5 romantic outdoor adventures to have with your friends, family and partner on Valentine’s Day
Once again, Singles Awareness Day is upon us. If you’re not in a relationship or don’t care for roses, here are five Valentine’s Day date ideas that are significantly better than dinner and a movie. These ideas might not be traditionally romantic, but they will get you doing something you actually enjoy: exploring! Light up a 3-wick survival candle and enjoy.
Note: these don’t have to be “dates”—bring friends, family or go solo.
1. “Seek out natural wonders”
Step aside, fantasy films—the real world has natural wonders that are captivating to look at. We’re drawn to majestic waterfalls, flickering campfires and the Northern Lights. February is an ideal time to see this stunning light display in Yellowknife. Watch the sky ignite in neon green, purple and red hues. Bring a thermos of hot tea and howl or whistle at the aurora to make it glow brighter.
2. “Capture the moment”
In Vancouver, mid-February’s cold and rainy days can keep even four-wheeled vehicles off the slick roads that lead to glacier-peaked summits. If you can’t tackle the icy elevation, get outside on lower ground and make a memory you can return to every year. Hire a professional or bring a tripod for a photoshoot in nature with your loved one(s). We chose the trails in Lighthouse Park.
3. “Get sweaty together”
Nothing bonds quite like an adrenaline boost. In Mont-Tremblant, winter adventure options include cross-country skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing. For downhill sports, head to Tremblant, an eastern ski resort that contends with the best of the west (don’t miss the après-ski). Round off the experience by sleeping in a self-sufficient cabin, complete with a log-burning fire and a sleigh to pull your suitcase in. Plus, if you don’t speak French, navigating rural Quebec will be an adventure of its own!
4. “Find beauty in the cold”
Alberta isn’t all flat prairies and oil rigs. From Banff to Grande Cache, avid explorers can discover mountainous climbing opportunities throughout the summer. In the winter months, Abraham Lake dazzles with romantic ice bubbles frozen in time and Jasper’s Maligne Canyon creates an ice walking experience unlike any other. Watch us embrace winter on our YouTube channel.
5. “Try something new”
Although I’ve only been brave enough to visit Nova Scotia in the summer, I polled my friends in Halifax for their opinions on winter-themed adventures. Skating on the oval, sledding down local hills and even winter beaching are considered appropriate past-times, so choose something you haven’t tried before and get a breath of that fresh, icy Atlantic air this Valentine’s Day.
P.S. Give the perfect gift, too!
Looking for the ultimate way to show the explorer in your life you love them?
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