Unforgettable Valentine's Day Getaways to Woo Your Special Someone
This Valentine’s Day, skip the prix fixe dinner and treat your sweetheart to a menu of moments instead. Think of it as a weekend of flavors, textures, and memories best shared together. From storybook strolls to fireside cocktails, these one-night, two-day itineraries are designed like a meal for the senses. Choose your favorite course of love and savor every moment.
The Romantic Classic
Soft light, slow moments, and timeless charm make this date feel like a love story straight out of a storybook.
Appetizer: Start the day with a buttery croissant and strong coffee or tea at a cozy local café. Bonus points for finding one with mismatched mugs and window seats perfect for people-watching.
Salad: Take a stroll through a local park or public garden. Find a bench beneath the trees, hold hands, and let the world slow down.
Main Course: Wander into a locally owned bookstore and surprise each other by picking a book the other will love. Then, tuck those treasures away for later and head to dinner at a candlelit Italian restaurant where the wine flows and time stands still.
Dessert: Share a scoop of gelato before retreating to a charming bed and breakfast.
Cocktail: A glass of red wine by the fire or under the stars will do the trick.
Stay: A romantic inn or boutique B&B, preferably with vintage wallpaper and a breakfast you don’t have to cook.
Morning After: Find a cute café for breakfast and plan one last romantic activity before heading home, maybe a visit to a local art gallery or a stroll through a weekend market.
cafe coffee
The Vintage Valentine
For lovers who adore a little nostalgia, soft jazz, flickering fireplaces, and stories whispered through the years.
Appetizer: Begin with breakfast at an old-fashioned diner, somewhere with a counter, swivel stools, and strong coffee in endless supply.
Salad: Spend the morning treasure-hunting at antique stores and vintage shops. From weathered books to retro jewelry, the joy is in the find.
Main Course: As evening falls, tuck into dinner at a cozy old pub or tavern with creaky floors and a fireplace glow. Order an old fashioned and toast to timeless love.
Dessert: Take your dessert to go, something chocolate perhaps, and head back to your historic hotel for a night of warmth and whispers.
Cocktail: A fireside drink at the hotel bar, something classic, something shared.
Stay: A historic hotel where each room tells its own story.
Morning After: Grab coffee and a breakfast sandwich from a local café, then spend your morning exploring a history museum before heading home.
Historic treasures you can take home! Get your antique-picking fix in Thomasville, NC.
The Elegant Escape
Polished, poised, and full of indulgence for couples who appreciate the finer things.
Appetizer: Start with brunch and order mimosas, eggs benedict, and something sweet to share. Choose a place where the napkins are cloth and the service unhurried.
Salad: Get a dose of culture at an art museum or take a walk through a botanical garden where the blooms seem to perform just for you.
Main Course: Dine at a top-notch steakhouse or elegant restaurant, then cap the evening with a show, a ballet, play, or live concert.
Dessert: A shared slice of chocolate cake or crème brûlée, something worth lingering over.
Cocktail: Stop at a rooftop bar or wine lounge to watch the city lights flicker.
Stay: A luxurious hotel suite with crisp linens and a view that feels like a movie.
Morning After: Order room service, sip coffee in bed, and savor the slow start before browsing a few boutiques on your way home.
Immerse yourself in natural beauty at Daniel Stowe Conservancy.
Credit: GO Gaston NC Facebook
The Wellness Retreat
For those who believe that love, like life, feels best when it’s balanced, mindful, and full of fresh air.
Appetizer: Begin the day with smoothies or matcha lattes from a local juice bar, then lace up your sneakers.
Salad: Take a scenic hike or bike ride and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by Carolina beauty. Mountains, coast, or forest, take your pick.
Main Course: Spend the afternoon unwinding with a couples massage or spa treatment.
Dessert: Pick up gluten-free or vegan treats from a local bakery to enjoy later while you relax together.
Cocktail: Toast the day with a light spritzer or a glass of crisp white wine at a seafood restaurant.
Stay: A peaceful Airbnb or cabin, somewhere quiet enough to hear the wind through the trees.
Morning After: Enjoy a light breakfast, then head to a yoga class together before easing back into the world, rested, reconnected, and renewed.
A Toast to Love
Whether you spend Valentine’s Day sipping espresso, hiking through the pines, or dancing under a chandelier, remember that the best menus are the ones made for two. Wherever you wander in the Carolinas, there’s always room for one more course of romance.
