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A Romantic Escape is not that Far Away

Flee from the distractions for some quiet time with your loved one 

Put the words “romantic” and “escape” together, and it often evokes images of azure waters lapping onto a white sandy shore with fancy drinks served in coconuts.

But the reality is you don’t have to go far away to steal some private time with that special someone, and you don’t need to take an entire week off work, deal with the hassles at the airport and spend hours on an airplane to capture those quiet moments alone.

“Setting up that romantic space is really about getting away from distractions and putting yourselves in a place where you can focus on each other,” says Minto Schneider, Chief Executive of Waterloo Region Tourism. “It could be as simple as a night away just a short drive from home, but with no chance of the kids kicking up a fuss, the pets demanding attention or friends making an unannounced pop-in visit.”

Of course, to get the full romantic experience you may want a little bit more than a basic hotel room. 

• Be luxurious. The spacious, well-appointed rooms of a country estate inn like Langdon Hall provide the perfect ambiance for some quiet time. Feather beds, down duvets, fireplaces, stunning views of the private grounds complete the experience. Don’t miss out on a romantic dinner for two at Langdon Hall — selected as one of Canada’s Top 50 Most Romantic Restaurants by opentable.com — prepared by award-winning chef Jason Bangerter.
• Relax. Ease away the stress with a shared intimate experience. At any spa retreat, enjoy a couple’s massage, get rejuvenated with a facial or skin treatment and sit back while getting pampered with a manicure and pedicure.
• Eat well. Local food is where it’s at. Check the Waterloo Region Tourism website for unique restaurants in the area that use local ingredients to create unique experiences that will delight your palate. The Cambridge Mill and Langdon Hall in Cambridge and Charcoal Steak House and Golf’s Steak House and Seafood in Kitchener were all named to opentable.com’s Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in Canada. Other Waterloo Region hotspots for lovers include Puddicombe House, Red House and TWH Social.
• Find the romance. How about a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh though one of Ontario’s most quaint, historic towns, St. Jacobs? Or heading over West Montrose to see Ontario’s last wooden covered bridge — and the oldest such bridge in Canada — to test its renowned nickname, the Kissing Bridge?

“Your romantic escape is not that far away,” says Minto. “Chocolates get eaten, flowers will wilt and die. But a shared experience is a memory for a lifetime. So buy the box of truffles, get the dozen roses and make them part of a quick getaway that doesn’t require a passport.”

For more information, please visit www.explorewaterlooregion.com, or connect with Waterloo Tourism on social media; Like it on Facebook and Follow on Twitter @ExploreWR.