I’ll admit, I’m not usually very good about planning our anniversary. Because it’s only days away from Christmas, our anniversary typically gets pushed to the back burner. But last year we did something special (it’s listed below) and since then, I’ve vowed to make our anniversary more memorable.

A quick search on Pinterest usually leaves you with a lot of cheesy ideas that include printables and rhymes. Not that those aren’t fun…but sometimes you just want to go somewhere and do something that is really meaningful to your relationship. Here are the top 10 anniversary date ideas to get you started!

The Top 10 Anniversary Date Ideas That Aren’t Cheesy

1. Take a get-away weekend to where you first met.

Get a sitter for the kids, find someone to take the dog, and take a trip down memory lane for the weekend. Travel to where you first met and where you dated. Walk your old college campus or visit the movie theatre where you first kissed. Being in the place where you first met will send all kinds of good memories coursing through you. The air will be electric!

2. Book a themed hotel room.

I’d seen them advertised, but always thought…meh, I don’t know if that’s for us. Well, last December for our 10th anniversary, we booked a secluded castle-themed room at our local Anniversary Inn. We left the kids with grandma and grandpa for a day and being completely alone in a hotel room was intoxicating. We showed up and the snow was falling slowly in giant flakes and the night seemed like a fairy tale. Sparkling cider and cheesecake were waiting in our room along with a jacuzzi that begged to be soaked in. Although we didn’t even leave town, it felt like a vacation and a very romantic anniversary date without being cheesy.

3. Rent a cabin in the mountains.

If peaceful and secluded is your wish, rent a cabin in the mountains for your anniversary. You’ll be together in nature without the demands of kids and work. Spend time relaxing together, head to the lake, and pack a picnic basket and blanket for a seriously romantic picnic in the mountains.

4. Get a room by the beach.

There’s nothing more romantic than a beach at sunset. If you want a memorable anniversary, rent a room or a small house by the beach. The sound of the ocean and the cool breeze wafting through your room will melt the stress and take you back to those carefree dating days before life got so crazy.

5. Book a couples massage.

You might get solo massages every so often, and if you’re lucky you and your spouse might give each other the occasional massage. But how often do you get the chance to get a massage together? For your anniversary, book an hour-long couples massage that is both relaxing and incredibly romantic.

6. Get tickets to a game, a play, or a concert.

If your style is more sporty or “get up and go!” then one of the best anniversary dates is getting tickets to a professional sports game, a concert that you’d both enjoy, or a Broadway play. If you really want to make it memorable, plan a trip around it!

7. Relive your first date.

If you’ve been married awhile like I have, the memories of your first date are starting to fade. For a fun and meaningful anniversary date, recreate your entire first date—at the original locations if possible. However simple or grandiose, you’ll love talking about what you both remember about that date. If you’re good, you’ll even remember what you each wore.

8. Go on a ski trip.

Make your anniversary special by booking a weekend ski trip. Hit the slopes during the day and then unwind to a hot tub and movies in bed at night. Order room service and take turns rubbing each other’s sore muscles.

9. Get dressed up.

Sometimes when you’ve got kids, kids, and more kids, getting dressed up means putting on the t-shirt with the least stains. For your anniversary, get all dressed up. I’m talking that little black dress and his best sports coat. Go to a restaurant that you never would with kids. Go somewhere you feel fancy, like the ballet or an art show. Getting all dressed up together makes you feel like your relationship is special and worth dressing up for, even if you slip into your sweats afterward.

10. Live out a Fantasy

Hey, we’ve all got ‘em. Whether yours is skinny dipping in a cool lake or slipping behind a hidden waterfall—use your anniversary as an excuse to live out one of those fantasies you’ve always wanted to. No judgements here.

Whatever you choose to do for your anniversary, you must abide by the #1 rule: no kids and no pets allowed! If you have any other great anniversary date ideas, feel free to share them below!