As Valentine’s Day approaches, the topic of dates is inevitably brought up. Valentine’s is a holiday made up of love and romance with many Americans feeling the need to spend hundreds of dollars to celebrate the holiday. In 2024, Americans spent a total of $26 billion for Valentine’s Day.

For some high school students, even just the thought of Valentine’s dates can be overwhelming. Even though some students have jobs, it can still be hard to live up to the standards of Valentine’s Day dates and romantic gestures portrayed on social media. However, celebrating love doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are a few inexpensive date ideas around the San Antonio area.

River Walk picnic

A River Walk picnic stroll is a very inexpensive way to have fun while enjoying and exploring downtown San Antonio. All you need to do is find transportation down to the downtown San Antonio riverwalk and simply walk along the riverbank. You can browse stores and sight see.

Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden is a beautiful garden full of various flowers and plants. You and your date can take a stroll around the beautiful garden. You will be able to see things such as koi pounds, waterfalls, and a moon gate. Admission is free, so the only con is the need and expense of transportation. Additionally, food is not able to be brought into the garden. 

McNay Art Museum 

The McNay Art Museum is a medieval-to-contemporary style museum located in the San Antonio area. Sadly there are no special displays for Valentine’s Day, but you can still enjoy the normal art. Even though Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, on Thursdays you can enter the museum for free.

Pearl Farmers Market

The farmers market is a fun idea for couples who want to just walk around and explore the area. You can also sample fresh local produce and listen to live music. The Pearl Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings, so it’d be a great place to visit after the rush of Valentine’s Day. It would be a perfect way to end Valentine’s Day weekend.

Thrift store challenge

For this date, you will set a small budget of around $10-15, pick each other a funny or stylish outfit and then wear them for the rest of your date. You can also take photos of each other and create everlasting memories of your date.

At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day is about the time you spend with your partner, not the amount of money you spend. Whether it’s a walk around a park, visiting a museum or having a picnic at the river walk, with these date ideas you can create memories while not breaking the bank.