Did winter weather or general life hassles ruin your Valentine’s Day plans with your significant other? Did you happen to meet the love of your life on Valentine’s Day and now you’re facing the critical decision of where to go for your first date? Or maybe you’re single, but you’re looking for fun ways to spend your time with your friends or just treating yourself? Look no further, because these are seven great date ideas near Meredith that won’t be too much of a burden on your gas tank or your wallet.

1. Mission Valley Cinema

Location: 2.0 miles from Meredith

Movie dates aren’t cliché for no reason – they are a great go-to, especially if you want a good movie plot to fuel some awkward first-date conversations. Mission Valley Cinema is an older independent movie theater basically in the middle of NC State’s campus. Their tickets are much cheaper than you’ll find at Regal or AMC; you can get a ticket for $7.50 with a student ID, and $6.50 if it’s a matinee. The seating setup is really cool, and it feels like you’re in an actual theater and not a movie theater. The concessions are well-priced, too, which is a breath of fresh air compared to the rip-off concessions at most theaters.

2. The Alley

Location: 1.8 miles from Meredith

You might have heard about The Alley from the MereCo students who take Bowling as their P.E. elective. Bowling is so much fun, and it’s arguably the easiest sport to play and look cute at the same time, so a date at The Alley might just be up your…alley. This place is a little different from most bowling alleys because it is a little more old fashioned – you keep your own score on paper, and you get charged for a two-hour block of time instead of being charged per game. While this means it might be more expensive than just playing one game at any other alley, you definitely get more bang for your buck.

3. Cary Ice House

Location: 4.8 miles from Meredith

Ice skating is the quintessential Valentine’s Day date, so it can’t hurt to take your fave ice skating to make up for an awkward or bad V-Day. Cary Ice House is a great place to throw on some skates and hit the ice, and it’s not too expensive, either. The only flaw with this date idea is that if you’re not the best at skating (like me), it might be a little unnerving to watch the unnaturally skilled eight-year-olds lapping you over and over, going backwards, and doing that weird swoosh-y thing with their skates. Regardless, you and your date are sure to have a good time skating like you’re Casey and Teddy from "Ice Princess."

4. Umstead Park

Location: 6.0 miles from Meredith

If you’re the outdoorsy type, you will love Umstead Park! I’m not even super outdoorsy but I always love hiking there on the little trails through the woods. It is a huge park, so there is enough room that it is never too crowded. This date might have to wait until spring, though, unless you plan on bundling up.

5. Lucky Tree

Location: 0.6 miles from Meredith

As college students, we stereotypically love coffee. Especially when you’re not bent over a mug of gas station coffee as you furiously write an essay the night before it’s due, there is just something about the smell of coffee that makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside. Combine that with those warm and fuzzy feelings you have for your significant other and boom, you’ve found the perfect date location. Lucky Tree is great not only because it is within walking distance of Meredith, but because they make their coffee from locally roasted beans and they celebrate local artwork. Their atmosphere is totally unique, and if you somehow haven’t been here yet, grab a date (or go solo) and check it out.

6. Pullen Park

Location: 2.7 miles from Meredith

I know there is already a “park” on this list, but Pullen Park is a totally different kind of park. While Umstead is a state park with opportunities to look at wildlife and be in nature, Pullen Park is a fun, adorable little park with rolling green hills perfect for picnics, a merry-go-round, and even a little red train. There is plenty of room on the hills to play football or frisbee or soccer or anything your heart desires. This park is probably one of the best dates I have ever been on; it was just so picturesque, and it’s hard not to feel happy when you’re there.

7. Right here at home

If you’re totally pressed for gas money – and especially if your date goes to Meredith too – why not just make a date out of our beautiful campus? Hang out at the library, find your way to the roof of SMB, walk along the greenway, or maybe take a picnic to the Meredith Pond. No matter what you do, you’ll probably have the time of your life because it is Wonderland, after all.