When the second week of February rolls round annually, Adam and I inevitably have a look at one another a little bit bewildered and ask, “So… what should we do for Valentine’s Day?” Many of the conventional concepts can really feel a little bit tacky (to not point out overpriced), so I’m at all times on the hunt for distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that also really feel romantic and particular.
I bear in mind the primary yr we celebrated Valentine’s Day as a pair. We cooked a very fancy dinner at Adam’s place, full with steak and chocolate soufflés. It was so memorable that we’ve tried to do one thing exterior the field yearly since. Whether or not you’re coupled up or single, maintain scrolling for 41 distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that can guarantee your vacation is definitely enjoyable, with no clichés in sight.
41 Distinctive Valentine’s Day Concepts to Strive This Yr
1. Go to a drive-in live performance. Bonus factors for dressing up and bringing your individual garden chairs and snacks.
2. Display a romantic film. Create a non-public theater at residence full with a projector—and naturally, all of the snacks. Simply add popcorn, Raisinets, and two pairs of cozy socks.
3. Go curler skating. Or ice skating. The purpose right here is to channel your favourite hand-holding scene in nearly each basic rom-com.
4. Host a karaoke evening in your front room. This personally seems like my imaginative and prescient of hell, however I do know it’s proper up a few of your alleys. Plus, in the event you have been born with the voice of an angel, this could possibly be an amazing technique for making them fall in love with you on the spot.
5. Take an early morning hike to observe the dawn. I do know, I do know—sounds sort of painful. However there’s nothing extra magical than watching the solar come up. Plus, getting up that early to interrupt a sweat is a complete bonding expertise.
6. Take a digital cooking class. Bonding over pots of marinara and pans of tiramisu? Signal me up! In terms of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts, meals is at all times a good suggestion.
7. Put collectively care packages for the homeless. Stuff paper luggage or shoe containers with meals, water, socks, hand wipes, and so forth., and maintain them in your automobile for the subsequent time you drive previous somebody in want. It’s fairly cool to see your S.O. serving others and dedicating their free time to a worthy trigger. You’ll doubtless fall in love with one another another time.
8. Host an at-home artwork evening. Whether or not this implies sketching in an grownup coloring e book, making a collage of your favourite pictures collectively, or streaming a documentary, it’s certain to get your artistic juices flowing.
9. Schedule a tasting at a vineyard or brewery. There’s nothing higher than a visit to your favourite spot. Or, if you’d like a extra low-key expertise at residence, purchase three bottles of wine: one that’s $25, one that’s $15, and one that’s $10. Cowl the bottles in foil and blend them round, then attempt to guess which is which! It’s fairly stunning generally.
10. Decide up your favourite take-out and drive to a scenic location for stargazing. When was the final time you and your S.O. appeared on the stars collectively? There’s one thing about gazing on the nighttime sky that reminds us of the vastness of the universe—and the way fortunate you might be to have discovered one another in it.
11. Camp it up. Whereas a get-lost-in-the-woods date may be simply the journey many people are on the lookout for, there are others who’d somewhat camp out in the lounge. Whether or not you have been a scout in a previous life or have by no means spent an evening within the nice outside, there are many methods to tailor this date for a magical night (hiya, glamping). Simply don’t neglect the marshmallows.
12. Take a digital dance class. Try YouTube instructors that provide salsa or swing instruction. Excellent your dance strikes for the subsequent time you go to a marriage or a rustic bar.
13. Recreate your first date. For Adam and me, this could contain a dive-y Chinese language restaurant, Peking Duck, and one too many glasses of chardonnay. In case you’ve been collectively a very long time, you’ll undoubtedly have enjoyable laughing about these early days, and it could even be a invaluable reminder of why you fell so deeply in love within the first place. Be artistic about easy methods to recreate your dates at residence! Decide up takeout from the restaurant, dim the lights, use tablecloths, or any distinctive features {that a} particular restaurant has.
14. Take a “staycation” at a favourite native resort. I believe each couple ought to splurge now and again and spend the evening away, even when a full-blown trip isn’t within the playing cards. Order room service, watch a film, soar within the scorching tub, and sleep in.
