If you’re looking for something fun to do this Valentine’s Day, you needn’t look further than your own back yard. Several local businesses have made date-night planning easy this this weekend.
On Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, Pelican’s Landing Waterfront Restaurant (located at 500 Harbour View Road in Gordonville) is hosting an Amore Personal Dining Experience. You and your date will enjoy a private romantic atmosphere as a chef prepares a special Valentine’s dinner at your tableside.
The menu will consist of a field green salad, chateaubriand and flaming bananas foster. Seating is limited and a party can include up to four people. Table time slots are from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $149 per couple (including tax and gratuity) and can be purchased at pelicans-landing.com, on Eventbrite.com or by calling 903-523-4222 ext. 222.
Friends looking for something fun to do together during the day on Valentine’s Day (Saturday, Feb. 14) should consider the Muenster Downtown Merchants’ Galentine’s Sip & Shop event. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown businesses will be celebrating gal-pals with shopping, drinks and fun with friends.
Families looking for a fun daytime activity might want to look into a visit to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). While the day’s events aren’t focused on Valentine’s Day specifically, there will be plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
First, the public is invited to walk on the wild side with Master Naturalist Jack Chiles for an Early Bird Guided Walk at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Join Chiles and Dr. Wayne Meyer, ornithologist, for a guided bird walk along the Harris Creek Trail. This easy, flat, well-maintained trail makes for a relaxed and enjoyable walk as you spot birds and other wildlife along the way. Binoculars are available to borrow—just bring your curiosity and a bottle of water.
The Early Bird Guided Walk is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.
At 10 a.m., enjoy a presentation with George Diggs entitled “Ferns of Texas – Why the Lone Star State is So Diverse.” Texas has a surprising number of native ferns and lycophytes -- 127 in all, the most of any state in the continental U.S.
Texas’ diverse species thrive under a variety of conditions including some that are very extreme—in crevices on huge, exposed granite outcrops, underwater on the bottoms of ponds or lakes, inside cave entrances and in the deserts of West Texas. Many Texas species occur nowhere else in the entire United States. Learn why Texas is such a special place for these fascinating plants.
Diggs is an evolutionary biologist and botanist who has taught for more than 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, and a Research Associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
His research interests include the plants of Texas, evolution as it relates to human health, the systematics of the Ericaceae (Blueberry Family) and biogeography.
While all of these activities are free, registration is recommended (friendsofhagerman.com) to receive event updates and weather-related notifications.
Following the program, from 11:30 a.m. to noon, enjoy coffee and birthday cake to celebrate the Refuge’s 80th birthday – that’s 80 years of education and preservation! Then, at noon, stick around for a special program entitled “The History of Hagerman” with Mary Estre, Hagerman Petroleum Specialist. It’s sure to be a fun-filled day.
That night, Ranch 82 Restaurant is offering a special Valentine’s Dinner with live music starting at 6 p.m. The menu will feature two options. The first is a 12 oz. bourbon glazed ribeye with horseradish mashed potatoes, bacon green beans, fresh bread and a garden salad for $32.95. The second is Marry Me Chicken with pasta, garlic bread and a garden salad for $19.95.
Ranch 82 Restaurant is located at 12265 E. Hwy. 82 in Whitesboro. Please make a reservation by calling or texting 469-396-5070.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, Deschain Cellars, Winery & Lounge is hosting a special Underground Wine + Dine: Valentine’s Day Luncheon Party on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. This four-course feast with wine pairings features a special menu created by Chef Sheena Croft.
Kick-off the luncheon with a welcome toast including NV Deschaine’s Cupid’s Spritz. The first course features smoked celery root soup, pickled apple and honey roasted salmon crostini and a 2023 Deschain Albariño “Henslee Block” Texas High Plains.
The second course follows with sweet gem red lettuces, hearts of palm ceviche, blood orange and avocado and a 2023 Deschain Gewϋrztraminer “The Barn Vineyard” Texas High Plains.
The entrée is a beef bistro filet with leek and potato skordalia, charred peppers, herby citrus relish and a 2021 Deschain Sangiovese Reserve “La Pradera Vineyard” Texas High Plains.
For dessert, enjoy a chocolate almond sponge with passion fruit crème anglaise, white chocolate & raspberry crunch and a 2018 Deschain “Portejas” Texas Port Wine.
Tickets are $118 per person and can be purchased at funwinery.com/vday2026
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