With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, love is in the air, and there’s never been a better time to schedule a few active dates with your significant other.
From Santa Maria to Santa Ynez, there’s a smorgasbord of free or low-cost sports and learning activities available, allowing sweethearts the opportunity to bond in ways beyond the typical dinner and a movie.
“When you have someone that’s supportive of having the same lifestyle that you want to have, being active or educated, it’s easy and more beneficial to have a partner to do it with you,” Lompoc’s Parks and Recreation Supervisor Haley Lepper said. “The benefits are endless.”
In Lompoc, Lepper said, couples commonly take advantage of the city’s safe and scenic public walking trails at River and Ryon parks for a little outdoor recreation. The more competitive types try their hands at bocce ball at the Anderson Recreation Center, or toss the Wham-O around at the city’s brand new disc golf course at Beattie Park, which draws men and women alike.
Some prefer to take their partners (or potentials) on excursions or tours offered through the city, to places like the Huntington Library (coming up on Feb. 23) and the Charles Paddock Zoo (March 24). Others regularly head to the Lompoc Aquatic Center for free lap and recreation swims on weekend afternoons.
And unique couples’ activities aren’t limited to sports. The city of Lompoc also holds partner-friendly classes in cake decorating, digital photography, cooking, and dance, where lovers can learn the foxtrot and West Coast swing.
“We’ve seen a lot of husbands and boyfriends come in and get their sweethearts a gift certificate for a class, and they sign up and do it together as well,” Lepper said.
In the Santa Ynez Valley, bicycling, jogging, and hiking are big among couples, said Jenny McClurg, the city of Solvang’s recreation coordinator. Golf and tennis are always popular sports for partners, and in Santa Maria, the Santa Maria Country Club has special couples’ leagues, regularly holding couples-only golf and tennis tournaments the second Sunday of each month, according to Jennifer Biely, the club’s event manager.
For current members, the Country Club’s special Valentine’s golf event tees off on Feb. 12 at noon, followed up by a fancy dinner. And if you’re in the mood for a late Valentine’s romantic night out, there’s a French cuisine and wine pairing dinner following golf and tennis on Feb. 23.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, the Santa Maria Valley YMCA is another popular destination for couples, whether it’s working out together, taking a swim, or playing sports.
“Really, all of our activities, [couples] could do together,” YMCA Director Cindy Most said. “Our Zumba classes would be really fun because you can come and dance. Spin classes are fun too; you can pretend you’re racing each other.”
At the Y, partners can regularly be seen swimming laps together in the community pool, shooting some hoops on the basketball court, or even facing off in a game of racquetball.
“It’s a fun, fast-paced sport, so they can come and play against each other and on teams against other couples,” Most said.
As far as city-run sports, the most popular for couples and their progeny are the co-ed softball and volleyball leagues, according to Eduardo Marquez, recreation coordinator at the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. Appropriately enough, softball season kicks off during Valentine’s Day week, while volleyball is already underway, currently holding games every Sunday.
“We see a lot of husbands and wives bringing their kids out to the gyms while they’re playing,” Marquez said. “It’s fun to see them kind of passing it on to their kids because they’re out there playing together and getting a little exercise at the same time.”
Besides swim and dance classes ongoing throughout the year, classes like tai chi, yoga, and adult pottery—which starts in February—are also a hit with couples, Marquez said.
For those who like the outdoors, Marquez recommends participating in the city’s series of six community walks, which take place every other month. The next walk will be on Feb. 11, where participants are invited to bring their partners, spouses, family members, and their dogs to “Walk A Hound, Lose A Pound.” The walk starts at the Hagerman Sports Complex at 10 a.m.
Marquez said the city offers the walks, usually about a mile in length, to give families an incentive to pick up a walking regimen for health and fitness. The more walks you participate in, the more freebies you earn, like hats, water bottles, and T-shirts, to help motivate you to continue on the program.
“We have seen, for the most part, couples … come out and enjoy a leisurely walk,” Marquez said. “Obviously, walking is probably the easiest exercise activity out there, and anybody can do it.”
Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas can be contacted at jthomas@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 9-16, 2012.
