J C Nichols Fountain, courtesy of Kansas City CVB

Want a quick, budget-friendly escape from Wichita on Valentine's Day that's sure to wow your lover? Does the state of the economy mean that your passport is going to be gathering mothballs this year instead of stamps? There's no need to travel farther than Kansas City, which has more boulevards than Paris, and more working fountains (200!) than Rome. This former cowtown now has a cosmopolitan "feel," and so many economical attractions that your sweetie will feel pampered, without making much of a dent in your wallet.

Does your lover like art? Kansas City is a Midwestern haven for the arts. The world-renowned Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers free admission, and wandering among the 34,500 piece collection (from 5,000-year old Egyptian pottery to the latest contemporary sculpture) is sure to inspire amorous thoughts in your artistically-inclined darling. Be sure to spend some time walking hand-in-hand in the outdoor Sculpture Garden, with its whimsical badminton birdies. Splurge on a fabulous dessert-for-two at the Rozzelle Court Restaurant, which is fashioned after an open-air Italian courtyard. (Cupid dictates that you share, feeding each other.)

Perhaps your sugarplum has somewhat more down-to-earth tastes. You can’t go wrong with a fun (and completely free) tour of the Boulevard Brewing Company. Built in 1989, Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest.. Your darling will be captivated by the uniqueness of your date! Best of all, you can sample and learn about all the different beers that Boulevard makes. You can make a reservation by calling 816-474-7095, or go to their website.

And what about eats that are easy on your wallet? Well, there’s no way you can leave Kansas City without hunkering down at a good ol’ greasy barbecue joint. Kansas City has some famous ones—Arthur Bryant’s, Fiorella’s Jack Stack, Gates, KC Masterpiece—and you can’t go wrong with any of them, but there’s nothing like the down-home , authentic bluesy atmosphere of B.B.’s Lawn Side Bar-B-Q in southeast Kansas City. Prices start at $10 for slow-smoked beef slathered with Kansas City barbecue sauce, and the portion sizes are amazing. Briskets are smoked 14-16 hours and ribs 10-12 hours, using an indirect heat source fueled by hickory wood. And, while you and your honey help yourselves to the mouth-watering spread, you can listen to live blues music. What could be more romantic than that?