Even if you claim to not care about Valentine’s Day, it’s pretty hard to avoid thinking about it. Love gets shoved in your face everywhere you turn—so, perhaps it’s time to wander through the desert alone?
This suggestion comes courtesy of Death Valley National Park Service, who posted on Instagram that this is the perfect time of year to go on an isolated journey across the scorching earth: because Valentine’s Day. While I personally find this hilarious, as a single person, it’s also not a terrible thought. If you’re already alone, why not go someplace and commune with nature? It gives the experience of being by yourself a real Henry David Thoreau shine.
Not everyone is within driving distance of Death Valley, of course, but there are both big and small national parks in every state. Here’s how to plan your visit—all by yourself.
Check on what’s open
NPS.gov offers information on individual parks, including alerts for areas that are seasonally off limits, and tips on what there is to do in mid-February. If you decide to spend the most romantic holiday of all in the woods or up a mountain, make sure those spots are accessible. Some parks also have lodging on site, which is pretty cool; renting a cabin to stay in is a fun treat, and on the off-season you’re less likely to be surrounded by all the loving families and their dang kids.
Dress for the weather
The desert is cold at night, my lonely friends. Make sure you have the appropriate clothing on for sliding down a dune while weeping. You can’t go wrong with layers. If you didn’t get a cabin and are camping out, be sure you have a sleeping bag that can handle the drop in temperatures, and remember that a sleeping pad makes a huge difference because it separates you from the cold ground.
Check conditions
Death Valley isn’t snowed in, but other places might be. Plus, if you’re going to commune with nature, you want to make sure that nature won’t destroy your flimsy human body. Don’t go out anywhere that’s unsafe, and be sure to pack water and some snacks. Just be careful about attracting the wild animals who have no idea it’s a romantic holiday.
Tell someone where you’re going
Even if you don’t have a partner this Valentine’s Day, someone should know where you are—at the very least, a park ranger. Then luxuriate in your solitude, single person. You’ve earned it.