5 ideas for Valentine's date night at home with the help of these 14 Bucks County businesses

Looking to stay in this Valentine’s while still celebrating your love?

Whether you’re hoping to avoid a crowded restaurant, or your babysitter cancelled, there are many ways to connect with your partner and enjoy a romantic night.

So, get your cozy pajamas ready, queue up a favorite streaming rom-com and dim those lights. Here are five ideas to plan the perfect Valentine’s date night at home with a little help from Bucks County businesses:

Signature cocktail or mocktail with help of Bucks County distilleries

Work together to create a delicious cocktail that embodies the spirit of your relationship. You don't have to be a mixologist to invent a new drink — the fun is in the trial and error.

Start by picking up a bottle of your favorite spirit from a local distillery, such as Triple Sun Spirits in Newtown, Doan Distillery in Quakertown or Dad’s Hat in Bristol.

Or for a zero-proof drink, buy a couple bottles of Italian sodas from a specialty store, like Roma’s Italian Market in Trevose.

From there you can experiment by adding any flavors you’d like, using ingredients such as fruit juices, simple syrups and bitters. Garnish with a citrus peel, fruit or fresh herbs. And once you settle on the perfect mix, name your signature drink and enjoy.

More:Inside look at Dad's Hat new tasting room in Bristol: 'It’s a place to relax and enjoy a cocktail'

Gather in the kitchen and cook a meal together

This is a no-brainer for couples who love to cook. So, if this is you, keep on scrolling. But for those who don’t feel quite at home in the kitchen, here’s a couple easy ideas.

Throw together a pizza pie, using pizza dough or a store-bought crust, sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings. All of these ingredients can be found at most local grocery stores or an Italian market, like Altomonte’s, which has location in Doylestown and Warminster. Gluten-free pizza kits are available to order from Haasis Gluten Free Bakery in Perkasie.

For those who'd rather avoid cooking, charcuterie boards are the perfect choice, giving you the option to keep it simple with a couple different cheeses and meats or get a little creative by adding fresh or dried fruits, spreads, nuts, honey, chocolates and really anything you can think of. For Valentine’s flair, The Forager in Bristol has heart-shaped cheese.

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Support your favorite Bucks County restaurant by ordering take-out

If you simply want a relaxing evening without making a mess of the kitchen, then take-out is the way to go.

Call ahead to see if your favorite restaurant is offering a take-out special for Valentine’s Day, like this three-course dinner from Heller’s Seafood in Warrington, which for $99.99, comes with shrimp cocktail, salad, potatoes, a choice between four lobster tails or two crab cakes with two lobster tails, and dessert.

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With the surge of business many local restaurants experience on Valentine’s and the weekend leading up to it, it’s recommended to call at least a day in advance. Domani Star in Doylestown, which has a special Valentine’s Day menu, recommends calling as early as five days before.

Unwind and reconnect with a game night

If you enjoy a little competition and some playful banter, then settle around the table for a few rounds of a fun board game or two.

Refresh an old favorite by adding your own house rules or pick out a new game together at a Bucks County game store, like Lookin’ for Games in Levittown or Busy Bee Toys in Doylestown. Many independent bookstores also carry a variety of games.

If you’re on a budget or want to test out a game before buying it, several of the Bucks County Free Library branches also have board games available to borrow.

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And of course, don’t forget about dessert

Celebrate the sweetness of the holiday by sharing a dessert.

Pick up something sweet from a local candy store or bakery, such as a heart-shaped cake or cookies at Tabora Farm & Orchard in Chalfont or chocolate-covered strawberries at Raymer’s Homemade Candies in Doylestown.

For a cool treat, pre-order a Sweetheart Cake from Owowcow. The handmade mini cake is made with sweet honey cream ice cream surrounded by delicate rosettes and topped with a message of love handwritten in fudge. Orders must be placed by Feb. 6 and can be picked up between Feb. 10 and 14 from one of their five locations, which include Ottsville, Wrightstown and Chalfont.

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Valentine's Day stay home ideas that support small business