Top Valentine's Day Dates For Parents In South Florida

Valentine's Day is a time to express your devotion to your true love, but for parents it can cause a problem. Getting a babysitter is almost impossible due to the holiday's high demand and finding a venue that provides escapism from the hassles of everyday life is tedious. Here is a list that caters to every mom and dad whether they need relaxation, music, romance or a dash of all three. Some establishments allow you to reconnect with your partner while others let the children tag along. View the list below and start planning early to reserve a much needed night on the town.

Diamante Day Spa

1489 S.E. 17 St. Causeway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 763-1212
www.diamantedayspa.com

Diamante Day Spa knows how to provide escapism. After you drop the kids off with a babysitter, try one of its Swedish couples massages and head to a world of relaxation. Add on champagne and strawberries for an additional $30. Before booking, be sure to check the website for new Valentine's Day packages. Last year, the spa offered three packages including Cupid's Indulgence, which cost $240 per couple and included a Zen bath soak, a 50-minute Swedish massage on a rose petal-covered table, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. The other two packages included amenities like chocolate masks and chocolate back exfoliation.

Moonlight & Music

Deering Estate
16701 S.W. 72 Ave.
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
(305) 235-1668
www.deeringestate.org
Date: Feb. 14, 2014 at 8 p.m.

Lovers of concert music and picturesque nights under the stars will appreciate the 15th annual Moonlight & Music performance at Deering Estate. Parents can leave the children at home and have a romantic outdoor picnic for only $20. Couples can bring their own meal or save themselves from cooking by pre-ordering a picnic basket from David Schwadron and Joanna's Catering. Onsite food trucks like Ms. Cheezious and Crepemaker are also available for spontaneous couples and lovers of food truck fare. It's a simple date, a fair price and time to finally be alone.

Mai Kai Polynesian Dinner Show

3599 N. Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 563-3272
www.maikai.com

This is a family-friendly activity if you can't find a babysitter. Pay one price per person and transport yourself to Polynesia. Enjoy Asian chicken, beef or pork dishes while the performers put on a luau including fire dancers and hula girls in grass skirts. It's the most entertaining and lively show you'll ever attend and your children will be too mesmerized by the sights and sounds to notice you gazing into your partner's eyes. While there, take a few photos by the outdoor waterfall and lush island greenery for a Valentine's photo that will fool friends into thinking you traveled to the South Pacific for the holiday.

Related:  Top Five Free Date Ideas In Miami

Valentine's Day Concert at Fairchild

10901 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, FL 33156
(305) 667-1651
www.fairchildgarden.org
Date: Feb. 14, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Join pianist Shelly Berg and vocalist Patti Austin for a night of jazz under the stars. Bring a picnic basket and your children, if you would like, to the Garden House Lawn at Fairchild Tropical Garden. You can dance the night away while keeping a watchful eye on your children or you can opt for a babysitter and reserve a table and champagne and still enjoy all that the night has to offer. It's romance that's flexible and cost effective at only $60 per adult and $20 per child. You'll almost forget the kids tagged along.

Jungle Queen Riverboat

801 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 462-5596
www.junglequeen.com

The Jungle Queen Riverboat BBQ Dinner Cruise is a staple in Fort Lauderdale and while it doesn't have Valentine's Day specials, you may be able to score some free tickets if you visit its Facebook page prior to February 14. The cruise is casual, but you and your spouse can enjoy a four-hour dinner cruise along the intracoastal waterways followed by a stop at the Tropical Isle on the New River. There you'll be treated to a BBQ meal which can be sloppy for Valentine's Day but it can also be fun. Like many of the other dates on this list, children are optional.

Related: Best Valentines Day Treats For Singles

Niema Hulin was born in Newark, NJ but raised in Lexington, South Carolina for the bulk of her formative years. In 2002, she moved to Miami after graduating from the University of Florida. Since then, Niema has worked in film, television and commercials as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator. Some of her films have included Bad Boys II and I Am Number IV. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.