Travel Tips & Trends Love in a cold climate E
ach Valentine’s Day, couples fi nd themselves besieged by a list of destinations, activi- ties and purchases said to
be necessary for romance. Here are some of the hoariest romantic cli- chés, and suggestion on how to turn them into something special—with- out leaving Colorado.
Long walks on the beach In Colorado? In February? If your sweetheart is a hardy outdoors type, maybe you can stretch the defi nition to include a brisk win- ter hike. Colorado’s largest body of water is Blue Mesa Reservoir, west of Gunnison on Highway 50. It’s 20 miles long with 96 miles of shoreline. Grand Lake, the largest natural lake, has a sandy beach— though skipping through it bare- foot isn’t recommended at this time of year—and numerous spots for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. For picky sorts who prefer water to be liquid, try a special weekend at a hot spring you haven’t visited before. A cozy private cabin at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is ideal, with build-it-yourself rock pools amid a mountain stream fl ow- ing with hot water. Think of those big rocks in the stream as extra- large grains of sand.
Warm places Tropical settings are a mainstay of romance. That’s fi ne if you already booked a trip to Hawaii, but Colorado has a dis- appointing shortage of steaming rainforests and palm-fringed lagoons. As a substitute, try a hand- in-hand stroll through the Butterfl y Pavilion in Westminster.
12 EnCompass January/February 2011
www.AAA.com
Roses As the country song says, “I never promised you a rose garden.” But you can do just that on Feb. 12, when Denver Botanic Gardens hosts a two-hour lecture on how to start your own rose garden from scratch, or add roses to an existing garden. Reservations are needed (contact the gardens), but no previous experience. Planning a real rose garden together— isn’t that romantic?
Diamonds If you’re eyeing a shiny ring in the near future, make it personal by fi nd- ing the rock yourself. It’s not the right time of year to go looking for aquamarines on Mt. Antero, garnets in Golden Gate Canyon or topaz in Teller County, but Colorado is one of the best states for rockhounds. Most towns have clubs for gem and mineral enthusiasts to get you started in this interesting hobby. Start learning in winter, and when spring comes, you and your sweetie will have one more good excuse for scenic hiking trips all over Colorado. When it comes right down to it, romance is about sharing whatever you both enjoy. Look around: perhaps that special hotel or little restaurant is right there in your own home town.
Romantic lodgings
The Colorado & Utah TourBook includes an index of 82 bed and breakfast inns. Here are just a few of the AAA diamond-rated properties listed for Colorado, arranged alphabetically:
Apple Orchard Inn
7758 County Rd. 203, Durango 970-247-0751,
www.appleorchardinn.com
Holden House 1902 B&B
1102 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs 719-471-3980,
www.holdenhouse.com
Holiday Chalet
1820 East Colfax Ave., Denver 303-437-8245,
www.denver-bed-breakfast.com
Queen Anne B&B
2147-51 Tremont Pl., Denver 303-296-6666,
www.queenannebnb.com
Rockledge Country Inn
328 El Paso Blvd. Colorado Springs 719-685-4515,
www.rockledgeinn.com
The Tudor Rose B&B
6720 County Rd.104, Salida 719-539-2002,
www.thetudorrose.com
Wyman Hotel & Inn
1371 Greene St., Silverton 970-387-5372,
www.thewyman.com
Your local AAA Travel Agent (see page 11) can help make reservations and offer additional options and suggestions to make your getaway special.
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