DENVER, 2013-01-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — This Valentine’s Day, grab your sweetheart and get lost in five romantic adventures for all five senses. Whether it’s taste, touch, smell, sight or sound that makes your heart skip a beat, an unforgettable fairy tale getaway awaits in Colorado. Following are Valentine’s Day packages and a sampling of flirtatious ideas to ignite every sense. For more romantic inspiration, visit www.COLORADO.com.
Sight: Strap on your snowshoes or cross-country skis and head out on a romantic backcountry adventure to Trout Lake on Lizard Head Pass near Telluride. Take in the gorgeous views of the San Juan Mountains and feel like you are the only two people in the world. The old railroad grade on the east side of the scenic Trout Lake is groomed for approximately 4.9 km (one way) to the top of Lizard Head Pass, providing excellent intermediate cross-country skiing terrain and intoxicating views in every direction. The Nordic Center in Telluride Town Park offers cross-country rental equipment, trail maps for the area, and lessons. For added romance, pack a picnic to enjoy while gazing out over Telluride’s picturesque landscape.
Smell: Take a tour through Colorado Wine Country in Grand Junction and Palisade, the gateway to nearly 20 wineries. Wine tasting is a romantic experience made even more charming while being escorted through the vineyards in a limousine. The relaxing tours allow couples to admire the beautiful Rocky Mountain and canyon scenery while the floral, herbal, woodsy, and fruity aromas of Colorado grapes tickle samplers’ noses. Learn about the growing conditions, grape complexity and “behind the scenes” winemaking processes from the down to earth wineries and local experts on the expanded tours. For a more active twist, tour Colorado Wine Country on a leisurely bike ride and picnic during the warmer spring and summer months.
Touch: Rekindle the romantic spark while soaking in one of Colorado’s naturally heated, geothermal hot springs as snow softly melts into the heated pools. For optimum romance, slip into a private tub like The Lorelei at Wiesbaden Hot Springs in Ouray. This secluded soaking pool is fed by a waterfall from natural hot springs sources and is privately enclosed. To further stimulate your tactile senses, indulge in one of their luxurious and soothing spa treatments.
Sound: The gentle rocking and distinct whistle of a historic train transports its passengers back to the romantic era of traveling by train. The five-hour journey to Cascade Canyon on the coal-fired, steam-powered Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad delights travelers with its calming lull and endless breathtaking scenery of San Juan National Forest.
Taste: For a true taste of Colorado, discover tranquility while snowshoeing or cross-country skiing beneath the moonlight to an elegant candlelight dinner. Diners will savor the crisp alpine air along the one-mile hike, and then relish the four-course gourmet dinner. Bask in the warm glow inside the yurt and cuddle up close to your beloved while enjoying the rich flavors of Colorado wild game. Dinner at The Tennessee Pass Cookhouse outside Leadville is by reservation only. Steal a kiss on the hike back to the lodge following dinner underneath a blanket of twinkling stars.
Valentine’s Day Packages
What better time to make “whoopee” than the month for lovers? Skip the chocolate-covered strawberries and have fun making authentic Whoopie pies with that special someone with The Mining Exchange “Makin’ Whoopee” Lovers’ Package in Colorado Springs. Unwind in a luxurious guest room or suite with a 2 p.m. late checkout, bottle of champagne and gourmet Whoopie pie-making kit featuring cake and a trio of delectably sinful fillings. Package starts at $149.
Couples can enjoy a relaxing and romantic escape together at the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park with the “Simply Sweetheart’s Destination Getaway.” This package includes luxury accommodations, a bottle of champagne and gourmet chocolates upon arrival, a private sleigh ride, breakfast in bed, and an intimate couples massage.
Adventurous types seeking an unusual Valentine’s Day dinner can partake in a demonstration-style cooking class with Chef Carolyn Deal, a graduate of the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. Participants will enjoy a four-course dinner with scallops, salmon and bison prepared with spirits from Breckenridge Distillery and finish the evening with Hawaiian chocolate lava soufflé with bourbon crème sauce. Cost is $50. 970-453-6757
For the couple who wants to be pampered this February and beyond, Smith Fork Ranch offers the Romantic Mountain Getaway All-Inclusive Package. Lovers will arrive to find sumptuous accommodations in a luxury suite or cabin, gourmet picnic lunch baskets, farm-to-table dinners, massage for two, private dining, half-day guided adventure and more. Rates start at $3,870 per couple.
February 14 – 16, enjoy 25 percent savings at The Curtis Hotel in Denver for twosomes who book a “Couples We Love” celebrity-themed Valentine’s Day getaway. The quirky pop culture hotel celebrates the unique love stories of Brangelina, John & Yoko, and Ellen & Portia. 800-525-6651.
Stay at Three Rivers Resort in Almont and enjoy Valentine’s Weekend for $110, including two nights in a romantic setting along the Taylor River plus dinner for two at Garlic Mike’s. For the budget-minded couple, choose a lodge room with kitchenette for just $110 or indulge in a premium cabin with a private hot tub, fireplace and all the comforts of home for $300. This offer is valid Feb. 14 – 18, 2013, and is available for new reservations only. 888-761-3474.
Aspen Meadows Resort’s “Be Our Valentine” Package offers romance for two with accommodations in one of their floor-to-ceiling window Bauhaus designed suites, breakfast for two, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, full access to spa and outdoor hot tubs and free shuttle access to and from downtown Aspen. 970-925-4240
ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 13 national parks and monuments, and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2013 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at http://www.colorado.com/media-room for story ideas, press releases, a high-resolution image library, the official Colorado press kit and more.
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Contacts:
Roland Alonzi / 646-442-6765, ralonzi@mmgyglobal.com
Carly Holbrook / 720-289-9366, cholbrook@mmgyglobal.com