Unique romantic experiences within 5 hour’s drive

Need to break out of the chocolates-and-roses routine, make-up for a ridiculous relationship faux-pas, or just try something different?

The following romantic experiences are sure to spruce up your love life. Whether you spring them as a surprise or plan them together, you can drive to any of the following destinations from most places in Eastern Ontario in less than five hours:

Love at 2,000 feet

By helicopter (Toronto)
If you’ve ever thought of going on a scenic flying tour with your sweetie, check out Toronto Helitours’ $225 “High On Romance” Valentine special. The package gets you and your significant other 15 minutes alone in the back seat, soaring above boats, skyscrapers, and Island aircraft landings. You can even scope-out people eating dinner inside as you pass by the CN Tower.
http://www.helitours.ca/Toronto/Specials/high_on_romance.html

By Balloon (Ottawa)
For a truly unique aerial experience, book a hot air balloon flight along the Rideau Canal to Parliament Hill. $220 gets you 4 hours flying over the Ottawa Valley to downtown Ottawa and the Peace Tower.
http://www.ottawatours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=5361&startDate=&endDate=

By Biplane (Ottawa)
Though not available until May, the Canada Aviation Museum will tour you over the Capital in a circa 1939 WWII-era biplane OR a four seat Robinson R44 helicopter at a value-priced $60-$65.
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/visit_us/at_the_museum/biplane_rides/

Spa & Stay

Massage (Northumberland, east of Toronto)
Try a coconut breeze, chocolate massage, or any number of other blissful treatments at Northumberland County’s four-diamond St. Anne’s Spa, voted Canada’s most romantic spa by SpaFinder.com and Best Spa Massage by Fashion Magazine.
www.steannes.com

Cover yourself in chocolate (Kingston)
If the idea of a chocolate massage gets you excited, head to Kingston’s Dolce Bella Spa, which offers five different kinds of chocolate massage, from chocolate scrub to chocolate wrap to chocolate pedicure.
http://www.dolcebellaspa.com/index2.html
The Great Outdoors

Hot & cold in Algonquin Park
Snuggle-up in a heated wilderness cabin with one of the Northern Edge Algonquin’s Valentine’s packages, including 3 night’s accommodation, meals, guided outdoor snowshoe/cross-country ski trips, and daily yoga sessions for $599 per person.
http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com

Fancy a luge? (Haliburton)
The Haliburton-area Ogopogo Resort offers nearby luge, skating, skiing, dog sledding, and a more rustic slate of spa appointments, from massage to in-room Jacuzzi. A two-night Valentine package for two goes for $330.
www.ogopogoresort.com
Truly Unique experiences

Dog Sledding and Skijoring (Algonquin Park)
Offering one of Ontario’s most affordable dog-sledding experiences ($100 for an hour of mushing) the Algonquin Park-area Quiet Bay Log Motel also offers snow-shoeing and “skijoring” (a sled-dog husky pulls you along on skis) among other unique winter pursuits.
http://www.quietbaylog.com/dog.htm

Glass blowing (near Ottawa)
Stay at Merrickville’s historic Baldachin Inn and take a class with master glass-blower David Patterson ($250/person for a workshop with four people)
http://www.baldachin.com/index.php?id=62

Rendezvous a Hôtel de Glace (western Quebec)
Arguably Canada’s most unique experience - winter or Valentine’s - Quebec’s Ice Hotel is just under five hours east of Ottawa. Though posh multi-night packages can approach $800 per person, a weekday night (including welcome cocktail, hot tub/sauna use, sleeping equipment, and breakfast) can be enjoyed for as little as $189 per-person.
http://www.icehotel-canada.com

Ice-sculpting at Winterlude (Ottawa)
Another reason to drop by the Capital’s great winter festival, check out ice-carving demonstrations minutes from Parliament Hill after grabbing a Beaver Tail or toffee on a stick.
http://tinyurl.com/7guhhy

Ice Skating through Ontario

Rockefeller Centre of the North
An oldie but goodie, the seasonal facility between Old and New City Hall is the Rockefeller Centre rink of Canada. The rink is sometimes known to feature night-time performances while you skate.
http://www.toronto.ca/city_hall_tour/nps.htm

On the edge of Lake Ontario
Also in the GTA, try skating metres from Lake Ontario, safely on the other side of the boardwalk, at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (Saturday nights are even DJed.)
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=1821&ref=fp

Trent Canal
The ice in front of Peterborough’s gigantic Lift Lock (a National Historic Site) is like a mini-Rideau of sorts. A fun stop-off without the Ottawa crowds.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5W8V_Trent_Canal_Ice_Skating

Rideau Canal
The world’s longest skating rink is a must-do at least once in a lifetime. Enjoy a night-time or early-morning skate with your significant other to beat the crowds, or watch the Bedzzz Annual Bed Race on the ice during Winterlude.
http://tinyurl.com/yjtnyo8
Any destinations we missed? List your hidden-gems, Valentine getaways, holiday hotspots, or other special-occasion destinations below.

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