If you’re planning the same old routine for Valentine’s Day – a box of chocolates, red roses in a vase, and a lackluster local dinner – then you’ve still got the rest of the month to really make it count. Here are five ways to break the mold with these romantic experiences worth traveling for.
Sunset Gondola Ride [Marina del Rey, CA]
Instead of crowding in with dozens of other couples ordering the standard steak and red wine dinner, pack a bottle of bubbly and a picnic (or a charcuterie and cheese plate from BaleenKitchen) and head up the coast. Just 12 miles north of The Portofino Hotel & Marina awaits a handcrafted gondola imported straight from Venice. The private, romantic tours hosted by Gondola D’Amore run for an hour and take guests all around the marina and bay. Each tour comes with champagne glasses, candles, and music to set the mood, and blankets for cuddling under on chillier evenings.
Package to Pair
Portofino’s Romance on the Water package features a red rose petal–strewn room and an ocean jetted tub waiting for you after a complimentary two-hour rental of two beach cruisers. A $100 credit to Baleen Kitchen is also included in the package for a romantic dinner after aperitifs on the gondola.
Versailles of South Beach [Miami, FL]
You wouldn’t expect to find a lavish European villa tucked in among the bayous and hammocks outside of Miami, but Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, just 20 miles south of Solé Miami, is just that. Eighty percent of the 50-acre grounds is dedicated to the preservation of Florida’s natural beauty; the other 10 percent is for the lavishly decorated villa and Italian renaissance–style gardens. Take a tour of the house and grounds, or stroll hand in hand, discovering the opulence and beauty for yourself, including the secret garden, an ideal place to steal a secluded smooch.
Package to Pair
Solé Miami’s Suite Romance package includes chilled wine and cheese waiting in your suite upon arrival, two tropical beachside beverages for your romantic beach day, breakfast for two, and late check-out the next morning.
Romantic Vintage Train Ride [Napa, CA]
On the Napa Valley Wine Train, the standard dinner date is elevated by moving it on to an antique 1915 steam engine, still decorated in the elegant opulence of the Gilded Age. Make a Romance on the Rails reservation, and watch the idyllic beauty of Napa’s vineyards speed by through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the 1952 two-story vista dome car. The three-hour tour includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine, a multicourse dinner, and a glass of private label wine during dinner. Don’t forget to bring a padlock for the lovelock bridge that connects the train’s platform to the station.
Package to Pair
River Terrace Inn’s Napa Romance Package features local sparkling wine and fresh berries in your river view room, as well as breakfast for two at ALBA.
Sunrise by Air [Fort Lauderdale, FL]
Kick off a full day of romance with a private hot air balloon from Soaring Sports, a nationally recognized hot air balloon affiliate program. With their private flights, you get to witness the inflation of the balloon and preparations before taking off. Once in the air, the hour-long tour will give you a unique perspective of the city and pristine beaches as the sun rises over Fort Lauderdale.
Package to Pair
Pelican Grand Beach Resort’s Romance on the Beach package features an oceanfront suite with a private balcony, a three-course dinner at Ocean 2000, chocolate-covered strawberries, a complimentary bottle of champagne, and a free breakfast for two (the perfect way to cap off your ballooning experience).
Love with a Latin Flair [Key West, FL]
The Florida Keys are all about fun and living in the moment. Take the opportunity to experience this way of life by mixing up your date night routine with dance lessons from Dance Key West. On Saturday nights at 6 p.m., instructor Lucy Carlton meets students as local Cuban hot spot El Meson de Pepe for a night of Cuban-style salsa and bachata. After the informal lesson, couples are free to dance to the live band to show off their newly learned skills.
Package to Pair
In addition to champagne waiting for you in your oceanfront accommodations, Ocean Key Resort & Spa’s Romance in Paradise package also includes a $100 food credit that can be used in any of the resort’s three dining locations and a $100 spa credit for a day of romantic relaxation.
