Dear Valentine, Thanks so much for the charming (sappy) poem, the lovely flowers (that have now wilted), and the box of chocolates (after three that tasted a little like silly putty). Sincerely, and much love, your Valentine
Or this year, ditch the expected and celebrate Valentine’s Day by celebrating your valentine, with one of these four titillating, duo adventures.
The Anti-Valentine’s Day Meal
If you’re paired up and looking for something out of the ordinary, Brooklyn Kitchen’s Valentine’s Day Date Night is an excellent, interactive alternative. Learn how to cook up a gourmet feast (complete with wine or beer) under the instruction of Brooklyn Kitchen’s zany teachers. The class, which includes instruction and a sit-down dinner component, costs $100 a person and takes place at the Brooklyn Kitchen.
How to get there: The Brooklyn Kitchen is located at 100 Frost St. Take the L to Lorimer and exit at Lorimer and Mertopolitan. Go North on Lorimer, right on Meeker Ave., and right on Frost St.
Lap Up Some Luxury
If you’re making up for past offenses, or if you just have a special someone who deserves a little something special, the Lost in Love package —complete with chilled champagne and cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake in a luxurious room at The Fairmont Copley Plaza—has everything you could ask for in a romantic getaway. Plus, there’s all of Boston to be explored. . . if you ever make it out of the hotel room. The package is available February 11-18th and reservations should be made 72 hours in advance.
How to get there: Several bus companies including Boltbus (boltbus.com) and Mega Bus (megabus.com) offer scheduled service between New York and Boston. Bus rides typically take 4.5 hours depending on traffic. Amtrak has scheduled train service to Boston from New York. Train trips take 3.5 hours on Acela Express and about 4 hours on other trains. Consult offMetro’s Boston Transportation Guide for more travel details.
Get Naughty
Are you and your partner more spicy than sweet? Spend the evening at a special burlesque performance held at the Highline Ballroom. The Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque Valentines Spectacular!, hosted by Shelly the Singing Siren Watson and a cast of talented, beautiful women, promises to get you in a festive mood (and serves a full dinner menu). The event takes place February 14th at 8:00pm and offers a variety of discounts for purchasing tickets in advance.
How to get there: Take the A, C, E, or L to 14th Street (at 8th Ave; end of the line) and walk to the Highline Ballroom, located at 431 West 16th St.
Let There Be Light
What’s not romantic about a lighthouse? Have a unique Jersey Shore experience this Valentine’s Day: renew your vows and make a toast to your special someone alongside other couples at the Absecon Lighthouse’s Evening of Romance & Renewal. After the ceremony, climb to the top for beautiful views of the Atlantic City skyline. The Group Vowel Renewal and Toast takes place on February 14th; the lighthouse requests a minimum of $40 donations in lieu of a ticket.
How to get there: Take the NJ TRANSIT Atlantic City Rail Line to Atlantic City; use bus routes No. 501, 502, 504, 505, 507, 508, 509 and 554 travel within walking distance of the Absecon Lighthouse.
Get Nerdy
For the science lovers out there, Hayden Planitermium at the Museum of Natural History has the perfect Valentine’s Day event aptly named “Romance Under the Stars.” Before heading in to enjoy the starry scapes, the museum will be hosting a cocktail hour with an open bar and plenty of chocolate. $125/pp.
How to get there: Take the A, B or C trains to 81st street.
Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Copley Plaza.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram