With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, lots of couples are wondering how to make a lockdown celebration memorable. While the uncertainty of getting away maybe forcing people to get creative with their date plans, it is the perfect opportunity to plan a future romantic getaway to look forward to. Our clients also have a few suggestions for planning a perfect date night and getting a taste of travel by creating your own themed evening at home. Here are some ideas of how to put a TTM spin on your romantic evening, for now and the future.
Discover New England
With all the old fashioned charm of a classic New England bed and breakfast, Stone Throw Cottage is an enchanting place to unwind after a day of exploring Acadia National Park.
The real draw of Mount Desert Island is the magnificent shoreline of the national park, whose pink granite cliffs give way to tide pools, booming waves, and rocky headlands. In between hikes and beach trips, however, there is plenty to do in the quaint town of Bar Harbor itself, with souvenir shops, waterfront paths, and restaurants serving lobster dinner with all the fixings.
To discover an uninhabited islet just offshore, walk to pretty Bar Island. To do so, follow a slender sand bar that is only exposed at low tide. Just make sure to return before the ocean does!
No New England experience would be complete without feasting on some Lobster. So, for a perfect New England themed date night from home, why not try a classic New England lobster recipe. From Lobster Rolls, to a seafood chowder, the options are plentiful. To finish, bake a fresh Apple or Blueberry Pie for a real slice of New England at home.
@NewEnglandVisit #VisitNE
Tennessee Vacation
Christopher Place Resort, in Newport, is the only luxury bed and breakfast resort around the Smoky Mountains that was created exclusively for romantic retreats. From the crystal chandeliers to the impeccably decorated rooms to the incredible mountain views, everything here adds to the luxuriously romantic atmosphere. It is no wonder this beautiful colonial-style mansion resort is one of the area’s most popular wedding destinations.
It has plenty of on-site activities, including tennis, swimming and hiking, and it’s a short drive to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The resort also has a fine dining restaurant and bar, and guests enjoy a multi-course gourmet breakfast with their stay.
To get your fix of the Smokies from your home, check out these great webcams operated by the national park. Watch the park’s many species of wildlife living in their natural habitat in real-time, check in on the weather or catch a beautiful Smoky Mountain sunset at the end of the day. For the perfect backdrop, throw on the Country Love Songs playlist on Spotify, featuring artists from Tennessee such as Dan + Shay, Chris Young and more, while indulging in some delicious Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg Lemonade and some home-made Memphis barbecue treats.
@tnvacation #MadeInTN
Louisiana Travel
The heart and soul of New Orleans is the music and the has given us a number of songs with melodies that capture the joyful essence of what it feels like to love and be loved. Many can be found on the official New Orleans Spotify playlist which features an entire live performance from the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band. You can dance away with your partner all night
As for the evenings culinary offerings, the choice really is yours. Louisiana Travel have provided a number of recipes for classic Louisiana dishes including Gumbo Nachos, Chicken Jambalaya and Charbroiled Oysters.
While a romantic Louisiana themed evening in is nice, it doesn’t hold a candle to actually being in the Bayou state. However, it will whet the appetite for travelling for when the time is right. For those who want to look a bit further ahead, plan a trip to Lake Charles and New Orleans. In New Orleans sample some treats from one of the many French bakeries such as La Boulangerie, Bywater Bakery or Haydel’s. Cuddle up in a music club in the French Quarter or along nearby Frenchmen Street listening to some romantic sounds and sipping champagne cocktails.
Head on to Lake Charles which has a number of award winning spas for you and your partner to unwind and be pampered in such as the L’auberge. Afterwards, grab a boat or canoe and head out onto the water for some quality time under the Louisiana sky.
@LouisianaTravel #OnlyLouisiana
Visit North Carolina
For something different on Valentine’s night, try a virtual couples cooking class. Learning a new skill together such as cooking is a great way to bond and celebrate with your significant other and North Carolina has been at the forefront of this for much of the past year.
Award-winning native chefs such as Cheetie Kumar and Ashleigh Christensen have been offering patrons an insight into their talents since the pandemic began. There is plenty of variety to choose from depending on your palette too. Maybe it’s a seafood surprise with Chef Alyssa from Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen or it could be Gnocchi and cocktails with Chef Dean from the Lucy Daniels Centre.
After sharpening up your culinary skills in the kitchen, why not snuggle up on the sofa for a move night in? 1987 classic Dirty Dancing is the perfect romantic film to see the night away with and also a showcases the state of North Carolina in all its glory. You can recreate the iconic lake lift, shot in Lake Lure, in your living room – hopefully it won’t be too long before you can do it for real in the Tar Heel state!
Of course, these stay at home evenings won’t ever be able to match the magic of being in the destination itself, so here is some inspiration for next year’s romantic escape to North Carolina. Retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains for serene peace and natural beauty. Consistently ranked as one of the most romantic destinations in the USA, the picturesque mountains boast a number of remote accommodations such as The Swag and the Lambuth Inn at the foot of Lake Junaluska.
Another Blue Ridge favourite of long standing is the Gideon Ridge Inn. The retreat has always been about reconnecting – with a significant other, with yourself, with things overlooked. Built as a private summer home, Gideon Ridge still has that homey feel, right down to the stone fireplace in the library and the possibility of a romantic room with a gas log fireplace or whirlpool tub.
For more ideas on romantic escapes in the state, click here.
@VisitNC #VisitNC
Maverick Helicopters
For those starting to plan their big day or those looking for inspiring ways to pop the question in the future, Maverick’s helicopter wedding and proposal packages offer something unusual and create a perfect memory. With destination choices including Las Vegas, Valley of Fire, Grand Canyon or Hawaii you and your loved one will certainly have a story to share.
@MaverickHelicopters #FlyMaverick
Ends
For media enquiries, more information, hi-res images or video, please contact:
Kirsty Dillury, PR and Communications Director: kirsty@ttmworld.co.uk
Anna Watt- Senior PR Manager: anna@ttmworld.co.uk
Alex Keelan – Communications Executive for Louisiana Office of Tourism, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Maverick Helicopters, Visit North Carolina: alex@ttmworld.co.uk
David Venables – Communications Executive for Discover New England, Tennessee Tourism: david@ttmworld.co.uk
For any other enquiries, please visit www.ttmworld.co.uk, email ttmoffice@ttmworld.co.uk or call +44 (0)208 313 1717