A trip to the Bahamas could be a nice way to spend Valentine's Day, but you don't have to leave the East Side or Sahuarita to spend romantic time with your sweetie.
The communities' variety of businesses means that there's something for pretty much everyone's tastes and budget.
Here are some ideas on how to spend a romantic or fun date out, at home or — if you are going solo this year, a fun night alone — without having to leave your area.
A taste of the West at Tanque Verde Ranch
Where: 14301 E. Speedway.
Reservations: Encouraged. Call the front desk at 296-6275.
You don't have to rent a room at the East Side ranch to have Valentine's dinner in its dining room.
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Tanque Verde Ranch will serve a dinner that includes a choice of prime rib, chicken, fish or vegetarian entree for $29 a person, including tax and gratuity, said Paul Gustafson, operations manager.
The dining room "has that Old West classiness" and is "just a nice, quiet Western romantic setting," Gustafson said.
A country music concert that helps a local school district
Where: Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
When: 7 p.m. Valentine's Day.
Country music fans can celebrate Valentine's by checking out Nashville band Savannah Jack while helping the Sahuarita Unified School District.
Your $10 ticket to the concert will benefit the Sahuarita Unified School District Educational Enrichment Foundation, which collects money to support programs within the district.
The foundation came in contact with Savannah Jack through the Safford Unified School District, which was already bringing in the band to play at its auditorium, said Sahuarita Superintendent Jay St. John. The band will play in Safford Feb. 15 at that school district's Center for the Arts.
A heart-shaped pizza from Grandma Tony's Pizza and Wings
Where: Rita Ranch: 9040 E. Valencia Road. Broadway and Kolb Road: 7010 E. Broadway.
To order: Rita Ranch: 663-1936. Broadway and Kolb: 885-7117. At least a 24-hour pre-order is required, said Becky Diaz, director of public relations.
You and your sweetheart can order a heart-shaped pizza from Grandma Tony's Pizza and Wings Friday through Feb. 14.
Grandma Tony's has been doing the Valentine's special for about 20 years, and the owner got the idea while walking by heart-shaped cookies in a mall, Diaz said.
The three-item, heart-shaped pizza comes in one size — large, she said.
People can dine in Grandma Tony's Rita Ranch location — but not the one at Broadway and Kolb — or make the heart-shaped pizza a part of a quiet dinner at home. There's a $2 delivery fee and no extra charge for carryout, Diaz said.
Make a date of minigolf, burgers and poker
Where: Triple Play, 1570 W. Duval Mine Road.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday,10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
For more information: Call 625-7888.
Sometimes the best dates are more fun than romantic. If that's how you and your date want to spend Valentine's, then Triple Play might be your place.
The entertainment park has a realistic putting golf course with sand traps and without bumpers. Unlimited play costs $6.50 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 12 and younger.
For those who would rather swing a bat, Triple Play has batting cages for $1 per token, worth 17 pitches.
And — since Valentine's Day is on a Thursday this year — you and your Valentine can play some free Texas Hold 'Em for prizes. Triple Play holds poker games at 3 and 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
Picnic in a park
A bottle of something delicious, some homemade sandwiches, a romantic dessert — say, chocolate-dipped strawberries — and a nice place in a local park is all you need for an inexpensive Valentine's Day.
The Web site Celebrating-ValentinesDay.com has ideas for making a Valentine's Day picnic special, including reading a poem aloud.
In Sahuarita, people can have a lakefront picnic — something not easily come by in the Tucson area.
Sahuarita Lake Park, 15466 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd., has a man-made lake, picnic tables and — for die-hard romantics — gazebos.
