With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, everyone is busy calling for reservations and making dinner plans. How about ditching the hustle and bustle by switching it up this year and ordering take out? Enjoy sitting lakeside, sipping your drink of choice and watching the sunset.

If you are near Birmingham, you are only a 30-minute drive from the beautiful Lay Lake. This 12,000-acre lake is home to wooded islands and boat docks to relax on and enjoy the sunset. Drive the boat around the elusive islands and listen to the peaceful sound of the water lapping up on the shore.

Lewis Smith Lake, between Huntsville and Birmingham, is known to attract fly fishermen during the night hours. Sit on one of the many bluffs overlooking the lake and enjoy the peaceful tranquility and natural setting the lake has to offer.

Jump on over to Lake Martin and enjoy some stargazing from the bank. Bring a blanket to spread out on the shoreline and enjoy the clear waters and many activities of the surrounding areas.

Those near the Alabama-Tennessee state line can easily enjoy Wheeler Lake and its many sights. The lake runs through the gorgeous Joe Wheeler State Park and is surrounded by hiking trails. Pack a picnic dinner and sit along the pier that overlooks the many sailboats docked at the marina.

Take a road trip down to Southern Alabama to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, also known as Mobile Bay, and watch a sunset while sitting on one of the many public piers that stretch out over the water. Dip your toes in the sand and feed the ducks while you listen to the waves slowly crash on the shore.

When you are ready to plan your Valentine’s Day date night, the natural beauty of Alabama has you covered. From bluffs to piers that stretch over crystal-clear lake waters, you are in for an evening you won’t forget. Get outdoors this Valentine’s Day and enjoy what the Alabama Bass Trail has to offer.