It’s officially the first day of February. For most of us that means we have 13 days left to figure out how we’re going to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you’re like Nik and I we are very much last minute nellies and tend to feel obligated to do something because the media has told us that we have to and if we don’t; well then, we don’t love each other and we’re the biggest douche bags on God’s green earth. Are they right? I think not! Bringing home a box of chocolate and a canned card from Walgreen’s definitely doesn’t make me feel loved by my husband. I do love fresh flowers but am not a fan of red spray roses. Give me a bunch of hydrangeas and seeded eucalyptus any day! Nik usually picks some up for under $10 at Trader Joe’s when he’s getting our littles their vanilla almond milk. I love when he brings them home but when he walks in the door with overpriced Valentine roses I’m always a little disappointed. It’s feels so obligatory and I hate that money is essentially compost in 5 days (if your lucky you get that long).
What choice do we have though? It’s Valentine’s day. I’m sure not going to be the only wife in Virginia that didn’t get my husband something and I’m sure Nik feels the same way. In 2014 I got off “easy”. We brought our daughter home from the hospital and I said “Here’s your present, Babe!!” No such luck this year though! This year we’ve decided to stop spending our money on stuff and start spending money on experiences. Experiences build memories and open a dialogue between a couple. We all get stuck in a rut in our day to day activities and activities are a great way to break the cycle. Even just simple things get us talking about things other than our kids and their activities. So here are our suggestions for Valentine’s Day. If you see more than one on the list you’d like to try file those ideas under Birthdays, Christmas, Anniversaries, etc!!
PS… These are all within a very manageable drive of us here in Richmond, Virginia. bonus points if you can make this into a weekend adventure!
1.Take a Hike!!
Old Rag Mountain is one of the most gorgeous spots in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It’s serene, quite and has this gorgeous pay off for all the hard work you put into getting there. Think ahead, pack a picnic and a bottle of wine for you to enjoy along the way. Don’t focus on making it to the top. Focus on being outside, enjoy the peace (there is no cell reception), and relax! We’re guilty of always going out to dinner and those carb-loaded sodium fests always leave us feeling pretty yucky so this is a great way to break the cycle!
2. Jeep!!!!
So hiking might not be your thing… you can still get outdoors and have some adventure on a Jeep tour!! The Greenbrier Resort (you’ve probably heard of it if your a fan of Monte Durham from SYTTDA on TLC) offers off road Jeep adventures even during the winter. You’ll see some gorgeous scenery and get some adrenaline pumping! They also have fishing, zip lines, alpine towers, and SLEIGH RIDES!!! Can we say jingle bell y’all?!
3. Cidery Tours and Tasting
Keswick Virginia boasts my favorite Cidery, Castle Hill Cider. Their tasting room is open from 11-5 Monday-Sunday. They are steeped in history and located right off 64 smack between Gordonsville and Charlottesville. They have a beautiful tasting room with a great big fireplace to sit and stare at! If you make it be sure to stop at our favorite BBQ place in Gordonsville. It’s called the BBQ Exchange. It’s super yummy and they make all their sauces in house! It’s well worth the short drive!!
4. Salamanders!!
Just kidding. I would NEVER! I mean the Salamander Resort in Middleburg. Have you been? If not you should. Middleburg is just the cutest little town in Virginia’s horse country. Situated to the west of DC it’s full of green rolling hills, walking trails, horse trails and bird watching. It’s winter so you can’t take advantage of their gorgeous outdoor pool but they do have a lovely indoor pool you can soak in. They have fire-pits blazing every night on the lawn along with lots of games like ladder ball and corn hole. There is a beautiful patio where you can sip hot toddy’s and often have activities including live music. The library is a sweet spot too if you want something a little more intimate and cozy. Be sure to walk around downtown Middleburg and hit some of the gastro pubs and do some window shopping while your there.
