8 Unforgettable V-Day Experiences to Help Put a Smile on Your Partner’s Face
Flowers and chocolates are cliché; jewelry is expensive and easily lost (plus, be honest: you have no idea what your partner wants); presents are for birthdays and religious holidays. Want to standout from all the other couples? Take the money you would have spent on a gift and find a fun, creative or out-of-the-ordinary experience that the two of you can share.
There’s a slew of reasons why an experience gift is ideal for shaking things up. For one, it doubles as a bonding opportunity for you and your partner, allowing you to learn new things about each other and make new meaningful memories together. Not only that, but trying something new can push you out of your comfort zones as a couple — which, let’s be honest, is key to keeping things interesting in a long-term relationship.
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The keyword here is novelty. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that couples who engage in fun activities together that are outside of the “norm” for them (something other than dinner out or a Netflix binge session), are more likely to report higher levels of relationship satisfaction.
Need some inspiration? Here’s a handful of experience gifts that are guaranteed to re-ignite the spark this Valentine’s Day.
Book a Spa Day
Most spas will happily accommodate couples, but this is definitely one gift you’ll have to book in advance, as Valentine’s Day slots are limited and will fill up quickly. Enjoy a relaxing massage, sweat out your stress in a sauna, and then cool down in a plunge pool.
Alternatively, you can recreate the spa experience at home and offer your partner a sensuous and relaxing massage. Watch some YouTube tutorials ahead of time, pick up some essential tools (we recommend, at a minimum, picking up some massage oil, but if you want to go all-out you can also add a massage table and some heating stones).
This is a great option because it’s tactile and relaxing, and in stressful times, few things are better than proximity to a loved one. It’s also scalable: you can spend $0 and just rely on your massage skills, or you can go all-out and book the full spa experience.
Take a Cooking Class Together
Whether you’re foodies who just appreciate a quality home-cooked meal or novice chefs who are seeking to enhance your skills in the kitchen, a cooking class is a fun alternative to dining out. Not only will you leave with new recipes to remake at home, but the dishes will no doubt taste even better given that you made them yourselves. Cozymeal offers a range of cooking classes in cities all over the U.S., as well as online classes if you can’t find one in your city. You can opt to have the chef lead the class in your own home for maximum safety & convenience.
From traditional Italian and gluten-free Indian to Asian street food, there’s a wide variety of cuisines to choose from, and chefs can accommodate most dietary needs as well. Scope out the menus and book your class ahead of time, or you can buy a gift card and choose a class together at a later date.
Build a Puzzle Together
Don’t laugh or dismiss this out of hand! Your relationship is fundamentally a partnership, and there’s no better way to renew your bonds than to target your partnership towards a shared goal. Puzzles are fun to build, but they take time and teamwork, and cooperation. We recommend this 1000-piece adult jigsaw puzzle from Flame Tree Studio, or if you’re feeling really ambitious, this 598-piece LEGO NY Skyline. Bonus: the Empire State Building LEGO can double as a sculpture in your apartment or home, a permanent testament to the good you can both two when you put your minds together.
Take a (Master)class Together
If your partner is all about self-improvement, Masterclass is the ultimate gift of education. Collect some cooking tips and tricks from Gordon Ramsay, delve into the world of jazz with Herbie Hancock, or take guitar lessons from Carlos Santana. From filmmaking, acting, and music production, to poker strategy and photography, the possibilities are endless for picking up new skills via online videos and supplemental materials. You can either choose a single class to take together or purchase an all-access pass to keep the learning going all year long.
Host a Wine & Cheese Night
Elevate your typical get-together by visiting your nearest cheese shop and liquor retailer and offering a selection of stinky cheeses and fine wines. Not only is this a great way to indulge, there’s something sensuous about this food & drink pairing. If you really want to go all-in, pick up a wooden cheese platter (for style points) and light some candles to set the mood.
Escape Room
Think of this like a stress test for your relationship. Find the nearest fun escape room (ideally something with a romantic theme, given the day!), and test your teamwork as you try to solve the puzzle or follow the clues to win the game. If you happen to have a second couple on hand, this would make for an ideal double-date,
Cultivate Your (Mutual) Garden with Plant Nite
Move over, Paint Nite, there’s a new boozy class in town — and you don’t need to have a green thumb to enjoy arranging Instagram-worthy succulent terrariums. Did we mention that you can down a drink or three to help get the creative juices flowing? Best of all, you’ll have a souvenir to take home as a reminder of your shared experience. Scope out The Sipping Plant and Yaymaker to find a Plant Nite near you. If you can’t find a location near you, never fear: they also offer virtual classes – just make sure you place your order early enough to give them time to ship you your plants.
Do a Workout Together
Couples who sweat together, stay together. Give your endorphins a boost by choosing a workout class – in-person or via a workout app or service – that gets both your bodies moving. You can opt for tried-and-true favorites like calisthenics or yoga, or you could take things up a notch with a fun dance workout.
We recommend scheduling your workout through the Peleton app, but there’s no shortage of options out there.
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