Valentine’s Day in the City of Hearts
Cowboy Trail in Valentine, NE - Cherry County Tourism
Is the Cornhusker State home to the most romantic town in the U.S.?
Santorini. Bali. Paris. Are you planning on whisking away your lover to one of these inarguably romantic destinations this love season? If your answer is no, one can only assume it was due to a lack of money, time, or the aforementioned lover. If you’re out of time, tough luck. Aren’t we all? If it is a lover you’re lacking, that is also a bummer since we have not heard from @uc_match in a while. But if your only issue is funding, there just might be a more budget-friendly alternative found right here in our very own Cornhusker State.
A five hour drive from Union’s campus in Cherry County, NE, lies the quaint town of Valentine, nicknamed the City of Hearts. Does it have whitewashed cliffside towns overlooking the Aegean Sea? Secluded bungalows nestled in lush tropics? The Eiffel Tower and croissants? Shockingly, it does not. But don’t let its apparent mediocrity fool you. Due to its location on the border of the mountain and central time zones, Valentine has, not one, but two time zones. Not impressed yet? Dual time zones don’t spark romance for you? Fair enough.
In 2007, National Geographic included Valentine in its list of top 100 adventure towns and cities. Its natural features include the Niobrara River. This scenic waterway is perfect for canoeing, kayaking or tubing, with a current that allows visitors to float leisurely if preferred. Smith Falls State park is home to Smith Falls — Nebraska’s tallest waterfall at 63 feet. Valentine is also positioned amid the Nebraska sandhills. This expanse of grass-stabilized dunes is roughly 265 miles long and is the largest group of sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere. If you would prefer to see some critters, check out Fort Niobrara and Valentine National Wildlife Refuges. While on a hike at either of these locations, one might catch a glimpse of animals like elk, bison, prairie dogs, and waterfowl.
On the extremely unlikely chance that sand dunes and waterfowl fail to give you butterflies and heart eyes, Valentine goes all out for its holiday namesake. The streets are decked out in heart banners, local restaurants serve heart-shaped steaks and some couples even choose to tie the knot at the Cherry County Courthouse. Valentine’s most popular love day festivity is its re-mailing program. Each year, thousands of sweethearts worldwide send their love notes to the Valentine Post Office, where they are stamped for free with a custom postmark that is designed by a local artist each year.
Unable to swing a trip to Paris? Journey to the Paris of the Midwest. Is a dinner cruise down the Seine out of the question? Float down the Niobrara River while eating a heart-shaped steak. Do not let budgetary restrictions prevent you from treating your lover on a holiday dedicated to the socially-mandated expression of monetary love.
By: Sidney Needles