7 adventurous, totally romantic things to do on Sweetest Day

It might an even more gimmicky holiday than Valentine’s Day, but our hearts are nevertheless aflutter for Sweetest Day, which happens October 17 and honors lovebirds everywhere. Stuck for something to do? Consider a last minute getaway to any one of the destinations, which practically guarantee amore and romance any time of the year. Here are 7 adventurous, romantic things to do on Sweetest Day.

Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride: Santa Fe, New Mexico
The best weather for a ride up in a hot air balloon is clear skies, light winds and no rain. Enter Santa Fe in October when the skies are reliably blue and sunrise temps hover in the balmy 60s. Lift off and soar above America’s oldest and highest elevated capital city and inhale the clean air as you take in the scenic vistas of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. Afterward, head downtown for a romantic breakfast for two.

Order the most expensive dessert on earth: New York, New York
Want to watch your sweetheart literally digest the price equivalent of a pretty amazing engagement ring? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensive dessert in the world is the Frrrozen Haute Chocolate ice cream sundae at Serendipity III on the Upper East Side in New York which uses a blend of 28 cocoas, is decorated with .17 ounces of edible gold and is eaten with a diamond-encrusted gold spoon which you can keep. Talk about a sweet deal.

Book a private cabin at the world’s tallest observation wheel: Las Vegas, Nevada
Sin City knows no limits, both at the tables and elsewhere around town. Despite its penchant for the glitzy and gaudy, it remains a prime destination for an over-the-top weekend of romance. Try this: At the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel which is tucked behind the new Linq hotel, you can rent out an entire cabin for two. The experience last about half an hour and soars 550-feet above the Strip allowing plenty of time to join the Mile High—make that 1/3 of a mile high—Club.

Watch the sun set over San Francisco, California
The City by the Bay twinkles at dusk as downtown lights begin to flicker, shades of pink, gold and purple melt over the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge reveals she is a nighttime temptress. For the best vantage point, pack some wine and cheese and motor across the bridge to the nearby Marin Headlands where numerous lookout points await. October is the city’s most perfect month, but be forewarned you’ll likely have to share your vista.

Snap a kiss in front of Cinderella Castle: Orlando, Florida
Disney is many things including expensive, touristy and downright crowded, but lets not deny the kingdom in Orlando its magic including an iconic kiss in front of Cinderella’s fairy tale castle. Sure you could buy a selfie stick on Main Street and snap a zinger or ask a tourist to do it for you, but for a few bucks a Disney shutterbug will happily take a few professional pics and guarantee you a moment of everlasting romance.

Do anything in the Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana
Sure the Crescent City has a high crime rate, lingering Katrina blight and the occasional vomit on Bourbon Street, but we still think it’s the most romantic city in America and perhaps anywhere on earth. Ride a streetcar, stay at a historic B&B, stroll the Garden District, get cozy on a park bench in Jackson Square, wander the Quarter day or night, eat Creole and listen to live music at the Spotted Cat. It doesn’t get much more romantic than Nola, baby and we’ll love this city today, tomorrow and forever and ever.

Enjoy a girls night out—at a classy old men’s club: Chicago, Illinois
Whoever said Sweetest Day was made for two? Gather the girls and get on down to the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a gorgeously restored boys club that is now a stunning boutique hotel. Order “Jane’s Night Out,” a luxury package that includes a private cocktail class, in-room spa service and a nightcap with a welcome gift from Chicago’s own girlie chocolatier Vosges. Don’t miss the incredible views of Millennium Park from Cindy’s rooftop bar.

Tagged: California, Las Vegas, New York