If you want to make your partner truly happy, science has some advice. Don’t buy them things. A fistful of roses is nice, until they become a wilted mess that reminds you of the fleeting nature of life. Instead, the key to giving the gift of lasting happiness is to provide someone with experiences that make memories they can cherish for a lifetime, and a story they can annoy everyone with for the rest of their days. For this purpose, we found 10 unwrappable gifts for Valentine’s Day that are sure to make your beloved swoon with delight.
Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography MasterClass
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but providing your better half with a photography class is worth the only three words that matter. Here, they’ll be able to learn how to tell a story with images from a living icon and a trailblazer in the industry. Annie Leibovitz was chief photographer at Rolling Stone, and has innovated more in the land of pictures than most people will ever learn. From working with light to choosing subjects to post-production methods, she’ll turn anyone into a shutterbug by the time the class concludes.
New Hampshire Murder Mystery Weekend
Nothing is more romantic than death. By spending a weekend in lovely Dover, NH, you can show your partner you embrace their love of the macabre, and that you trust them enough to help them learn how to get away with murder. The two of you can grow ever closer as you uncover clues to catch a killer, plus you can see the historic sites and do some antiquing. The entire experience is themed with role-playing cooked right in. This can add its own element of heat and romance to your nights.
Master Korean Food with a Kimchi Chef via Zoom
If you’ve fallen for someone who loves making fine cuisine, but hates leaving the house, then this is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Through the magic of the internet, a professional chef will walk you and your partner through proper food preparation and cooking to craft one of the most underrated cuisines on the planet. Not only will you learn a whole new style of cooking, but a type of food that is great for health and weight loss. This will allow you both to feel better, and maybe drop some of that winter weight before swimsuit season rears its flabby head.
America the Beautiful Pass for 2022/2023
Most gifts don’t actually keep on giving. Those that do, such as vacuums or bread makers, are often a little insulting. Which is why giving the gift of nature is a much better, and safer, way to express your feelings. This pass is good for a full year of exploration to more than 2,000 sites across the US of A. Anyone who rejuvenates through hiking, camping, exploring, or merely soaking in some of the majesty of nature will adore it. They’ll be reminded that every waterfall, every dazzling sunset, and every bear attack came right from your heart, and wallet.
Hire a Private Chef
Most of us will never know how the 1% truly lives. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t rent the experience for ourselves, and pamper our companion in the process. A home cooked meal shows you care, but if you aren’t a stellar cook, it can lead to indigestion. That’s about as romantic as electroshock therapy. Which is why having a real pro do what you can’t so that you can dote on your beloved is the better choice for the culinarily challenged. Now, all you need is a private dish washer to make the magic complete.
National Geographic Expeditions Discover Patagonia
If you want a Valentine’s Day gift that checks a lot of boxes, look no further. This includes travel around South America, along with loads of nature, and just enough learning to be interesting, without feeling like there’s going to be a quiz at the end. You’ll get to see towering volcanoes, breathtaking lakes, awe-inspiring seascapes, a giant glacier, and even adorable penguins. Everyone loves penguins. All this along with a boat trip that’s far more idyllic and adventurous than a boozy venture aboard a cruiseliner.
Private Online Ukulele Lessons
Perhaps your sweetheart has always wanted to rock, but only in the most Lilliputian way possible. The Ukulele is a surprisingly easy instrument to learn, but opens the door to the whole world of music. Even if your partner already has some musical inclination or knowledge, this can accommodate any skill level and teach tricks to understanding the wide world of melodies and song construction. Best of all, you’re likely to be serenaded at the end, which is the slightly awkward experience we all long for.
Symbolically Adopt a Gorilla Infant
It wouldn’t be practical to actually adopt a baby gorilla, no matter how popular it would make your Instagram feed. Therefore, for the animal-lover in your life, you can provide a symbolic adoption of the species in their name. You’ll get a package of reminders of the good you did for them, and the knowledge that you’re helping to save important species from the ravages being done to their homes. If you have someone you love who truly doesn’t want anything for themselves, and would feel better knowing a life was saved, there are few things as heartwarming.
Hire a Cleaning Service
Hiring a cleaning service walks a fine line. No one really enjoys housework so much that they wouldn’t happily hand it off. However, you’ll need to make sure this gift says “I love you and want to make your life easier,” and not “You’re a filthy beast and it needs to stop.” Maid Brigade does go above and beyond normal cleaning into heavy disinfecting and contamination control. It’s great for someone who hates to clean, or wants an obsessively immaculate home without lifting a finger.
Atlas Obscura Mexico City Culinary Adventure
It’s Mexico and it’s food. If you’re insane and that’s somehow not enough, and you’re still reading instead of booking, then there’s more. This Valentine’s Day gift is also Atlas Obscura. Thus, instead of seeing only the standard tourist spots and pampered resorts, you’ll get to visit some of the more unusual areas, and eat some of the more unknown cuisine. Which actually sounds a little scary. But rest assured that it’s dietary delights from the finest kitchens in the heart of the land of tacos.