Calgary: 5 Unusual Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
When cross border moving during the Valentine’s Day season, be sure to remember to celebrate with your loved one. Calgary may not be Paris, but it is still known as a romantic city, and holds lots of potential for a special Valentine’s Day. As the big day approaches, there is the decision to make about where to spend the holiday. Fortunately, Calgary offers much to choose from.
Try a small but lovely restaurant called The Blue House Cafe on 19th Street at Northmount Drive NW. They have Latin American food with an emphasis on seafood. Be sure to get a reservation and ask for a secluded table. Romance comes easy with the live music and close atmosphere.
Consider spending the day in the beauty of nature. Travel to Banff, 100 miles to the west, to the oldest national park in the country. There are beautiful mountains, glaciers, ice fields, and forests to see. Go to see Bow Falls or Lake Louise. Stay the night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and take your beloved on a horse drawn sleigh ride.
If you want to stay in Calgary, you might miss the Valentine’s Day crowds if you take a brisk walk in Prince Island Park along the Bow River Pathway over the pedestrian bridge. This would be the perfect backdrop to pop that special question, or just to declare your love.
Pamper your better half with a shared day at the Riverside Spa. This premiere Calgary spa experience offers a beautiful facility and a professional spa team at your service. Spend the day in relaxing comfort as you both receive spa treatments to your liking. Nurture your romance as you nurture your mind, body, and spirit.
Once your cross border moving task is underway, remember to make plans for Valentine’s Day. This task should be easy with the amenities that Calgary has to offer.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @Adam Kahtava via the creative common license.)
First Year in Canada: 5 Canadian Valentine’s Day Traditions
Cross border moving will take a lot of effort and planning, and may consume you to the point that you aren’t interested in adding more to your plate. But consider making some plans for Valentine’s Day. In Canada, this holiday is celebrated by everyone as a commemoration of their adoration of loved ones.
February 14 has been a day of love for centuries, established by Pope Gelasius in 496 AD for an early Christian martyr named Valentine. Ever since, in Canada and elsewhere, people have shared their love in many different ways on this date.
In Canada, social events are planned around the holiday. Balls and parties are held. These are sometimes elaborate celebrations where all the stops are pulled out.
Valentine cards are often exchanged, especially by young school children. Often these cards are handmade for the classroom holiday party. Also, children decorate boxes like a mailbox for their collected cards.
Elementary students also celebrate by learning songs and skits and putting on concerts for parents on Valentine’s Day. These are sometimes historical, and are of course centered on the theme of love.
In older grades, students are invited to attend Valentine’s Day dances organized by the school or another organization. Students often dress semi-formally for these dances, and attend with and without a significant other.
Gifts are popular on Valentine’s Day, such as flowers, chocolates, sparkling wine, or with committed couples, jewelry. Some consider it a religious holiday, but others take it as the chance to spend special time with loved ones.
As you are cross border moving, be sure to make time to tell your loved ones of your affection on Valentine’s Day in the traditional Canadian ways.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @Partha Sarathi Sahana via the creative common license.)
Edmonton: Where to Take Your Date This Valentine’s Day
Cross border moving can take your mind off of romance in a hurry. Stress, decisions, and obligations could make Valentine’s Day the last thing on your list. But rest assured, Edmonton is a great place to celebrate the holiday, and here are some suggestions to make it special.
Take your sweetheart out for a sweet. The Duchess Bake Shop is full of mouth-watering baked goods that go great with a hot cup of tea or coffee shared with a loved one. Be sure to try their colorful, signature macaroons in salted caramel, dark chocolate, strawberry, lemon, coconut and pistachio.
Take a romantic walk in the city’s famous river valley. It is 22 times larger than New York City’s Central Park, with 93 miles of trails to explore. The area is beautiful in the winter, with the ice sculptures and outdoor displays.
Try an intimate lunch at The Creperie. This lovely restaurant gives you and your loved one a taste of Paris as you sit in a small, intimate room lit by candlelight. Voted “Most Romantic Restaurant,” the atmosphere is warm and comfortable. It is located immediately next to City Centre Mall.
Spend a night at the Fairmount Hotel MacDonald and enjoy their spa and health club. This hotel overlooks the river valley, and offers a package that includes chocolates, fresh flowers, French champagne and flutes, and breakfast in bed for two. The spa has an exercise room, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and massage therapy.
If you are finished cross border moving, or just starting out, plan for Valentine’s Day to be special in Edmonton.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @rustyange via the creative common license.)
New York Living: How to Spend Your 2012 Valentine’s Day
New York City can be a romantic place to be on Valentine’s Day. If you are currently moving to the U.S. with NYC as your destination, look into these options for a great date with your loved one.
Take a Romantic Valentine’s Weekend Cruise on the World Yacht at Peir 81 on February 11. This includes a sit-down dinner and dancing on a 3-hour cruise in New York Harbor. See the skyline and city lights as you sit close and stay warm on this climate controlled harbor yacht.
The Flute Bar in Midtown is candle-lit and warmed by cozy fireplaces that will make the perfect setting for your romantic date. Ask for their champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries, and view the art which is of the owner’s personal collection.
Act like a tourist and buy a Valentine’s Weekend package from NYC Vacation Experts. This includes a two-night stay at a midtown Manhattan hotel like the Wellington, a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park, a special evening dessert yacht cruise in New York Harbor, and special discounts to plays and events.
Take your date to the top of the town at “Top of the Rock” located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza just north of the Empire State Building. This observation deck is atop the 70-story Rockefeller Plaza Center Building, and gives you 360-degree views of the city. Wine, champagne, and other refreshments are available at the Rock Center Cafe during the evening.
There is always ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza, walking through Central Park, shopping at Tiffany’s, or browsing through the Met. New York City is just a romantic place to be around Valentine’s Day. Forget all the stress you encountered when moving to the U.S., and take time to treat that special someone on this special day.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @Dano via the creative common license.)
Moving to the U.S.: 5 Valentine’s Day Traditions You Can’t Miss
When moving to the U.S. around Valentine’s Day, you will want to take part in the celebrations. This is a very popular day in American culture, and is observed to honor St. Valentine and to let loved ones know of our affections. Once you are living in America, your sweetheart will probably expect that you acknowledge him or her on this special day!
1. Most Valentine’s cards are purchased by women, which is fitting as a woman produced the first Valentine’s Day cards. Esther Howland of Massachusetts designed cards of embossed paper and lace around 1847 to be given as a token of love. Ever since, Americans have exchanged cards on Valentine’s Day, making the day Hallmark’s and other card maker’s best-selling day.
2. It’s the custom to go on a date. If there is no prior serious commitment in a relationship, a Valentine’s Day date can settle such a question. It’s thought that the custom originated from the English belief that birds choose their partners on February 14.
3. Wishing a Happy Valentine’s Day is a tradition. This is wished to not only one’s significant other, but to anyone with whom you have a close relationship. The holiday is no longer for only romantic couples, but is celebrated by the community as a whole.
4. Most chocolates and roses are purchased by men on Valentine’s Day. Many women expect and hope for such gifts on February 14th. It has also become the custom of jewelry stores to promote the giving of jewelry on this date, especially engagement rings.
5. Children celebrate Valentine’s Day in their classrooms at school. This is a day for a party where students exchange hand-made or store-bought Valentine’s cards with school mates. Often the children have decorated boxes for their received valentines, and celebrate with special treats.
If you are moving to the U.S., you will want to consider February 14th as a special day to acknowledge your loved ones. Consider a card, roses, or chocolates, and maybe a special date to a special restaurant.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @euromagic via the creative common license.)