5. Spa
If you have to get a gift… get a relaxing one. If a spay day isn’t in the budget now, get a gift card toward one in the future. If you’re still on the fence about this one just do something relaxing together or for each other. If that means doing the dishes and taking the kids out so you can take turns napping, so be it! I feel like the older I get the harder it is for me to relax. I’m not even sure I know how to anymore, but I sure do enjoy trying! (PS… The Salamander and Greenbrier both have fabulous spa options if your going for uber bonus points)
6. Shop til you Drop! 
I don’t mean your standard weekly shopping routine or the grocery store. I mean getting out, walking around and window shopping. Maybe buy a trinket or two. We have the most fun grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting at Short Pump Mall people watching. It’s an outdoor mall so we get some fresh air and we we walk around to all the designer stores and point out the most outrageous items. Sometimes we like to dream about what we would buy/do/travel to if we won the lottery. I always say a Louis Vuitton trunk like the one they have at the Maymont Mansion. This is another great place to go, but didn’t make our top list simply because we’ve been there a thousand times and we’re trying to break out of the rut! If you go be sure to bring walking shoes and a picnic too!
7. Ski Lodge
A ski lodge is always a bustling place to visit even if you don’t ski or snowboard. They usually have tubing and other options as well. My favorite is warming up in the lodge with a boozy hot chocolate. Snowy hot tubs are a great way to relax too. My husband won’t use them but your’s might like them. Nik says their weird bathtubs for adults and refuses to use a public one. I’ve never been brave enough to fully delve into all they reasons why he won’t set foot in one. I figure it’s safer that way and doesn’t ruin the appeal of them for me. Massanutten, Snowshoe, and Wintergreen are all within a few hours.
8. Snow Sports
Valentine’s Day falls in peak snowy mountain weather. If you happen to find yourself at a lodge. Be sure to try one of their snow sports. Ice Skating and Snowmobiling are my favorite. Ice Skating is some serious work but ski-do it up!! It’s a ton of fun, gets you off the beaten path and who doesn’t love blazing a trail on what is basically a motorcycle on skis. I HIGHLY recommend it!
9. The Ocean’s not just for Summer, you know!
Winter is prime whale-watching time. For some ungodly reason they love the cold water! It’s a beautiful sight and would be something so fun and different to do. Think about it for a second. No crowds at the beach, lots of fresh, in-season seafood, off-season prices and accommodations… what’s not to like? So you might have to bundle up a bit but you can still do some beach combing and if your crafty now is the perfect time to hunt for pieces of sea glass and driftwood. Virginia Beach is only a couple hours drive from RVA and there is no traffic on 64 like there is during the summer. They have lots of whale watching tours you can take and if it’s too chilly you should check out the Marine Science Museum instead.
10. Get your history on!
Okay… we are big fans of history. Like the old adage says. How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you come from? Virginia is the home of the first colony (not settlement, that’s in the Outer Banks). We are the birthplace of 8 Presidents and home to countless other important political figures throughout history. You could visit Monticello, Montpelier, Mount Vernon, Ferry Farm, or any number of other historic homes. If you need more of a one-stop shop you should check out Colonial Williamsburg. We always park in Market Square and walk through the historic streets. You don’t necessarily have to buy a pass to go walk around. If you want to tour any of the buildings you would need a pass but the taverns are free to go in as are the various shops and outdoor markets. You’ll encounter loads of people in period dress who stay very much in character. You’ll have to ask me sometime about the time we were walking around and one of the reenactors scared the you know what out of us. It’s a pretty hilarious story!
The reason we park in Market Square is so that we can end up at our favorite wine and cheese shop. They have fantastic sandwiches and charcuterie. If you go down to the cellar and pick a bottle of wine (their sommelier can make a suggestion) you are free to rent a glass for $4 (or it’s yours to keep if you forfeit the four bucks) and enjoy your wine on the patio.
I hope you enjoy our ideas or were inspired to come up with something on your own!! I’d love to hear from anyone who tries something out of the box for Valentine’s Day! Feel free to comment on your ideas and/or send pics!! (please keep them “G” rated) 🙂
Make it Posh is a Wedding Coordinator in Richmond Virginia. If you have any questions be sure to drop us a line!! Contact