Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture
  3. Evergreens

Forget roses and chocolate: The best Valentine’s Day gift is one you do together

Give your partner an experience-based gift this Valentine's Day to build memories together you'll never forget

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to celebrate with that special someone in your life. You can always go with a classic gift — flowers, chocolate, or a fancy dinner. Whether you’re hoping to mix it up this year or you just want to make your first Valentine’s Day special, you may be looking for the most show-stopping Valentine’s Day gifts. Why not try out an experienced-based gift this year? 

Chocolate hearts come and go, but memories last forever. When you give your partner an experience, it creates a chance to connect and truly appreciate the holiday together. Need some inspiration? Here are Valentine’s Day gift ideas based on experiences to give your loved one. 

Recommended Videos

Daytime activities

couple holding hands during the day outside
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Make the most of your day! Here are some unique, memorable experiences to gift your partner on Valentine’s Day. 

Gift scavenger hunt 

Why just give your sweetheart a wrapped present when you can send them on an engaging scavenger hunt to find their gifts? Pick an area to hide your gifts throughout. This can be in your home, local park, or even throughout the entire city if you’re up for a challenge. Find a way to map out your gifts and come up with hints to help your partner out. This is a surefire way to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember! 

Wine tour 

Wine is a hallmark of Valentine’s Day. Instead of enjoying it over dinner, set out on a wine tour. Take a trip to your local vineyard to sample some of their finest wines. You can also plan a tour through the city sampling wines at different restaurants or bars. 

Hike and a picnic 

If you’re willing to work up a sweat, plan a hike with a sweet reward at the summit. Choose a picturesque trail with a good view to set up in front of. Pack up a light lunch complete with dessert and spirits to enjoy once you get to the top. This is great for the couple with a love for nature and adventure.  

Cooking class 

Do you or your loved one have an appreciation for cuisine? Try going to a cooking class together. Many cities offer cooking classes for a range of tastes and styles. This can be a great experience-based gift that keeps on giving for years to come. 

Night out 

Couple watching the sunset together
Mayuk / Shutterstock

End the day right with a romantic evening out on the town. Here are some of the best experienced-based Valentine’s Day gifts you can enjoy together. 

Murder mystery dinner 

Enjoy a delicious dinner with a side of mystery! If you and your partner are a fan of theatrics and true crime documentaries, you might appreciate a murder mystery date. You’ll get a chance to play out an engaging, live “who-dunnit” storyline. It’s the perfect combination of a classic dinner date and an unforgettable experience. 

Sunset dinner cruise

Set sail for a romantic evening on the water! If you’re a coastal couple or you live near a lake, look into a sunset dinner cruise. You’ll be treated to a delicious meal and a stunning view. If there isn’t an established sunset dinner cruise in your area, consider renting a boat and cooking or catering a private dinner. 

Paint and sip 

Doing something hands-on with your partner can be a great bonding experience. Create something beautiful at a paint-and-sip class. You’ll get to enjoy some delicious wine and take home matching art pieces. 

Mixology class 

The art of making a great cocktail will be useful well beyond Valentine’s Day. You and your honey can learn all of the basics together in a mixology class. Your guide will walk you through all the different spirits and flavor pairings to craft the perfect cocktail. You can even take a mixology class online if you fancy a date night in this Valentine’s Day too! 

Valentine’s Day gifts for him or her 

Woman at spa getting massage
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whether you’re on the hunt for Valentine’s Day gifts for her or him, an experience is a great option to consider. Here are some of the best options for that special someone in your life. 

Spa package

We could all use some quality rest and relaxation. Treat your partner to a luxurious day at the spa. The package options are endless. Choose from massages, facials, seaweed body wraps, manicures, pedicures, and so much more! You can even buy yourself a package so you can enjoy a trip to the spa together. 

Virtual learning experience 

Many people are of the belief that a life spent learning is a fulfilling, well-rounded life. Give your lover the opportunity to learn something new about a subject that piques their interest. There are plenty of virtual learning experiences to choose from. Platforms such as Masterclass or Skillshare offer a vast variety of learning experiences in a number of different niches. 

Meal kit subscription 

Food is the way to the heart. Treat your loved one to a personalized meal kit. Options such as Hello Fresh and Home Chef send fresh ingredients straight to your door to make dinnertime just a little bit easier. If you’re in a long-distance relationship, it could be a fun idea to order meal kits to each of your homes and have a virtual dinner date. 

A ClassPass gift card

A ClassPass gift card is the ideal experience-based gift for the fitness and wellness lover in your life. This platform allows users to seamlessly book fitness classes, salon visits, and even massages by using ClassPass credits. Your partner will surely get good use out of this if they love to stay on top of their health and wellness. 

Selena Rodriguez
Former Contributor
Selena is a Colorado-based writer and content creator. She is constantly on the hunt for the next adventure whether it’s… Read Full Bio
Topics
Topgolf brings back John Daly to continue to “disrupt” the game
john daly

To the uninitiated, golf can feel like a stuffy game. There is a dress code, there is an etiquette, and you even have to be quiet. At a sporting event. For those of us who love golf (don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan but believe it is called golf because the other four-letter words are taken), we recognize golf isn’t stuffy as much as it is steeped in tradition. But there has always been one man who shirked the shackles of the tradition and disrupted the game of golf with one of the most immaculate vibes in the sport, John Daly. With his drinking, smoking, wild pants, wilder mouth, and general who-gives-a-sh*t nature, he was everything golf wanted to keep out. Now, the game embraces him and his vibe, and Topgolf brought him in to continue the disruption.

I love the vibe at Topgolf. It’s a place where you can smash a golf ball, listen to music, have a drink, and enjoy yourself with friends and family. That’s my kind of golf. – John Daly

Read more
Cigar Lounge Spotlight: The Carnegie Club takes you back to Rat Pack days
Couch, Furniture, Body Part

Three blocks south of Central Park, before you find yourself lost in the hectic environment of Times Square, is a cigar lounge tucked back away from the hustle and bustle. It almost feels like a secret. A place only those in the know are privy to. Of course, if that is the intention, then lovers of this establishment will be coming for me in no time with their pitchforks. I am talking about The Carnegie Club—a cigar lounge sitting on 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. From the moment you walk in, it doesn’t feel like a normal, run-of-the-mill bar. No, this has a New York feel, but a specific kind of New York feel. One that harkens back to the days of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. This feels like the Rat Pack days.

The space

Read more
Isaac Rouse is our new James Bond…it’s not what you think
Young James Bond

We’re all out here waiting on pins and needles to see who will take on the iconic role of James Bond in Amazon’s newest movie series. All the while, 2026 is just dropping Bond project after Bond project to whet our appetites. From 007: First Light dropping for the gamers in the franchise, to King Zero by Charlie Higson and All In by Dan Jones hitting the bookshelves, to yet another project you get to sink your teeth into, Young Bond: SilverFin.

If the last one sounds familiar to you, then you are a fan of Bond on the page as much as on the screen. First published in 2005, SilverFin follows a young James Bond long before he is recruited by the 00 program. Also written by Charlie Higson, this release is a full cast audio drama set to invade yet another part of your life. And young Isaac Rouse is set to voice our favorite future Bond. And there are a few fun Bond historical connections among the cast as well.

Read more