Top 10 Suggestions for a Romantic New England Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and yes, you can go with the old standbys of roses and chocolate, but why not plan something more spectacular and memorable? Something… more Romantic…

To help you plan a more memorable Valentine’s day we offer up the following 10 Suggestions for a Romantic New England Valentine’s day:

1. The Boston Wine Festival
As part of the 2012 Boston Wine Festival there are two Valentine’s Day related events – the Boston Wine Festival Valentine’s Dinner Dance on Friday, February, 10, 2012 at 7 PM, and the Boston Wine Festival Valentine’s Brunch on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Both are at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Why not pair the events with a weekend stay for a special wine-oriented Valentine’s day weekend? Since these events are actually before Valentine’s Day you can still cap it off with the flowers and chocolate on the 14th…

2. Visit a Country Inn
Take a visit to one of New England’s many charming and romantic country inns. A few suggestions for a great place to stay would include:

• On the Connecticut coast the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic is a romantic getaway.
• On Maine’s midcoast in Castine check out the Pentagoet Inn with a reputation for being a “Romantic Hideaway” for which it was recognized by Discerning Traveler.
• In Massachusetts consider a visit to the Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead. They are considered by no less than the New York Times to be one of the most romantic inns in the U.S.
• Any of New Hampshire’s Grand Hotels would make a wonderful romantic destination. One inn, however, got the nod from Yankee Magazine as the state’s “Best Romantic Getaway”, and that would be the Wentworth Inn in Jackson. Wonderful accommodations, fine dining, and in the heart of ski country. What’s not to like?
• In Rhode Island how about the Adele Turner Inn in Newport or the Historic Jacob Hill Inn just minutes from Providence in Seekonk, MA.
• In Vermont a good bet is the Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford which was selected a “Romantic Hideaway” by Discerning Traveler. Another good choice would be Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield.

3. Have Dinner at a Romantic Restaurant
There is nothing better than a nice quiet dinner for two for a wonderful Valentine’s day. There are so many wonderful places to pick from that the list could go on forever. Here are just a few that we have come across that are worth a mention:

• Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in Bethlehem, New Hampshire where they are serving the Adaire Romance Dinner for two any day in February or the Valentine’s Specialty Dinner on Valentine’s day itself.
• Al Forno, Providence, RI
• 1761 Old Mill, Westminster, MA
• The White Barn Inn Restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine, who will be serving a special Prix Fixe Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu on February 10th, 11th, 14th, 17th & 18th.
• Juniper’s Restaurant at the Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, VT
• Old Riverton Inn in Riverton, Connecticut

4. Take in a Show
There are so many wonderful places in New England to take in live theater. Everyone has their favorites, but a few worthy of mention include:

• In Connecticut you may want to check out what’s playing at the Bushnell in Hartford, CT or the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.
• In Rhode Island the Providence Performing arts Center or the Trinity Repertory Company, both in Providence, are good choices.
• In Maine you may wish to check out something at the Portland Stage.
• In Massachusetts how about something at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, or the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, or at any of the numerous great theaters in Boston.
• In New Hampshire maybe something at the Palace Theater in Manchester, or the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth.
• In Vermont you can’t go wrong with something by the Vermont Stage Company in Burlington.

The beauty of this choice is that it can be paired with a romantic restaurant for a great evening.

5. Go Ice Skating
We don’t mean inside in a ice rink, but outside on a pond our outdoor rink. See New England Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for some ideas of where to go.

6. Take a Sleigh Ride – What could be more romantic than being wrapped up in a blanket with your honey while being pulled along a snow covered road or field in a horse drawn sleigh? See New England Sleigh Rides for ideas of where to take a romantic sleigh ride.

7. Take a Cooking Class Together
Have a great time together getting your hands dirty whipping up some savory dishes. Following are a few places where you can take a cooking class together:

• Create a Cook, Newton Highlands, MA
• The Cook Academy at the Essex Resort and Spa in Essex, Vermont
• Culinary Underground in Southborough, Massachusetts
• Chef’s Choice Recreational Cooking Classes at Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island
• Private Cooking Classes at the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine
• Recreational Programs at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts

8. Visit an Art Museum – Spend an afternoon at an art museum together followed by a wonderful dinner some place. Some art museums of note include:

• The Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, CT
• The Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum both in Boston, MA; or the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA
• Any of the art Museums on the Maine Art Museum Trail
• The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH
• The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT

9. Go to the Seashore
Yes, we know that February is still winter, but a stroll down a desolate New England Beach can be amazingly romantic. It’s just you, your honey, the sand, the surf, and maybe a few seagulls…

10. Snuggle Up together at Home
Of course you could always snuggle up with each other at home in front of the fire with a hot cup of tea, a nice glass of wine, or a Cognac. Maybe Mother Nature will cooperate and it will snow. Maybe even throw in a romantic movie. Our vote would go to Casablanca – We’ll always have Paris. We didn’t have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night…

Picture credits: The picture of the candlelight dinner is from the Wikimedia Commons. It file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.