Romantic Hiking Tips For Valentine’s Day And Any Day With Your Outdoor Loving Sweetheart
One of the things I find people searching for around Valentine’s Day and during the summer period is for romantic hiking tips. It’s one of the keyword phrases that keeps popping up in my analytics. It seems we love the idea of romantic experiences, enjoying the nature around us.
One of the things that I love about my husband Frank, is his love of spending time outdoors. He considers romantic hiking trips an ideal date.
For him, walking in the woods with me is a way of re-balancing his life after a busy work week. This love of the outdoors is one we share and are introducing to our little son. I think it’s this shared enjoyment of hiking and camping is what makes our relationship great.
We’ve done many hiking dates, and as such, I have a whole lot of good romantic hiking tips to share with you!
Hiking To Get To Know One-Another
Prior to getting married, Frank wooed and romanced me through conversations while hiking.
We would visit our local conservation areas such as Crawford Lake Conservation Area, Hilton Falls and many others in Southern Ontario. If you check out those links, you notice that these are lovely, wooded areas, not far from civilization.
This makes for a great recipe for romance: you’re close to home for a little day hike, and it’s a distraction-free (technology, TV…) environment. You’re focused on your sweetheart!
Frank would surprise me with a mystery destination paired with a surprise delicious snack.
Here’s one of my key romantic hiking tips:
Don’t think of it as cheap. Hiking is a wonderful date idea that’s one rich in time together without distractions.
It’s all in your mindset. And you have to let your other half know that it’s because you want to enjoy the experience with them. During our dates, we would talk, learn about each other and truly spend quality time together.
We’d often see other couples walking the trails, hand-in-hand, flirting and having fun. Getting outdoors is conducive to romance!
| Related: Tips For A Romantic Picnic Your Sweetie Will Love
Romantic Hiking Ideas
No matter what time of the year it is, going exploring on trails is a great way to connect with somebody. A hiking date makes for a romantic Valentine’s Day as well!
Our outdoorsy friend, Preston Ciere from Portageur.ca, posted this romantic Valentine’s Day idea on Facebook.
It made me chuckle.
While hiking boots may not be overly romantic as a gift, pairing them with a day spent on a trail with hot chocolate will do the trick.
More Romantic Tips
- For winter dates and Valentine’s Day, look into moonlight snowshoeing events at local conservation areas and parks. If there’s no snow, you get to hike under the moonlight instead.
- Pack a picnic! Who said that picnics are only for summertime? Pack a small insulated “cooler” with some warm foods such as mac ‘n cheese or pasta, and place a heated up Magic Bag or several hand warmers inside to keep warm. An alternative is an insulated thermos with warm soup paired with toast or crackers. Find a spot not too far from your car for your picnic. Bring a few extra garbage bags to use to protect your bottom from ice and snow. Once fueled up, enjoy your walk.
- From Preston of Portageur.ca: “The gift of spending time together usually goes over well. One activity that comes to mind is finding a trail that passes by a quaint little village. If some research is done, you can find several “rail-trail” types that pass right into the town. Once in town, you can sit, rest and get a nice warm coffee or hot chocolate. Depending on the town you can also find a nice restaurant, which you can turn a “nice walk on the trail” gift into a surprise romantic dinner. The walk back to the car should go over well if you’ve done it right. The added bonus is to use the rail trail that leads to Paris – even if it’s just Paris, Ontario. (Actually, Paris, Ontario has some great coffee shops and restaurants with a range of fanciness.)”
- Do some exploring together by going on a day trip. For my fellow Southern Ontario residents, you can do day trips from Toronto at any time of the year, dependent on weather conditions. Choose a destination, gas up the car, pack your hiking boots, grab a cup of coffee and hit the road with your love. Waterfalls in the Hamilton area are spectacular (Tiffany Falls is gorgeous in the winter). North of Toronto, check out Inglis Falls in the winter for a spectacular view.
- Plan to propose while hiking? Don’t forget to bring your phone or camera to snap a photo. Choose a hiking trail that’s close by so that you can come back often and remember the moment.
Enjoy The Romance!
There are many more romantic hiking tips and Valentine’s Day ideas (both outdoor and indoor) that I’ve explored in other posts. The most important thing is to come prepared and then enjoy time with your sweetheart.
QUESTION: What are your best romantic hiking tips? What worked for you to make for a memorable time? Tell me your story.
Feature photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
There’s nothing better than being outside!