Fun Ways to Celebrate Your Anniversary During Quarantine

Sheltering in place may have put a crimp on your anniversary plans, but that doesn't mean you can't still have a romantic celebration of your love. This year's anniversary may be even more memorable thanks to these fun and fabulous ways to extol your significant other that don't require you to even leave your neighborhood.

Get Out of the Restaurant Rut

If you're like many couples, you gravitate toward your favorite restaurant, even for your anniversary. You know, the one where the steak frites is your go-to menu item. Why not try something new? Scroll DoorDash and choose a restaurant you've been wanting to try. Or maybe spring for something totally different, like a box of Cadillac Mountain Oysters from Maine courtesy of Island Creek Oysters (from tide to table, as they say). There's never been a better (read: cheaper) time to buy lobster, too. The prices have been falling for months thanks to the pandemic. Try SimplyLobsters.com.

Mail Order a Date Night Kit

All of a sudden, there's date night in a box thanks to mail-order subscription services like DateBox Club and Happily. Inside each box, you'll find everything you need to create a fun date night. Some services allow you to personalize your dates by filling out a pre-date questionnaire so they know your personalities, budget, likes and dislikes. We're all so busy, and now many of us don't necessarily want to leave the house, so date night kits make it a cinch to reconnect as a couple. Some services, like Crated With Love, sell one-time date night boxes with themed games, recipes and activities. For a little spontaneity, choose their Mystery Date Box.

Take a Hike - Away From Your Street

You've probably walked around your block dozens (maybe hundreds) of times since the pandemic began. So much so, you could probably do it with your eyes closed. Yes, walks are therapeutic — good for body, mind and soul — and they're good for reconnecting as a couple as you walk and talk. However, walking the same streets can also be monotonous. Why not explore somewhere new? Open your eyes as a couple to new scenery, new gardens and new sounds. Bike or drive to a new park or neighborhood for reflection and conversation on your anniversary.

Camp Out in the Backyard

You may not be ready quite yet for an anniversary weekend in a charming hotel with room service, but you can switch up the scenery with a backyard camp-out. Or maybe an overnight at a nearby campground. No tent? No problem. REI can rent you everything you need, including tents, sleeping bags, lanterns and camping chairs. They even offer camp cook sets if you really want to take it to the next level and grill up some burgers or make foil-packet meals, like quesadillas or garlic shrimp. Of course, there's nothing better than s'mores over a fire pit under the stars.

Experience Something New – Virtually

So wine tasting in Napa is off the table for this year. The same goes for exploring the glaciers and fjords at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska — at least, in person. Fortunately — and while we know it's not the same — many experiences are available from the comfort of your sofa. This virtual tour of Kenai Fjords gets you as close as you can get without physically touching the icebergs. For a more hands-on experience, loads of wineries are offering wine tastings from your home. One to check out is Quintessa's "Virtual Estate Experience," which includes a private sommelier-led Zoom session, a scenic property tour and sampling of three half-bottles of wine.

Throw a Picnic for the One You Love

Pre-pandemic, how many times did you spread out a checkered blanket and have a picnic with your significant other? Now is the time. You can have a picnic anywhere — a local park, a city garden, even your own backyard. It can be as simple as making sandwiches and fruit salad to bring to the park with a bottle of wine. Or you can order a fancy picnic basket with meats, cheeses, fruits and crackers from Harry & David. Some restaurants put together gourmet picnic boxes or picnic boards to pick up on the way to dining alfresco. In New York, book a luxury picnic with Personal Attention. They'll even set it up for you!

Snuggle Up During an Outdoor Movie Night

Outdoor movie projectors and screens have never been more popular. Just find a wall to hang a white sheet (or use a wall as a screen) on your deck or balcony to watch a movie. From here, there's little more to do than plug your phone into the projector to watch your favorite romantic movie and snuggle up under the stars.