Romantic Reasons to Visit NYC With Your Valentine in 2017

The pressure is on to plan a perfectly romantic Valentine’s Day for your love.  This year with the big day arriving mid-week, it’s a good time to plan a pre-or-post Valentine’s Day getaway to celebrate your affection, and nowhere sparkles with more excitement than New York City.  There are lots of romantic activities and sites to experience in 2017, so let’s take a look at our picks for:

The Most Romantic NYC Treats for 2017.

#1  The Empire State Building – A Whole New Experience
You may have visited before….but never like this!  A recent installation in the ceilings of the elevators offers entertainment from the moment the doors close.  The elevators now enclose you in a unique multi-media experience as the elevator ascends to the 86th floor Observatory.  On the ascent, visitors are virtually transported back in time to the construction phase of the building.  You’ll see workers, machinery and materials in a “fanciful depiction of the construction process”.  On your ride down to the streets of New York, you’ll be immersed in art-deco masterpieces and iconic mural art.

Whether you’re looking to pay homage to Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember, or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, and there is no experience that will put a flutter in your heart like visiting the top of the Empire State Building.

#2  Take A Sugartooth Valentine’s Dessert Walking Tour

What could be more romantic than strolling hand-in-hand to discover one sweet treat spot after another!  The delightful folks at Sugartooth Tours have put together a Sweeter Than Sugar Valentine’s Dessert walking tour that includes 6 luscious tasting opportunities – and you will burn off the calories between stops, right???  Group tours range from 3-16 guests and start the weekend before Valentine’s Day.  Sign up right away because these tours are their most popular of the year.

#3  Discover A Warm Tropical Paradise in the Middle of the City
2017 will see two special exhibits that will bring the tropics to the chilly streets of New York.  Head over to the American Museum of Natural History to visit the Butterfly Conservatory.  Here you will experience hundreds of live butterflies living in their 80 degree lush paradise, flitting from one lush tropical bloom to another.  Learn about the life of butterflies and meet over 100 species gathered from their native habitats around the world.

Or be dazzled at the Earth & Science Soiree at the Rose Center where ticket holders will enjoy an open bar, chocolate, jazz and a special program at Hayden Planetarium

Another lush, warm environment can be found at the New York Botanical Gardens.  Nothing says Valentine’s Day as beautifully as flowers, and here you will find dramatic displays of colorful blooms and heady scents.  The Botanical Gardens have delightful offerings for Valentine’s Day including having a love poem written especially for your love by a guest poet, mini-seminars on chocolate, and the annual Orchid Show featuring hundreds of exotic blooms from Thailand.

#4  Take Advantage of Special Weeks
It’s always marvelous when you can save money in New York.  Take advantage by visiting during one of the upcoming promotional weeks.  Restaurant Week is running until February 10th.  NYC Attractions Week, the first of its kind for half price admission tickets, takes place from 1/17 – 2/5.  Off Broadway Week with half price theater tickets takes place from 2/27 – 3/12.

#5  Find Lots of Great FREE Activities in NYC
Who doesn’t love free?  Luckily New York City has a robust selection of free activities and sites to visit.  Perhaps our most favorite is the Big Apple Greeter program where you can meet a new friend and guide in the city.  Register in advance of your NYC visit for an appointment to meet a “Greeter” guide.  Someone with similar interests to your own will tour the city with you.  There’s no better way to discover NYC than with a local!

You can also go on free walking tours with Free Tours By Foot (or bike, or food, or self-guided).  Guides at Grand Central Station conduct a free 90 minute walking tour of the iconic landmark.  Many of New York’s museums offer free entry days and times, and there is quite a list of museum that are totally free to visit.  For a very comprehensive list of Free Things To Do in NYC visit NYCGO.com/Free and NYCGO.com/NonStop for a wonderful directory of activities in the city.

#6.  Visit NYC From Boston At Half Price

Luxury transportation company LimoLiner is offering 2 for 1 fares during February, so you’ll be all set for Valentine’s Day and February school vacation.  Passengers riding the luxury coach between February 1 through the 28th, can bring a guest along at no charge with savings up to $99.  The deluxe ride between downtown Boston and downtown Manhattan includes hosted seat-side service, complimentary hot meals and drinks (even wine after 6pm) and state-of-art entertainment and WiFi.  I’ve traveled to NYC with LimoLiner several times and wouldn’t go any other way.  All the stress of airports is taken away and a pleasant hostess brings you treats during your journey.  It’s a bonus to arrive in mid-town and not have to travel from the airport into the city.  Blackout dates apply 2/17-20.  If you haven’t tried their service yet, this is a great time to do it!