15. Pack a picnic and bike trip to someplace particular collectively. There’s something so particular about driving bikes collectively to a particular spot to bask in a picnic collectively. Pack your favourite cheeses with dips and snacks in a picnic basket—don’t neglect the bottle of wine!
16. Make breakfast in mattress. Nothing beats feeding one another bites of pancakes whilst you’re snuggled below the covers. Whether or not you need one thing wholesome and vibrant or are craving your favourite consolation meals (once more, pancakes), so long as you’re getting within the kitchen collectively and sharing a meal, you actually can’t go mistaken with this date.
17. Journey by practice. This concept is perhaps a little bit extra concerned, but it surely’s nothing a little bit planning can’t make occur. Practice journey permits you to soak up your surrounding sights in essentially the most enjoyable means potential. You don’t even should set out with a particular vacation spot in thoughts—it’s all concerning the journey.
18. Theme your date evening. Date nights are nice and all, however once you middle it round a particular theme, you possibly can immerse your self in an entire new expertise. And, in fact, nothing says romance like a little bit jaunt to France. Need all of the Parisian vibes with out having to get on a airplane? Make a playlist of all of your favourite French music, plan a French-ified menu, and rework your eating room into the chicest French restaurant, irrespective of the place you might be.
19. Make a imaginative and prescient board. Sharing your desires and setting the inspiration for future plans to return is the final word option to join. You’ll be able to every create your individual imaginative and prescient board or collaborate on one collectively. It’s a enjoyable and provoking course of and might information conversations for what you every need for yourselves and your shared targets as a pair. For steps on easy methods to get began, take a look at our information to imaginative and prescient boarding.
20. Ask questions designed to construct intimacy. These 50 questions are designed to assist deepen your relationship. Belief us, you’ll spend all evening reflecting on them.
21. Discover an area bookstore. You don’t should be a bookworm for this to be a best-ever date (though, bonus factors in case you are). Head out and browse the stacks! Choose a learn for your self or decide one in your associate. Once you get residence, curl up on the sofa and skim side-by-side. Nothing like a little bit literature to set the temper.
22. Learn your favourite “Modern Love” tales. Who else skims Sunday’s Type part for these vignettes of real-life romance and heartbreak? In case you’re already a fan, assist your associate get on board. Decide an essay from the archives and take turns studying them to one another. You’ll get a glimpse right into a life not like your individual, as every story is a window into distinctive views on, and experiences with, love.
23. Get aggressive. Recreation evening anybody? Care to problem your S.O. to a spherical of tennis? No matter your competitors of selection, gear up! There’s nothing like a little bit wholesome competitors to get the sparks flying.
24. Bake a brand new recipe collectively. PSA: Valentine’s Day dessert doesn’t should contain chocolate. In actual fact, a number of the greatest draw upon distinctive flavors and intelligent spins on classics. That is a kind of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts with infinite potentialities.
25. Recreate one another’s favourite cocktails/mocktails. Even in the event you don’t contemplate your self a mixologist, you possibly can have a little bit enjoyable getting artistic at your property bar. Ask (or guess!) one another’s favourite drinks and make them at residence. It’s a sort gesture that can make them—and also you—really feel seen in your tastes and preferences.
26. Play Esther Perel’s dialog recreation, “Where Should We Begin?” With prompts like “Share something that’s changed your worldview” and questions that ask you to share what’s been holding you up at evening, belief that there’s no holding again. Get your copy right here.
27. Write a letter to your S.O. for them to open subsequent yr. Who wouldn’t love receiving a letter that took you again to the place your relationship was the yr prior? Replicate in your emotions, ideas, and what you like most about them on this second. It’s a touching gesture and one that you simply’re each prone to maintain saved in your dressers without end.
28. Discover out one another’s enneagram. In case you haven’t heard, intentional persona checks are again. (Key phrase being “intentional”—there’s nothing hokey about them.) Discovering one another’s enneagrams is an eye-opening option to dive deeper into what makes your associate tick. Be taught all concerning the enneagram—and what it says about your persona.
29. … or uncover your love languages. In case you haven’t finished a deep dive but, understanding the love languages (and figuring out which greatest describes you and your associate) supplies perception into the way you every give and obtain love. Seek the advice of our information to all of the love languages.
