Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you want to give your Darlin’ something more original than a card and flowers, not to mention much more memorable. Your relationship is special and unique, so celebrate it with an out of the ordinary romantic experience. Of course, you should have guessed that Travel Maestro would suggest travel – but not just any garden variety travel.  Your unique love deserves an out of the ordinary romatic destination. Here are three places that are decidedly romantic, but each has a novel charm that is as unique as your love.

Lovely Lockup – If you’re a prisoner of love what would be a more appropriate and unique place to embrace your sentence than a prison hotel? The Charles Street Jail in Boston, Massachusetts housed some of Boston’s most notorious criminals for over 120 years before it was closed due to unfit living conditions. After $150 million of extensive renovation and careful preservation, it became the four-star Liberty Hotel. Exposed brick walls, historic catwalks and vestiges of jail cells in the lobby bar hint at the building’s past, but its reincarnation defines luxury and serenity. The original exercise yard is now one of the most charming secret gardens of Beacon Hill. Guest rooms have lush bathrobes, sumptuous imported bed linens and Molton Brown bath amenities. Romantics will love the Guilty Pleasures Romance Package which includes champagne and dipped strawberries, an intimacy kit, in-room breakfast and late check out for extra cuddle time.

Lovely Lights – The Northern Lights are swirling across the northern skies in their most active displays in 50 years due to high solar activity this year. The neon greens, reds and blues streak the skies in an otherworldly display that is utterly moving. While there are multiple light sighting trips in Alaska, Canada, Iceland and Norway, a distinctive one is to take the two-day “Love Train” from Winnipeg to the small town of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Be forewarned, though; according to Lonely Planet, the Love Train is so nicknamed because it is particularly popular with Japanese couples who believe that the Northern Lights encourage fertility. Once in Churchill, join local astronomers in stargazing from a new viewing dome and with luck, you and your sweetie will embrace under the ethereal majesty of the dancing lights.

Canals and Confections – If you’d be in the dog house if you don’t give your Valentine chocolates make it special by taking him or her straight to the source. Puccini Bomboni  is a small café in Amsterdam where the proprietors hand-make specialty chocolates infused with exotic spices from only the finest ingredients. Aside from the being possibly the best chocolate in the Netherlands (National Geographic included them on The 10 Best of Everything list), what makes them unique is that you have to go to Amsterdam to get them – Puccini Bomboni does not deliver – but chocolate connoisseurs will agree, it’s worth the trip. Of course, Amsterdam itself is a unique city with its network of canals, its Red Light District and tolerant attitudes. Lovers will enjoy Amsterdam’s cleanliness and hospitality, world-class cuisine and its wealth of museums.

Whether you and your sweetie travel for Valentine’s Day or any time of year choose a destination that compliments your unique interests. Then add in plenty of hand-holding, eye-gazing and lip-locking to make it an out of the ordinary romantic getaway just for you. For ideas and prices, contact Covington’s creative vacation advisors.