8 Great Winter Dates
January 27th, 2010
Sparks can fly even in the dead of winter -- turn up the romance (and make some heat of your own) with these unique, cold weather ideas
by Rebecca Edwards
Frigid temps, icy roads and bitter winds don't need to cool down your love life. Utah Stories found eight great ways to heat things up this winter:
1. Sleigh Ride for Two: Rocky Mountain Outfitters offers a variety ways to cozy up to your sweetie while enjoying the amazing Wasatch Mountain views at Soldier Hollow or along the Homestead Resort in Midway. Their teams of gorgeous Clydesdales or Belgians will pull you along as you stay warm tucked under piles of wool blankets with a thermos of hot cocoa. You can enjoy the 30-minute ride by itself, or end with either lunch or dinner. Sleigh & Dine for Two starts at $138 per couple; through 3/31/10.
2. Couples Massage: Not only is a rub-down a great way to get the blood flowing to all your chilly parts, but you can pick up some moves to try next time your amour asks for a massage. Zen Massage in Salt Lake and Murray offers an online Couples Massage discount: booking online can save you $25 off a 90-minute Couples Massage priced at $165. Or get in the right mood for a night of romance with a solo Winter Hot Stone Therapy session, starting at $65.
3. Coffee Shop/Diner Picnic: Spend the morning after over a strong cup of joe, greasy breakfast and the Sunday paper. Settling into a booth at your favorite breakfast haunt, like Blue Plate Diner in Sugar House or Over the Counter on 3300 South can be the perfect way to hide out from the harsh ministrations of Old Man Winter. After enjoying a leisurely morning, catch an afternoon flick at Brewvies and continue the comfort food theme with a pitcher of your favorite local brew and some nachos.
4. Skate the Snowball: Relive those heart-pounding, palm-sweating first forays into matters of romance that all happened at the roller rink. Anyone can go ice skating in the winter, but it takes someone classically cool to lace up those roller skates and hit the rink holding hands like teenagers. Play Crack the Whip, Shoot the Duck or simply take full advantage of those couples-only dances. After you work up a sweat chasing each other around the rink, grab a chocolate shake (and don't forget to ask for two straws!).
5. Turn Up the Body Heat: There's no better excuse to warm each other up than winter camping in one of the year-round yurts available in the Uinta, Wasatch and Tushar Mountains. You can ski in and stay overnight in the backcountry while Tushar Mountain Tours' experienced guides lead you to their favorite wildlife viewing spots or secret powder stashes. Backcountry awareness and winter guide training courses are also available from beginning all the way up to expert levels. Yurt rentals range from $100 to $140 per night plus guide fees--they can even provide meals if you want to spend your remaining energy on more intimate pursuits!
6. Ride & Slide: Adrenaline-addicted couples can find a rush with Lofty Peaks' snowmobile/tubing combo. The Ride & Slide includes two full hours of back-country snowmobiling followed by another two hours of lift serviced tubing at America's longest tubing runs at Soldier Hollow. The trip is all-inclusive, lunch at one of many popular Midway eateries is even included. This awesome experience can be yours for under $100.
7. Get Extreme: The Winter Dew Tour hits Snowbasin January 14--17. Spectators can watch for free, or VIP tickets can be purchased for $100. Catch Sean White on the Snowboard Superpipe then hit Ogden's Historic 25th Street for anything from live comedy to train and gun museums--not to mention some of the coolest spots for music and nosh along the Wasatch Front.
8. Howl at the Moon: Explore the magic of a moonlit, winter night with one of White Pine Touring's Moonlight Snowshoe Tours. Couples can enjoy a vigorous one-hour snowshoe hike in beautiful Empire Canyon followed by dinner at one of Deer Valley's four-star restaurants, or heat things up with the Fireside Dinner at Empire Canyon Lodge. Tours are offered Wed. through Fri. starting at 6pm, and cost $30 including snowshoe rental.
If you like this article, you might also like our article about great wines for under $15, a clip story aobut how to winterize your garden, or our guide on how to get free dental care in Utah.
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