Suggestions for how to spoil your sweetie this Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Do you have a gift for the Hallmark holiday? We have some suggestions.

• Treat your taste buds to a Valentine's dinner at a local restaurant. Among several options is Zin's in downtown Cedar Rapids, which will serve a $50 (per person), four course dinner with optional wine pairings on Feb. 12, 13 and 14. Go to zinsrestaurant.com to see the menu and book a reservation, or call 319-363-9467.

• Save yourself some dough by making your own in the form of a heart-shaped pizza. But first, pick up a nice bottle of wine, perhaps from New Pioneer Co-op. Cedar Rapids NewPi's wine specialist, Chelsea Lob, recommends a red blend from Italy called Gran Passione Rosso, currently priced at $12.99. It's her 'go to' if she's celebrating, she said, because it's easy to drink: 'not super dry' but has rich plum and cherry flavors. The 14 percent alcohol content is an added bonus, she said. Not into red? Try Marco Tintero's Langhe Arneis, a sweeter (but not too sweet) white wine on sale for $9.99.

• Just want to relax? Melt your muscles with a couples massage at Hands in Harmony in Cedar Rapids. A basic 30-minute massage for two starts at $99, but their more exotic options reach up to $550. If you truly want to be pampered, try their 'Champagne and rose ultimate couples massage,' which includes Champagne, rose body wraps, hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries, a 30-minute soak in a whirlpool tub and a 60- minute side-by-side massage for $425. They also offer a 'hot buttered rum on the rocks' massage, which includes a buttered rum body scrub, a 30-minute soak in a peppermint milk bath with a cocktail and a 60-minute hot stone massage for $275. Hands in Harmony owner Wahneta Dimmer said 'couples come as far as six hours' for their ultimate massage packages.

• Take your date out on the town with tickets for two to your local theater. Perhaps an evening of cabaret with 'Heart and Music' at Theatre Cedar Rapids on Feb. 12, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 for $19 — an additional $10 gets you a drink and dessert pairing following the show. Not sure which show is best for you? Most theaters in the area offer gift certificates, too.

• For a full weekend away, check out local bed-and-breakfasts like the Brown Street Inn in Iowa City or the Belmont Hill Victorian B&B in Cedar Rapids. Or, spend the holiday in the Amana Colonies for their 'romance weekend' from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14. Couples can participate in a variety of workshops over the weekend, or just explore what the tourist destination has to offer. More information can be found at amanacolonies.com.

• If you're a lover of the outdoors, another getaway option is a weekend cabin rental at a local state park such as Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point or the cabin at Big Woods Lake near Cedar Falls. More options and info can be found at traveliowa.com.

• Give the gift that keeps giving with a do-it-yourself date box or jar containing date suggestions on slips of paper or Popsicle sticks. Next time you're in the mood for a date but don't know what to do, ideas will be right at your fingertips.

• A tried-and-true option is jewelry, but if you're looking for something unique or handmade, consider {made} community jewelry based in Iowa City. You can buy their necklaces, bracelets or earrings at Revival in Iowa City or True Style in Coralville. Find more locations and their online shop at madecommunity.com.

• Serenade your date with a singing valentine from Cedar Sounds Chorus of Sweet Adelines, a local female quartet, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 12, Feb. 13 or Feb. 14 They'll sing two songs and deliver a card, chocolates and a rose for $40. Call 319-396-5036 or 319-213-2469 to reserve.

• Send a sugary surprise though a Hurts Donuts 'Cupid' delivery. An employee dressed as Cupid will deliver a box of fried, doughy deliciousness and may even sing and dance. Inquire at Hurts Donus at 1301 Fifth St in Coralville,