if its to Starbucks, park a little further away than normal so you can stroll a little bit, hold hands, find a spot to kiss under the stars because even if you trip on a curb like I tend to do you will be so far ahead of the curve you two can laugh about it and add it to the days adventure.

Part four is up to you…..

The take away from this list is you don’t always need flowers, candy or a card when it comes to Valentines day. Save that stuff for your mom, grandmother or daughters because they will love it, your date expects more and you owe it to yourself to step it up this year so bring your A game in 2015.

Your date wants you for Valentines Day, not stuff.

Give her the gift of a great day, an outdoors day, a romantic day.