Unusual Date Ideas for Valentine's Day

I'm always searching for "just the right present" for John and have managed to come up with some unusual date ideas for Valentine's Day such as a zip lining trip. That's right - John and I love to spend time together and what better way than to do something unusual on Valentine's Day. Sure, my friends may get chocolates and roses but, really, chocolates get eaten (please, just apply mine directly to my hips...) and roses die. But, the memories made during an unusual kind of date for Valentine's Day will remain with me forever. And, for those of the faint of heart, there's some other unique date ideas or Valentine's Day listed in this article.

I've come up with a few different date ideas for Valentine's Day that might spark some interest for you and your significant other. Come along and see what I've found. Oh, too, bring along a box of chocolates, will you please? Thanks.

And, for those of you who follow my internet ramblings, you know that I have a particular soft spot in my heart for the elderly. Here's an article I wrote about how to How to make Valentine's Day special for a senior citizen.

Holidays / Valentine's Day / Valentines / Valentine / Gifts for him / Gifts for her / romance / romantic gifts / valentine bedding / hearts

Updated: 10MAR13

Everyone would love this Valentine's Day present!

Making all of the arrangements for a weekend trip is always a perfect Valentine's Gift but don't just go to any hotel. Almost every larger city in the US has a murder mystery weekend. These are so much fun and generally will cost about as much as a nice hotel room. Here's a website which lists murder mystery weekends in the US: MurderMystery.com.

If you live in South Carolina, you're in luck as there's a murder mystery weekend February 17-19. Click here for details: Murder Mystery Weekend in South Carolina.

And, here's some other locations around the US:

Louisiana

North Carolina

New York

Maryland

Missouri

Georgia

Minnesota

California

If you've got deeper pockets for Valentine's Day, how about cruising with 6 best selling authors aboard the Allure of the Seas? Here's the link for this one (hint alert, John, hint alert...): Murder Mystery Cruise.

I love murder mysteries! The games below are so much fun and are a great present for Valentine's Day

John and I both love being up high and there's no better place to be up high in than a tree! There are some wonderful treetop vacations where you can sway in the breeze as you sip wine and overlook a gorgeous view.

Treehouse.com is a good starting place to find some beautiful treetop locations like this award winning treehouse in Arkansas: Grand treehouse resort.

Note: Make sure your Valentine is not afraid of heights before springing this unusual date idea on him or her!

Valentine's Day Inflatables and Yard Decor
Valentine's Day Inflatables There's no good reason to reserve lawn inflatable lawn decorations for just the Christmas season! Why not continue your holiday ...

Table Decorations for Valentine's Day
I love setting a beautiful table for either Christmas or any other holiday but, when it comes to romance, nothing can beat table decorations for Valentine's ...

Luminara battery operated flameless candles
My Valentine gave me a Luminara battery operated flameless candle for Christmas, but I firmly am expecting another of these battery operated candles for Vale...

Making Valentine's Day Special for a Senior Citizen
Making Valentine's Day special for a senior citizen is really not all that hard - you just have to be aware that the day may be sad for them and just go a bi...

Printable Valentine's Day Cards
Printable Valentine's Day cards are really easy to create, and these types of Valentine's Day cards have the added bonus of being personalized for your speci...

Valentine's Day Heart Shaped Cupcakes
What could be better for Valentine's Day than heart shaped cupcakes?. Well, ok, I can think of one thing that could be better but this article is G-rated. Th...

Valentine's gift idea for him - USB memory flash cufflinks
If you're like me, finding the perfect Valentine's Day gift for him is always a nerve racking time, until I found USB flash cufflinks. My very significant ot...

Valentine's gift idea for her - USB flash drive jewelry
I'm just amazed at the ingenuity involved in merging function with fashion in this USB flash memory jewelry - the perfect Valentine's Day or Christmas gift f...

Valentine's Day Gifts for the Cigar Smoker
My very significant other, John, gave up smoking cigarettes 4 years ago, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking for Valentine's Day gifts for the cigar smoker...

If you opt to take one of the vacations I've mentioned above, surprise your special Valentine by redoing the bed in your own linens. These pillowcases make an adorable addition to any vacation bedroom.

Here's some other unusual date ideas for Valentine's Day to spark your own imagination.

1. A kayak trip. Bring along a picnic basket and kayak over to a small, private island.
2. If your Valentine is civil minded, why not volunteer for a day with him or her at a nursing home, local hospital or the animal shelter?
3. A trip to a planetarium is a wonderful unusual date idea for Valentine's Day. Sit under the stars and hold hands while learning about the sky.
4. One of my favorite date ideas of all time is Chinese food in bed. Make sure to put new sheets on the bed and buy a couple of nice bed trays. Order Chinese food from a restaurant which uses old fashioned cartons instead of the new plastic covered plates - it's way more fun to eat out of a carton. Oh, also, forks are not allowed - use chopsticks only.

