Five Days of Valentine's: By Sea or Air

Valentine's Day can be a time of stress as we scramble to think of the ideal gift for the perfect way of telling the one we love that he or she is the best thing that has ever happened to us.

It's easy to be clichéd with flowers and chocolates. And, certainly, there's nothing wrong with candy and spa treatments if those are things your partner likes. The key is finding a personal connection with your sweetheart.

From Monday through Friday this week, we are offering "experiential" gift ideas that might help you turn a normal Valentine's into something more lasting and memorable. (Monday's story featured a way to name a star after your loved one. Tuesday's article focused on wine. On Wednesday was the combination of chocolate and spa. And yesterday, we had hiring a singer-songwriter.)

Love from the air or sea: There's nothing quite as romantic as seeing the world from a new perspective, the person you love next to you, holding on to you, sharing the beauty of the surroundings. A nice, quiet ride by hot-air balloon or slow-moving boat are wonderfully relaxing ways to spend a Valentine's Day. They can be coupled with tasty meals and delicious spirits.

Want to make this Valentine's the Valentine's to remember? Well, a gondola might not be a bad place to propose to your significant other, high above the trees, across from glowing yellow mountains or over long purple plains, with Champagne, breakfast and classical music.

California Dreamin', based in Murrieta, offers a sunrise flight over the Temecula Wine Country this Valentine's Day for $158 a person, as well as a sunset flight in the Del Mar Coastal Valley for $188.