Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and nothing says “I love you” better than time spent together. The lower mainland is not in short supply of spas, but the following top our list for their unique offerings specially tailored to couples. So relax, enjoy, and reconnect with what matters most: the heart of your home, your partner. Box of chocolates optional.

1. The Scandinave Spa in Whistler is renowned for its Scandinavian bath spa experience that is included with every massage. Whether you’re already enjoying time on the hill or making it a day trip, their Duo Massage with hydrotherapy is the perfect way to unwind.

2. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 spas, Spa Utopia at the Pan Pacific Vancouver offers an extensive massage therapy menu, esthetics, and even a salon. Truly relax with your special someone by extending your treatment to indulge in the hotel’s outdoor saltwater pool. Available to spa guests, it features picturesque views of the harbour and North Shore mountains.

3. The award winning Spa Wedgewood in the heart of downtown features a Duet Harmony Massage that can include a hybrid of Deep Tissue, Swedish, and Aromatic massage. Staying at the Wedgewood Hotel? In-Suite and After Hours massages are available as well.

4. Part of the Fairmont family, the Willow Stream Spa is synonymous with luxury. The Pacific Rim’s spa has a designated couples’ room with deep Japanese Zen tub and a variety of uniquely Canadian services, like the Van Active Body treatment should you be in need of recovery after the city’s variety of active offerings.

5. For a truly decadent experience, traveler’s choice Pemberton Valley Lodge is offering a Blissful Couples’ Getaway package. It featuring a massage for two, one-night accommodation, early check-in and relaxed check-out time, champagne, chocolate, and a long-stemmed rose as the finishing touch.

Any hidden gem spas that should’ve been on our list? Let us know!

Valentine’s Day is a time to create unforgettable romantic memories for you and your honey. Enjoying delicious food in a cozy restaurant can contribute largely to that! We’ve come up with a list of romantic restaurants in Vancouver to help you plan for that special day.

1. L’Abbattoir: 217 Carrall St. in the heart of Gastown, 604 568 1701
If you like a mix of modern and classic, we recommend L’Abbatoir. Set in a refurbished brick and beam building that combines classic French tile work with industrial fixtures, natural wood, and glass and steel finishes. The restaurant offers a bar and lounge setting, elevated dining room, and a plush, sun soaked atrium. L’Abbattoir is dedicated to highlighting the finer points of eating and drinking with a French influenced West Coast eclectic wine program and an innovative cocktail list.
2. Tableu Bar Bistrboth o: 1181 Melville St., 604 639 8692
Voted winner in Georgia Straight’s Best of Vancouver 2014 and Golden Plate Award, discover a beautifully renovated interior that combines old world classic bistro elements with modern touches and a French-inspired menu that blends classic culinary flavours of Paris with the use of fresh west coast ingredients. This Coal Harbour restaurant serves in-house and classic cocktails with a great selection of local and draft beers on tap as well as an eclectic mix of wines from France.
3. Cin Cin: 1154 Robson St., 604 688 7338
Cin Cin is famous within the Vancouver dining scene located on renowned Robson Street. Charming and cozy, it combines Spanish and French cuisines using only the freshest market fish, and prime cuts of meat are deliciously rendered over fruitwood charcoal.
4. Lupo: 869 Hamilton St., 604 569 2325
Enjoy modern Italian cuisine at its finest! The Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca, formally known as 'Villa del Lupo', is a classy and romantic establishment, and a hidden gem in downtown Vancouver. It is a contemporary kitchen serving fresh reinventions of Italian classics in a cozy, neighbourhood environment.
5. Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar: 900 Seymour St., 604 632 9560
From the finest charcuterie, to artisanal cheeses and hard-to-find wine selections, indulge in Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar's cosmopolitan, yet relaxed interpretation of a true Italian 'enoteca'. The elegant modernism of its interior design combined with the building's historical elements, such as its delicate 1908 terrazzo floors, creates a unique, yet vibrant setting that must be experienced.
6. Hawksworth Restaurant: 801 West Georgia St., located at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia w/valet parking, 604 673 7000
Hawksworth is said to be Vancouver’s best restaurant with breathtakingly good food, ambiance, and service. It’s the perfect spot for celebrating special occasions, and the chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings could end up being one of the best meals of your lives!
7. YEW Seafood: 791 Georgia St., 604 692 4939
In short: modern, coastal, and social. YEW Seafood + Bar is one of the city’s finer seafood restaurants, delivering exceptionally delicious cuisine, great wines, innovative cocktails, and a fun, welcoming environment. Located at the treetop level inFour Seasons Hotel Vancouver, it provides a chic space and great views.
8. MarketBy Jean-Georges: 1115 Alberni St., 3rd Floor of the Shangri-La Hotel, 604 695 1115
If you value elegance and contemporary dining then Market is the place for you! The Menu features Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s “greatest hits” reinventing classic dishes where guests are able to try new flavour combinations and explore spices from exotic regions.
9. Hy’s Encore Vancouver: 637 Hornby St., 604 683 1749
Established in 1955, Hy’s holds a reputation of warmth and elegance. Enjoy perfectly grilled Canadian Prime steaks, cold martinis , and warm hospitality in a relaxed and refined atmosphere. Interiors speak of elegance with rich wood accents, chandeliers, and red velvet seating.
10. The Refinery: 1115 Granville St., 604 687 8001
The refinery offers charcuterie, cheeses, cured and fresh seafood as well as offering timeless classics of modern gastronomy. Cocktails are taken seriously at The Refinery, almost everything is made from scratch with an emphasis on using local ingredients.

(Photo: flickr.com/portobaytrade)