The sky is streaked with pink and gold as the sun sinks behind the cobalt-colored mountains. At a cozy candlelit table for two overlooking the Bellagio fountains, your lover presents you with a red velvet box of decadent chocolates, a dozen roses and a sparkling piece of jewelry. Could it be a diamond ring?

This scene is the artificial fluff of which romantic comedies are made, and Valentine’s Day celebrates just this kind of idealized love. However, the romance-themed holiday can also be a day to reflect on a relationship, giving lovers the impetus to celebrate the reality and the beauty of their lives together.

So even if it doesn’t include a diamond ring, Valentine’s Day brings with it every tool needed to spend the holiday wrapped up in love—and that’s always a good thing.

Seeing the Sights

A day of romance is nothing without atmosphere, of which Las Vegas happens to have plenty. Beautiful desert landscapes? Check. Man-made marvels? Check. Gorgeous architecture? Definitely.

For the adventurous types, this desert oasis has the whole Valentine’s Day package. Red Rock Canyon is one of Las Vegas’ hidden gems, and a romantic walk through the rust-colored stones is beautiful this time of year. If you’re not in the mood for traipsing along the trails, you can also drive the 13-mile road through the canyon for a meager $5 fee. The scenic drive is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. this season, perfect for early morning or dusky drives. You can book an overnight campsite for $10, if you’re into that sort of romantic nature thing. (Hint: The canyon hosts weddings, too.)

To escape the desert for a day, head up to Mt. Charleston. With traces of snow often seen on the ground in mid-February, the mountain offers cool temperatures and spectacular views. Stay at the Mt. Charleston Lodge for an alpine holiday to remember.

For city folks, there is beauty to be seen even on the streets of Las Vegas. Las Vegas Boulevard alone holds two of the world’s most spectacular sights: the Bellagio fountains and the Eiffel Tower (OK, it’s not the real thing, but it’s still amazing). The fountains, which are the site of dancing water shows every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight, have also provided the backdrop for many marriage proposals. Plus they’re beautiful. And free.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, might be a bit more romantic than the one at Paris Las Vegas, but the view from the top is still breathtaking. The elevator ride to the tower’s observation deck is $10 for adults, and staff members even provide photos of the happy couple at the end of the tour.

Lap of Luxury

If checking out the city and its wonders is not your idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, perhaps indulging in life’s pleasures is more your style. Luckily, Las Vegas has variety to spare.

If the couple that shops together, stays together, then there are plenty of browsing opportunities in Sin City. Whether you’re admiring merchandise through the windows or trying on expensive garments, the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace offer plenty to see (and to try on). From lingerie (Agent Provocateur) to luggage (Coach), this palatial expanse of a shopping mall has everything a couple could need. And if you happen to wander into the Tiffany & Co. store to browse through rings…well, there’s no harm in that.

You can also check out The Shoppes at Palazzo, as well as retail spaces at Wynn Las Vegas and the Bellagio. But, let’s face it, shopping is not the most ideal romantic activity, which is why Las Vegas resorts serve up stylish ways to celebrate your love. Spa treatments are the ultimate in luxury, so if you want to splurge on your partner, there is nothing more relaxing (or romantic) than pampering for two.

QUA Baths and Spa at Caesars Palace has several indulgent couples rituals from which to choose. The Kama Sutra with Shirodhara treatment combines rose and sandalwood massage oils with chilled rose petals and tantric music for a sensual experience in a private suite. The Couple’s Lunaception ritual heightens fertility with teas, oils and breath synchronization during certain lunar phases. Both rituals are $450. The Venetian and Palazzo’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers a 50-minute couples massage for a slightly more affordable $300.

For a night to remember, book spa treatments and a suite at your favorite resort. The combined effect will be calming for busy couples on the go.

Dinner Du Jour

If we’re being realistic, extravagant spa treatments and expensive hotel rooms are probably out of reach for most of us. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a night on the town.

If a room at your favorite hotel is out of your price range, make dinner reservations at one of the resort’s fine dining establishments. A few entrees and glasses of wine might be all the relaxation you need this Valentine’s Day.

The home of Sin City’s Eiffel Tower is also the site of several romantic restaurants. The Eiffel Tower Restaurant and Mon Ami Gabi are both intimate eateries with spectacular views of the Bellagio fountains. And nothing says “I love you” like French food.

For an up-close view of the Bellagio’s lake, enjoy a Mediterranean dinner on the terrace of Todd English’s Olives. You’ll be right on the waterfront for the fountain shows. Further down the Strip lies one of Las Vegas’ most interesting restaurants, the Stratosphere’s Top of the World. In one hour and 15 minutes, the restaurant rotates 360 degrees, so diners can view the entire city while enjoying rack of lamb or salmon di parma.

Voted one of the 10 best places to pop the question by USA Today, the restaurant with panoramic views also features the Romance Lounge, an intimate bar that overlooks the city. Spending Valentine’s Day at the Top of the World could set the scene for the most romantic evening of your life.

You can also try out one of the several new restaurants at Las Vegas’ latest resort, Encore. Steve Wynn’s casino offers a variety of swanky fare, from Italian at Sinatra to pan-Asian at Wazuzu (and everything in between).

If creative menus frighten you, and meat and potatoes is more your style, head on over to one of the Strip’s many steakhouses. STRIPSTEAK at Mandalay Bay, Gallagher’s Steakhouse at New York-New York and Craftsteak at MGM Grand are the main high-end sources of filets on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Call ahead to make reservations and ask if any Valentine’s Day specials are in the works. A themed specialty dessert could heighten your dinner date to epically romantic proportions.

“I Do, I Do”

What Valentine’s Day would be complete without weddings? Sure, getting married on February 14 may be the world’s grandest cliché, but it’s Las Vegas, it’s romantic and it’s perfect for saying your “I do’s.”

Luckily, Las Vegas has perfected the art of the wedding, so there are plenty of options for brides and grooms-to-be. To up the kitsch factor, nothing is more romantic than a drive-thru wedding. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it makes for a great story to tell the grandkids (should the marriage last).

A Little White Wedding Chapel opened its Tunnel of Love on Valentine’s Day more than 10 years ago, and today countless couples have been married beneath the canopy of cherubs and stars, having recited their vows through the drive-up window. The drive-thru special is only $40 for brides on a budget.

Chapels of Love and A Special Memory Wedding Chapel also have drive-thru wedding packages, and for the complete Las Vegas experience, you can even add an Elvis Presley impersonator to your special day.

For a swankier service, many Strip resorts house wedding chapels. The Lilac Salon at Wynn Las Vegas is a simple, sweet room perfect for small weddings. The Bellagio offers two chapels and wedding services overlooking the fountains (even timing your first kiss as a married couple with the soaring water).

For a retro Vegas wedding experience, book a package at one of the city’s oldest chapels. Graceland Chapel has been a Las Vegas landmark for more than 50 years, and features guest appearances from an Elvis impersonator. Another option is Wedding Bells Chapel, which offers a Valentine’s Day candlelit ceremony in a chapel or an outdoor gazebo with limousine service for $506.

The Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel, located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road, has been voted Las Vegas’ best wedding chapel by the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 14 of the last 15 years, and the reasons why are clear. Built in 1942, the historic chapel was the first of its kind on the Strip, and was also the site of countless celebrity weddings. For as little as $199, couples can exchange vows in the room where Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton tied the knot—a perfect way to cap the most romantic day of the year.

Valentine’s Day may be chockfull of cheese, but there’s only one place you can truly celebrate it in style. Viva Las Vegas!

By Caitlin McGarry

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