By Molly Given
Whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or just an excuse to do something fun in February, Philly is packed with Valentine’s Day experiences that go far beyond dinner and drinks.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco
If sleuthing is your love language, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco has just the holiday event for you. The venue’s Dead Men Don’t Speak-easy offers a Valentine’s Day murder mystery experience at Stratus Rooftop Lounge. As a release notes, the evening begins in the Kimpton’s Lafayette Ballroom, where guests will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of prosecco and a long-stem rose before sitting down for dinner paired with a live murder mystery performance by Without a Cue. As the story unfolds, guests will enjoy a curated menu designed for the occasion. Highlights include smoked trout tartine, steak au poivre, gnocchi parisienne, dark chocolate marquise and more. Tickets ($79) are available online.
433 Chestnut St., sevenrooms.com
Franklin Square
Aside from all of the wintertime fun happening in Franklin Square, while there, couples can also try a round of Chilly Philly Mini Golf with Love. The 18-hole game features reproductions of Philadelphia icons and landmarks, and it’s now adorned with themed decorations for the love-centered affair. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for kids, and free for children under 2.
200 N. 6th St., historicphiladelphia.org
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
This year, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is offering an intimate Valentine’s Day tour. Held inside the Magic Garden Museum on South Street, the hour-long experience explores Isaiah Zagar’s love story with his wife, Julia, and how the space itself serves as a love letter to Philly’s art community. Tours run on Feb. 14 at 6:30 and 8 p.m. and include time to wander the indoor gallery and outdoor sculpture garden on your own. Tickets come out to be $25 per person.
1020 South St., phillymagicgardens.org
The Clay Studio
For a fun date experience, locals can book a class with The Clay Studio with sessions available on Feb. 13, 14 and 15. The V-Day experience includes a two-hour candlelit wheel throwing session, chocolate, drinks, and mood music to set the tone. Date Nights are $75 per person or $150 per couple, guests just need to register in advance.
1425 N. American St., theclaystudio.org
Flight Club Philadelphia
Flight Club is leaning into playful V-Day vibes all weekend long, with festivities running Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15 at its Center City location. Couples and groups can book an oche for a round of Social Darts and sip on the Lover’s Club—a sweet spin on the Clover Club made with gin, raspberry, lemon, and egg white, finished with cocoa and chocolate bitters and served with pink-and-blue cotton candy. Anyone who orders two Lover’s Club cocktails will score a complimentary small plate, and anyone playing darts on Saturday, Feb. 14 also gets free cotton candy just for showing up.
1417 Walnut St., flightclubdartsusa.com/philadelphia
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo is going all out for Valentine’s Day weekend with a lineup of sweet—and slightly wild—ways to celebrate. On Feb. 14 and 15, couples or besties can book a special date package ($75), which includes zoo admission, drinks, a meet-and-greet with an ambassador animal, and a takeaway gift created by the animal itself. Saturday also brings a Valentine’s Day cupcake decorating experience in the Tiger Terrace Dining Room, plus, there will be themed animal enrichment popping up throughout the zoo all weekend long. For an extra-romantic moment, the Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel will be up and running every weekend in February.
3400 W Girard Ave., philadelphiazoo.org
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens offers a unique date experience for lovebirds with their Garden Glow experience and a Valentine’s prix fixe menu at their on-site eatery, 1906. The former offers a ticketed evening showcase (available weekends from Feb. 13 to March 8) where guests can explore the Conservatory District, which has been decked out with illuminated botanical installations for the occasion. At 1906, the V-Day prix-fixe dinner ($160 per person) complements the experience with dishes like a mushroom pâté tartlet topped with golden Ossetra caviar, a chilled Maine lobster tail with white miso and tangerine, Beef Wellington with truffled taleggio duxelles and sauce périgueux and much more.
Tickets to Garden Glow ($15-$45) and reservations for 1906 are available online.
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, longwoodgardens.org
Cape May Resorts
If your idea of a Valentine’s Day date involves candlelight, indulgence, or a quick escape from Philly, Cape May’s Cape Resorts is going all-in on romance this February. For one, locals can book Beach Plum Farm’s dreamy Valentine’s Harvest Dinner (Feb. 13 and 14), where a multi-course, farm-to-table feast unfolds inside a candlelit hoop house. Over at The Virginia Hotel, the ultra-exclusive Richmond Room will host an 18-seat indulgence dinner spotlighting luxe ingredients like oysters, caviar, wagyu, and truffles on Feb. 13.
Want to turn date night into a mini getaway? Congress Hall’s Romance Package (available Feb. 13 to 17) layers in dinner at the Blue Pig Tavern, chocolate-covered strawberries, and sparkling wine, while a later-month Dueling Pianos package (Feb. 20 to 22) adds high-energy entertainment and a three-course meal. Consider it a choose-your-own Valentine’s adventure, all just a short drive from the city.
Great Wolf Lodge
This Valentine’s Day, Great Wolf Lodge is debuting ‘Romance on the River’, a one-night-only experience at its Pocono Mountains location that turns its indoor water park into an after-hours date night. After the park closes, couples can book a private, five-course, chef-curated dinner in a poolside cabana, followed by a champagne-and-dessert float along the lazy river—complete with rose petals, floating candles, and live string music. Bites span dishes like butter-poached lobster, Wagyu short rib, scallops, Valrhona chocolate tart and much more. The $299-per-couple experience ($399 with wine pairings) is available for one night only on Feb. 14, with limited reservations via Tock.
1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, greatwolf.com
Elkins Estate
This is a Valentine’s Day pick for anyone looking to indulge. The overnight experience here starts with early arrival on Feb. 14 and a champagne welcome, followed by a guided tour of the historic estate before the evening unfolds into a full-scale soirée. Guests can expect a cocktail hour with a premium open bar, a three-course dinner, dancing and DJ entertainment. The evening continues with an intimate after-party and late-night bites, before guests retire upstairs to their on-site accommodations. In the morning, visitors can linger with late checkout and a continental breakfast served inside the estate. Note, a limited number of suite upgrades are available for those ready to go all-in. Reservations ($1000+) are available online.
1750 Ashbourne Rd, Elkins Park, play.landmarkhospitality.com
Adventure Aquarium
The CAA is throwing an after-hours 21+ event and duos are invited out to celebrate on Feb. 13. With Valen-Tides, couples, best friends and ride-or-dies can explore the venue, which will be decked out with romantic, immersive lighting, ocean-themed cocktails, curated music and playful photo moments. The event will be in full swing beginning at 6 p.m.; tickets ($34.99) are available online.
1 Riverside Dr, Camden, New Jersey, adventureaquarium.com
Love is in the Air
This unique event is set for Feb. 18—and it offers the perfect out-of-the-box date night for lovebirds who can’t celebrate over Valentine’s Day weekend. ‘Love Is in the Air’ will once again transform Fairmount Park’s greenhouse into a dreamy, art-forward playground from 5:30 to 9 pm. This year’s theme, ‘Through the Arts’, invites guests to wander through immersive vignettes inspired by music, painting, dance, poetry, film, photography, and more, all brought to life with live performances, interactive moments, and lush design. Tickets are $65 per person and include unlimited reception-style food and drink from Constellation Culinary Group, open bars with cocktails and mocktails, live entertainment, art installations, photo-worthy moments, and complimentary valet parking. Tickets ($65) are available via Eventbrite.
100 N Horticultural Dr., hortevents.com
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Date ideas