11 New England-y Ways to Say ‘I Love You’

Come mid-February, there’s this holiday that begs for greeting cards and flowers. Yet some people really enjoy giving and getting thoughtful gift items, while others prefer a gift-giving strategy that focuses on an experience or things to do. What’s your favorite way to say ‘I Love You’?

Our editors have pulled together a list of five best picks for gifts you can wrap as well as six site-specific activities for quality time together. You could always knock it out of the park by presenting your loved one with a gift bag of all five items; or package a gift item with an invite to a thing-to-do. Imagine ending the day cozy in flannel robes, enjoying mulled wine in stoneware mugs along with some artisan chocolate nibbles, after exploring a new or favorite place. Now that’s a sweet ending.

Great Gifts: 5 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’

Flannel Robe from The Vermont Flannel Company

Made with organic cotton and brushed for durable softness, the cheerful flannel robes from Vermont Flannel will keep you warm for years to come. Add a night shirt or pair of lounge pants for an even bigger dose of cozy. Shop online or visit one of their nine retail stores in Vermont and Maine. —Aimee Tucker

L.A. Burdick’s Assortment with Love Chocolate Box

Indulge in the perfect handmade artisan chocolate assortment from one of our top-rated confectioners in New England, including their iconic chocolate mouse. Available in three sizes (large pictured here). Shop online; at their Walpole, New Hampshire headquarters; or at one of three Boston-area locations. —Aimee Tucker

Nantucket Red Ring and/or Earrings by Cove Fine Jewelry

Connecticut native Alyson Iarrusso honors connection to place year-round with designs inspired by her summers at the Cape and a company based in New Hampshire. Here pink tourmaline (with 14k yellow or white gold settings) reflects memories of sunset sails, lobster bakes, and walks on the beach under the beacon of a lighthouse. Choose cocktail ring, earrings, or both, to really wow your special someone. —Katrina Farmer

Winter Woods Mug from Goodland Pottery

A pine tree-moon motif makes these stoneware mugs from Goodland Pottery in Montville, Maine, the perfect vessel for fireside sipping—together. We love their oversized Birch Mugs, too. —Aimee Tucker

Wood Stove Kitchen Mulling Syrup

A taste of mulled wine in Copenhagen helped inspire Steve Zyck of New Hampshire to create this elixir, which adds Cape Cod craberry juice to the familiar flavors of clove, allspice, cinnamon, and orange. The result is bright and fresh and with just the right amount of sweetness, thanks to a bit of brown sugar. Beyond mulled wine, you can use this versatile syrup in apple pies, marinades, pancake mixes, and more. Try Wood Stove Kitchen’s Hot Toddy Mix, too, as part of the Winter Survival Kit available through our New England Store. —Amy Traverso

Quality Time: 6 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’

Boathouse Waterfront Hotel | Kennebunkport, ME

“All you need is love” at this member hotel of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, whose nine boutique properties also include Hidden Pond and the Kennebunkport Inn. A neon LOVE sign glows and reflects on the Kennebunk River waters—doubling the effect—and the on-site restaurant in winter features cozy private tables in its Coastal Lighthouse Village. The Boathouse’s luxury would likely dazzle even the wealthy ship captains who first built the town. Ask for the LOVE KPT package, on offer in February 2026, and you’ll be treated to a bottle of bubbly, a variety of macarons, and a luxurious body scrub upon arrival. —Katrina Farmer

Honeymoon Bridge | Jackson, NH

It’s no secret covered bridges are romantic, so it’s only fair to include one on our list of the most romantic places in New England. Their reputation as “kissing bridges” dates back to the era of horse and buggy courtships, when they provided privacy for amorous moments. Nearly 200 of these graceful spans survive in New England, but Honeymoon Bridge—painted earth’s most photogenic shade of red—out-romances them all. “Thump, thump,” the floorboards murmur, as each car leaves the pavement of Route 16A. “Thump, thump,” again, on the other side of this one-lane portal to the picture-perfect village of Jackson, where some unexplained wizardry keeps the pace of life leisurely. When you hear this 1876 landmark’s tell-tale heartbeat, and see the initials etched by generations of smitten couples, you won’t be able to resist the urge to pause on the walkway for a stolen smooch. —Kim Knox Beckius

Mayflower Inn & Spa | Washington, CT

All cream and marble-white with woodland views, the sanctuary inside the 20,000 square-foot Spa House at this country estate–style resort has that “away from it all” aura that type A people see in their dreams. Sip detox tea or champagne; spend tension-easing time in the hammam bath, sauna, pool, or whirlpool; then embark on a journey custom-designed to comfort your body and mind. Even before you land at this 58-acre Auberge Resorts hideaway known for extraordinary service and farm-fresh cuisine, the spa concierge will get to know you and guide you toward service providers, treatments, and fitness classes suited to your personality and goals. A globally and spiritually inspired spa menu includes purification rituals, sound healing, connectedness meditation for couples, and a dozen massage options.  —Kim Knox Beckius

Newport Cliff Walk | Newport, RI

You can’t have a list of romantic places in New England without some rocky coastline! What is it about the Cliff Walk that inspires couples—even those long past the hand-holding phase of their relationship—to twine fingers together as they stroll this 3.5-mile serpentine pathway in practically any weather? Perhaps it is the pounding pulse of surf against the rocks. Or the fun of pretending to be Vanderbilts for a day, reveling in the splendor of their seaside backyard. Newport’s Gilded Age mansions loom above this legendary walkway, with its curlicued gates and stone walls and lookout spots, where so many twosomes have paused to whisper promises. These architectural treasures can’t compete, though, with the scene nature continually paints. And maybe that’s where the true romance lies: in the subtle reminder that all of life’s best things are free. —Kim Knox Beckius

The Old Manse | Concord, MA

It was no ordinary house that welcomed Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne on their wedding night in 1842. The clapboard parsonage that the couple was renting had already witnessed the first battle of the American Revolution and the birth of a literary movement, as Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote Nature in the room that Nathaniel would use as his study. The Hawthornes, too, would leave their mark on the building that Nathaniel nicknamed “the Old Manse”—albeit by using her diamond ring to etch poetic phrases in the window glass. Sit in a replica of Emerson’s bright green writing-arm Windsor chair, peer through Nathaniel and Sophia’s immortal graffiti, and, if you’re lucky, you may perceive the same “gold light” that enchanted the couple so many years ago.  —Kim Knox Beckius

Valentine Phantom’s Red Hearts | Montpelier, VT

Each year the city’s mysterious Valentine Phantom tapes thousands of red paper hearts to the windows of stores and homes. In the morning, residents wake up to wonder whether they’ve been “hearted” and marvel at how their humble downtown has been transformed into a street from Candy Land. The Phantom admires everyone, doling out hearts to anyone with a window and turning Valentine’s Day into a holiday that everybody can enjoy, not just people with a date or a wedding ring. —Caroline Abels

What are your favorite ways to say ‘I Love You’? Do you most appreciate gifts, quality time, acts of service, touch, or words of affirmation?

You may also like…
· Wrap It Up: 2025 New England Holiday Gift Guide
· Digging It | New England Garden Gift Guide
· Yankee Food Awards Gift Guide
· The 85 Best Things to Do in New England

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