   Note: make sure you have another set of clean sheets if needed...

5. If you live where there is snow, how about making two hearts in the snow. Make them 2' high or so and they will last while the snow around them melts. John did this for me one time and, when I awoke and looked out my second story bedroom window, I saw hearts in my backyard. I was very very touched.
6. No-tell motel night. Go rent a nice (and local) hotel room for Valentine's Day; decorate it with rose petals, chocolate and maybe a bottle of champagne. Gift wrap a new gown and robe set (for a woman) or a pair of new boxer briefs or silk pajamas (for a man) and leave your lover's present at the front desk. Call your lover and have him or her meet you at the hotel. Tell them to go ahead and check in and you'll be by later. Have a great night of romance and love on Valentine's Day!
7. How about bundling up and flying a kit - weather permitting? Kite flying can be a lot of fun, especially when you're flying one of the trick kites below. This could be a very fun Valentine's Day date idea.

No, really!

Spending a day outside is enjoyable any time of the year, provided you're wearing the right clothes. So, this Valentine's Day, why not deck yourself head to toe in red outerwear and pick up your Valentine for an old fashioned date - go fly a kite!

Prism Jazz Stunt KiteCHECK PRICE

Prism Designs - Flip KiteCHECK PRICE

Prism Stowaway Diamond KiteCHECK PRICE

500 feet Stake Line WinderCHECK PRICE

With a Valentine's Gift of a balloon ride

Hot air balloons are just plain old cool - there's no two ways about it. A gift certificate for a nice ride on a hot air balloon will tickle almost anyone's fancy just make sure your honey is not afraid of heights. And, at the very least, perhaps a trip to a hot air balloon festival where you can dine on snacks, sip wine from the safety of the earth and watch others attain new heights.

HotAirBalloon.com is a great place to go to find a listing of festivals. If you're lucky enough to live in New Mexico, there's a hot air balloon festive February 11-12. Here's more information on that: Friends and Lovers Rally in New Mexico. If I lived in California, I would definitely attend this January 1-2 festival Annual Poorly Attended New Years Day Rally.

Here's a great idea - how about attaching a gift certificate to one of these items below?

22" Hot Air Balloon, Sunset GradienCHECK PRICE

Hot Air Balloon Shaped Wind SpinnerCHECK PRICE

22" Hot Air Balloon, Patriotic themed balloonCHECK PRICE

Premier Designs 22" Ladybug Hot Air BalloonCHECK PRICE

Hot Air Balloon Shaped Wind Spinner - HummingbirdsCHECK PRICE

Black Rainbow Hot Air Balloon Wind Spinner CHECK PRICE

Rent a luxury car for 2 days and head to a neighboring city where no one knows you

I haven't done this yet, but, man, it's up there on my own bucket list! I think driving to New York in the hottest Ferrari made would be a fabulous date day. If only the speed limit on I95 wasn't 65, we could be there in two hours from DC!

FindExotic.com rents Ferraris - beautiful, bold, fast Ferraris. They'll set you back a pretty penny but, man, isn't that what money's for?!

For more of a selection (but, why would you need it?), head over to ExoticCarRental.com. There's a listing of exotic car rentals in every state. Your Valentine will be tickled!

Do you have a favorite Valentine's Day present that's not listed below? Please feel free to add it to the comment section.

You can actually go to your favorite restaurant and ask if you can take private cooking lessons from the chef - this is a great way to get some secret recipes and delight your loved one with his or her favorite dish in your own home.

You can also look in your local paper for cooking classes. Consider stepping outside your box - if you've never made Indian food, head over to a Bombay grill and sign up for a class.

Places to find cooking classes:

1. Contact your local grocer. Grocery chains such as Whole Foods offer classes periodically.

2. Your local YMCA may have a listing of cooking classes for your Valentine's Day present

3. Check the internet for cooking classes in your area.

4. If you have a local baking or pastry school, this is a great place to spend Valentine's Day learning to make your own delicious confections with your loved one.

Those delicious looking desserts are dessert shooters - the newest craze in mini desserts .

Introducing LittleOne Sweets!

My friends have started a new baking business with a twist - you order from them and pay what you want to! All monies collected through LittleOne Sweets goes directly to their fund to adopt a child. You'll not only be receiving some of the most delicious treats around (try their Oreo truffles!) but, you'll be helping place a child into a loving home.

To read more about Anne and Eric's road from miscarriage to adoption, please visit my Squidoo article: A decision to adopt.

I found the love of my life a bit late - I was the ripe old age of 47 and he is....well, much younger. Yes, I wear my cougar badge proudly. Do you have a special someone in your life (dogs and cats do count.