6 Offbeat Ways to Spend Valentine's Day Together
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When you think of Valentine's Day, the standard gifts are chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. The special person in your life would likely appreciate these; they don't necessarily cost too much; and they are readily available. But after a few years, both you and your partner may be tired of the same old thing. The day is all about romance, so why not spend the money on something you can do together?
You can search for specific things to do in your area—did you know some zoos offer Valentine's Day specials?—or we have a few ideas here. Don't worry if you don't see anything here you like. If your loved one is outdoorsy or your teenager needs some ideas, we have more traditional gift guides that might work for you.
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Make a Meal Together
Photograph: Blue ApronMeal Kits
Cooking together can be fun and romantic, and you get to eat a (hopefully) tasty dinner at the end. There are plenty of ways to go about this. You can take an in-person class or a virtual one, but those can get expensive. Gather ingredients and learn from YouTube—maybe something like sushi? You can also pick one of our favorite meal kits.
If you're an inexperienced or busy home cook, meal kits take most of the prep work out of the equation. Blue Apron is our favorite. The price varies depending on how much food you order, but it's generally cheaper than a nice meal out, and there won't be excess produce in the fridge. Some brands give you the option to order just one box, or you can dedicate a night per week to dates. You can also order dedicated dinner kits from Goldbelly.
Solve a Murder
What says a romantic night in like solving a hypothetical crime? Hunt A Killer is a murder mystery game with clues unfolding over six monthly boxes. If you and your partner are constantly watching true-crime docs, you can finally put your investigator hats together to make your own conspiracy board and figure it out.
It's a bit expensive at $30 a month—if you choose the full six-month membership, you'll pay about $165. If you'd rather find a cheaper, one-night deal, Target sells the all-in-one, less expansive Hunt A Killer Mystery ($30), and the fun Unsolved Case Files ($27).
Have a Date In VR
Are you and your loved one separated by time and space? You can feel each other's presence in VR. VR games are fun on your own, and even better with a partner. Plus you can play and be “together" even if you're in a long-distance relationship.
If you both already have a VR headset, there are many multiplayer games you can enjoy together. If you want a playful, fun date, senior associate editor Adrienne So says Blaston is super fun, despite being described as a “bullet-hell of endless skill and depth.” If you don't have headsets, the Meta Quest 2 is our favorite. Although they're affordable as far as VR headsets go, $300 is pretty expensive. Still, you and your long-distance partner might want to invest for many game dates to come.
Watch a Movie Remotely
Photograph: Sami Sarkis/Getty ImagesRemote Streaming
If VR isn't your thing, you and your remote partner can still have a movie night together. We wrote about a few ways to connect with loved ones during a pandemic, and we love the idea of having a remote movie night for Valentine's Day.
We have a guide on exactly how to host a virtual watch party, and there are a few ways to do it. Scener is a Chrome extension that allows you to share a stream and video and text chat. Everyone will have to have logins to their own streaming services though. Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party), is similar, but there's no video chat feature. If you share a Hulu account, you can use Hulu Watch Party to start a shared stream for any title with the Watch Party logo. There's a text chat there too. Amazon Watch Party is another option, but everyone involved has to have a Prime account. If you want to watch something that's not included with Prime, everyone has to rent or buy it.
Catch a Vibe
We tested a ton of vibrators and sex toys, and the Mysteryvibe Crescendo has been a favorite for years. WIRED writer Jess Grey says it's great not only for solo use, but also for using with a partner (with any genitals). It's not intimidating for newbies, but it is powerful. The Crescendo has six internal motors and 16 intensity settings.
The included app lets you control the device remotely, which can spice things up even if you're both in the same room.
Get Away(ish)
Photograph: Ronnie Kaufman/Getty ImagesStaycation
The Omicron variant may already be waning, but unfortunately, other variants are waiting in the wings. Even if you're not that scared of getting sick, staff shortages have caused numerous flight delays and cancelations. Getting away just isn't as easy as it used to be, but you can still get out of the house for the night and stay at a nice inn or Airbnb within driving distance.
Depending on the weather where you are and what you're interested in, you can opt for options with hot tubs or pools, or find something near a lake or ski resort. Order dinner in and relax with your love. If you'd rather camp without actually sleeping in a tent, Getaway has options across the country. Want to save some cash? Set up a tent in the backyard and start a movie on your laptop.