30. Strive your hand at pottery. This could be a enjoyable (and generally messy) option to get to know your S.O. and specific yourselves in a non-conventional means. Plus, air-dry clay is cheap and makes for a enjoyable at-home expertise.
31. Take pleasure in a {couples} therapeutic massage. Everybody comes out of this exercise successful. A therapeutic massage additionally gained’t occupy your whole day, however you’re certain to really feel your greatest after! *We’re obsessive about the remedies at Milk + Honey spa. They’ve a number of places in Austin and across the nation, and you should utilize code CAMILLE15 once you e book to get 15% off any therapy.*
32. Scrapbook. Taking a stroll down reminiscence lane is at all times an effective way to reconnect on Valentine’s day. Begin a scrapbook with any photos you might have mendacity round, or print some beforehand and get cozy.
33. Watch (or go to) a comedy present. What’s higher than laughing till your abdomen hurts? Comedy reveals are an amazing dialog starter, and also you’ll make sure to come out of it with a smile.
34. Get exterior. Even merely taking a stroll across the neighborhood or strolling your furry buddy may be an effective way to spend high quality time collectively. Bonus factors in the event you maintain your telephones off.
35. Go to someplace new. It doesn’t should be a cross-country journey, however driving 30+ minutes may be an effective way to expertise some novelty. Perhaps you discover your new favourite espresso store or an area boutique. Both means, this journey falls into the class of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that gained’t go away you bored.
36. Have a rock, paper, scissors evening. This pattern originated on TikTok and entails you taking part in rock, paper, scissors to determine the occasions of the night. Whoever wins will get to decide on the subsequent cease, and the sport can go on for as many locations as you’d like to go to.
37. Have an at-home spa evening. A spa of any type is an effective way to loosen up and really feel rejuvenated along with your associate. Whip out that gua sha that’s been gathering mud and prep for a little bit zen.
38. Catch a theater efficiency or ballet. In case you’re into the humanities, test your native theaters for performances on or round Valentine’s Day.
39. Be taught a brand new talent. Pickleball remains to be trending—why not give it a attempt as a novel Valentine’s Day thought? In case you’re not feeling sporty, decide one thing you and your associate have at all times needed to dabble in and spend the day attempting it.
40. Do the factor that introduced you collectively. Did your first date contain aggressive mini-golfing? Or perhaps it was cooking at residence. Wherever the spark originated, spend Valentine’s Day reconnecting by doing precisely that.
41. Take an expensive journey. Certain, some years, we maintain the vacation informal. Others? We wish to lean into a little bit luxurious. I’ve heard superb issues about Kohler Village in Wisconsin, and this yr, they’re embracing the theme of indulgence with their Celebration of Chocolate. Guide a keep for you and your S.O. and revel in every little thing from ice skating to curated wine pairings to sure—loads of chocolate.
42. Prepare dinner dinner at residence: Shock them with a curated dinner of all their favourite issues. In case you actually need to elevate the expertise, create customized menus and a beautiful desk.
43. Ship a particular supply to their workplace: Add a cryptic shock about plans for the night.
43. Write “Things I Love About You” Notes: Write ’em down and conceal them all through the day—their lunch, cellular phone charger, and so forth.
44. Body one thing surprising: Are you a pair that collects matchbooks, receipts from a primary date, live performance tickets, pictures, or menus? Body one thing out of your favourite time along with your associate and shock them.
45. Write your associate a poem: Slide it into their work bag as a shock or give it to them in particular person.
46. Do some random acts of kindness collectively: Purchase a dozen roses and go away them on folks’s windshields, or pop right into a espresso store and pre-buy coffees to make somebody’s day.
47. Strive a workshop collectively: Time to step exterior your consolation zone and check out one thing new? Make candles, take a rustic line dance class, or discover a cooking class for enjoyable.
48. Make a scavenger hunt: Channel your creativity and make this uniquely about your relationship – clues on the place you had your first date, your first kiss, something that speaks to you as a pair.
49. Plan a shock night date: Every of you has to plan one portion of the night. As an example, you’re taking the place to e book dinner and your associate plans the after-dinner plans.
50. Go bowling and seize a no-reservations dinner: Decide a enjoyable spot on the town that doesn’t take reservations or gives a flowery pre-fixe and exit for a night of Bowling and Dinner.
