Help! It’s Valentine’s Day, where can I take my date?
It's February 14th and you've met someone you like. What do you do? Go to a club? A beach? A club and beach?
Second Life has hundreds of excellent date possibilities that go beyond the same old, same old. I enlisted the help of three of my friends to show you some of my favourites (thank you Liz, Mamie and Eva!).
These don't involve hotels, are largely no or low cost, and for the most part take next to no forward planning. OK, with all that in mind here they are:
1 - Have a White Russian in the White Russian
There are hundreds (thousands?) of bars in Second Life, but my view is you need to choose carefully when it comes to date ideas.
First of all, many are quite overtly adult in a very unsubtle in your face way. Nothing wrong with that as such, but first impressions count.
Secondly one of my pet hates is bar and restaurant sitting poses that just don't work, and then you spend time adjusting while trying to talk to your companion as you realise how ridiculous you look.
For all those reasons, I think the White Russian is an excellent option.
The Lalou Chair poses in the White Russian are pretty good, it's a pleasant and well designed environment (though it is worth noting that it has African and not Russian themed wall decorations).
The White Russian is also quite empty, lag is not an issue. As a result, I think it's a good tip as a place to meet someone for a drink, maybe before moving on elsewhere.
2 - Take a flight to a mystery destination
Taking one of the many flights advertised in the Passengers of SL Group is one of my favourite things to do in SL. I also think it's a lot of fun as a date idea.
The group is one used by pilots and SL airlines to announce departures. You essentially get 15 minutes notice with an SLURL, show up, take a seat and are flown somewhere. Somewhere could be anywhere, you never know beforehand where you might end up.
The flights are always free, though it's up to you if tip the pilot. Most are on small executive style jets (Dani Airplanes is a popular choice), though you could equally find yourself on a helicopter or a Boeing 737 replica.
The key here is to join the group and look out for announcements, but there are almost guaranteed to be several every night.
2- Board the train to Bryggen
This is both a standalone idea or one that can be done along with a flight.
That's because a lot of SL plane journeys start or end up in SL Norway Airport. If you do arrive here, head for Terminal A and look for the train station signs. You then board a pretty realistic looking airport train which takes you all around Second Norway.
Get off at Second Norway Landstore, not at Bryggen station where there seems to be a fault with the trains stopping. From there its a short walk to explore the town.
Of course, you could always just head for Bryggen direct, the SLURL is here.
4 - Sail to Frozen Banana
I like sailing in Second Life, and prefer the Fruit Islands (200 odd sailing regions) to the Blake Sea. For me, it's a great date option.
This idea involves sailing your date to Frozen Banana. It sounds like a joke destination, but like all regions in the Fruit Islands, it has a fruit themed name. In this case, it's an island complete with a small airstrip, cafe, caves and surf beach.
This idea works if you already have a boat, if not the ones at BBX are pretty idiot proof (I mean I can operate them). Then, rent a pier, you will need one to get a group tag, which allows you to rez a boat pretty much anywhere (useful if your boat is auto returned).
I currently have a berth near the Brick Shiphouse Club and there are spots available, the cost for a larger prim boat is 350L a week, smaller boat berths cost less.
Simply search for Frozen Banana in world map, and off you go. Depending on how fast you are, it should take you no more than 20 mins, and then you can explore the island with your date.
5- Go to the Sakura Heights Spring Festival
There are lots of great Japanese themed sims in SL, one of my current favourite ones is the Sakura Heights Spring Festival.
I stumbled on this by accident, but I am glad I did. It's the creation of denisevanderbilt, who loves Japanese culture. It's a small island complete with a cafe (with games), sushi bar, a swim area with a terrace, a meditation spot and food stands.
When showing me around, Denise also mentioned that Sakura Heights will be used for events / parties.
This is a lovely little place to sit, chat and cuddle with your date (note, this place is moderate, not adult).
6 - Explore Sainte Rose Sur Mer
This is another bar option, and here I love the way it's decorated as well the red lighting.
However, this is part of a wider destination experience, namely a French / Mediterranean village, which is very pretty and pleasant to walk around. Again, you might want to come here as part of a multi-stop date (SLURL)
7 - Hit the beach and underwater area at Skin Tower Island
I started off by talking about many dates happening at beaches. Of course there is nothing wrong with going to a beach, but if you go to one why not head for Skin Tower Island.
I don't think I am a particularly good photographer, but I found it hard to take a bad photo here given the lighting that creator Mind Carlberg has used.
Skin Tower Island is a clothing optional (but nudity not necessary either) beach island connected to sailable sims. It also has one of the best underwater diving areas I have seen in SL.
Free swim HUDs are available at the beach, and the island prides itself on being inclusive and is lesbian, hetero, gay & naturist friendly.
8 - Spend the evening at Deviant Tranquility
Deviant Tranquility is one of those places that's largely empty when it really shouldn't be.
It's a full region with a kind of a mystical forest feel to parts of it. But there is also a beautiful lakeside pool, a couple's swing in the middle of a pond, a beach and cuddle spots on the top of a hill.
I love this place, it is immersive, so well designed and with so many hidden spots. I think your date will too.
Finally, if you do want to go to a hotel, two places that are highly underrated and will almost certainly have space for you are the Luxe SL, and the Victoria and Eden.