Your Romantic Date Guide For Winter

It can be difficult to come up with date ideas during the depths of winter. When the sun sets so early, many people want nothing more than to go home and curl up in a blanket. It is cold outside and the roads can be treacherous with snow and ice. Hot chocolate sounds better than cocktails, and most people prefer to eat heavy, filling foods that leave them happily full but feeling bloated when they put on a sexy pair of tight jeans. For many, winter seems like the time for “lazy” date ideas like dinner or a movie. Unfortunately, people can only go out to eat or go to the cinema so many times before they want to do something else with their significant other. Coming up with creative ideas can be challenging. After all, something may sound like a romantic evening in theory only to become a dreaded meeting when the time comes to take off the slippers and get dressed in “date clothes.” Oversized, ancient college sweatshirts and fuzzy socks may be comfortable and warm, but they are not exactly sexy.

Despite the challenges inherent with planning a date in winter, the romance does not have to cease until spring. Here are some dates that are romantic because of the winter weather rather than in spite of it.

Ice Skating

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There is something innocent and carefree about ice skating. It brings to mind laughter and a picturesque pond surrounded by trees. Ice skating on naturally occurring water can be dangerous as skaters could easily fall into the frigid water if the ice is not thick enough. There are places where lakes and ponds can be relied upon to form a thick enough coating of ice to support the weight of skaters. In some areas, such as Minnesota, lakes routinely form ice thick enough to support cars and trucks. Anyone planning to take their significant other skating on natural ice, however, should be sure to check beforehand and make sure the ice is thick enough to skate on safely. Otherwise, a romantic date could end in tragedy.

For those who do not live somewhere where natural bodies of water are covered with thick ice or for those who do not want to brave the cold weather necessary to form such thick ice, there is the option of man-made skating rinks. These attractions are very popular during the winter, and many towns have temporary rinks set up for the winter months.

Ice skating can be romantic both for experienced skaters and complete novices. While experienced skaters will be able to enjoy looking elegant and graceful for their date, novices can have as much, if not more, fun on the ice. Novices get to enjoy learning something new together and get to laugh at the inevitable clumsy antics that come from being new to the ice. For those who are new to ice skating, be sure to approach the ice with a sense of humor. Everyone falls at some point, and it can be enjoyable in its own way to have a beautiful woman or attractive man snuggled in close while they try to get their balance.

Carriage or Sleigh Ride

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Many cities and towns will offer carriage or sleigh rides during the winter months. Such rides are perfect for when there is snow on the ground. A person can snuggle in close to their date, and enjoy the quiet hush of a winter night. If the weather is expected to be colder than usual, bring a blanket on the date. Some sleighs and carriages provide blankets, but not all guarantee this extra layer of warmth.

A man or woman planning a carriage ride can also check and see if the carriage will allow food or drink on the ride. Not all allow for food or drink on the ride, but some have no problem with riders bringing a snack. If the sleigh or carriage is comfortable with a person eating or drinking during the ride, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, mulled apple cider, caffeine-free cinnamon tea or other seasonal drink to share with a date. A particularly romantically inclined person could also bring warm cookies wrapped in aluminum foil or an insulated bag to share on the ride.

Winter Wonderland Walk

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There is a unique sort of beauty to be found by those who are willing to brave the cold winds of winter. For those that want a quiet, intimate night, a winter wonderland walk is an excellent choice for a date. The quiet hush that comes with winter naturally creates an intimate atmosphere that is perfect for sharing the things that people normally struggle to articulate. Wishes, hopes, dreams and plans for the future of a relationship are good topics of conversation for a more serious night. For those who have only recently started dating and want to keep it light, a winter walk is a good time to discuss old childhood memories of winter.

Winter wonderlands can be found in many places during the cold months of the year. The most romantic options, however, would be wooded parks, bridges over water or city streets that have limited car traffic. Paths between snow-covered trees or bridges over icy rivers allow those on the date to enjoy the natural beauty that can still be found in winter. Low-traffic city streets, however, evoke excitement through the Christmas lights and garland-wrapped streetlamps that cover many city walking paths. Both are good options for a date.

Fire With Blankets

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Romantic dates do not always have to take place at a fine restaurant or a picturesque pine-filled park. Some of the best evenings take place at home with a significant other. Nights-in are perfect for the inevitable winter evenings when the streets are too icy to drive on or Christmas shoppers have swarmed local restaurants. On such nights, a couple can simply curl up in front of a fire with some blankets and enjoy each other’s company.

Though the evening itself may be simple, nights-in do require a little preparation. If the couple does not live together, the host needs to make sure that their home is ready for company. Make sure that the couch or loveseat is clean and not covered in crumbs, newspapers or laundry. Have some easy, seasonal drink mixes on hand such as hot chocolate or mulled apple cider. For those that prefer alcoholic options, stock up on the ingredients for drinks that are served warm such as Baily’s Irish Cream for spiked coffee, a favorite brandy for a White Nun or good cognac for a Docteur Du Miel.

Kids For a Day

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Many people find ways to make winter stressful. They might work themselves into a frenzy trying to have a picture-perfect Thanksgiving or drive themselves crazy trying to find the absolute perfect gift for their mother, father, three siblings and all twelve cousins. Even after the holidays are over, plenty of people spend January kicking themselves because they did not accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions overnight and spend early February complaining about still-snowy roads to anyone who will listen.

Winter does not have to be a time of stress, frustration or depression. Most people, actually, would probably enjoy winter a great deal more if they were not so concerned about acting “mature.” Regardless of age, many people still feel the urge to make snow angels, build snowmen or otherwise play in the snow. So, take advantage of those desires. Make a date to be kids for the day. The couple could have a snowball fight, see how big they can make a snowman, go sledding and make snow angels. Then, when it gets dark, the couple can warm up with some hot chocolate and fresh cookies and snuggle under a thick blanket. This would make for a light-hearted but still meaningful date as the couple relives some of their fondest childhood memories of winter.