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5 Ways to Spend V-Day in Tampa Bay (singles version)

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Tampa chapter.
Single? Grab your girls. we’re getting off the couch this valentine’s day.

Valentine’s Day. There’s a stigma that all single girls DREAD V-Day, but I actually kind of love it. Instead of focusing on the relationships we don’t have, I think we should focus on the ones we DO have! This year, we aren’t letting the fact that we’re single make us miss out on celebrating a day full of love! We’re focusing on loving ourselves and our friends better instead of waiting around wondering if the “situationship” will work out. Tampa Bay offers so many activities, so grab your girls and get out there! Here are five of my recommendations for ways to spend Valentine’s this year!

1.        Hyde Park Village Shopping Trip

Retail therapy? Say less. Hyde Park Village is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment center, and with Anthropology to Nike, it has something for everyone! Grab your girls and head to Kendra Scott to make custom friendship bracelets (because, hello, we’re in our friendship bracelet era), or upgrade your skincare routine with new products from Sephora. Treat yourself to something new this V-day!  

2.        Beach Day Trip

The weather is getting warmer in Tampa Bay, which can only mean one thing: It’s beach season!!! Grab your favorite swimmie + some SPF (SunBum is my fav) and drive to a local beach for the day! Head to St. Pete for a relaxing getaway, or check out the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach! If baby sea animals don’t take your mind off Valentine’s Day, I don’t know what will.

3.        Bayshore HGW

Put on your favorite workout set, grab a Celsius, and GET OUTSIDE! We all know Bayshore is THE HGW location of all HGW locations, so put on your favorite playlist (Sabrina Carpenter seems fitting for V-Day) and start walking! If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two!

4.        Grab some Grub

Wanna go out? Make a reservation at American Social. Looking for something lowkey? Make your favorite sweets and invite the girls over for a movie night! Food makes everything 100x better.

5.        Candle Pour

Who needs to be showered with gifts when you can make one yourself? Candle Pour is a make-your-own candle experience in Tampa Bay. There are three locations (two in Tampa and one in St. Pete!!), and reservations are recommended! Spend forty-five minutes creating a customized candle with all your favorite scents. If you are anything like me, a new candle is the best gift you can give yourself this Valentine’s Day.

Whether you keep it lowkey or go all out, do something for yourself this Valentine’s Day! It doesn’t have to be the “worst day of the year” anymore; change the narrative!

Laney McMillin is new addition to the HerCampus Tampa Chapter. She is excited to write articles about entertainment and lifestyle topics, focusing on movies, pop culture, and the latest trends. Laney helps create and manage content across HerCampus Tampa's social media platforms. Laney is a senior at University of Tampa pursing a B.A. in Communication, Media & Culture Studies with a minor in Cinema Studies. She recently completed an internship with WFLA News Channel 8 as well as the Disney College Program. When she's not writing articles, Laney can be found binge-watching old SNL skits, exploring a Walt Disney World theme park, or editing videos for her Youtube channel.