It’s Time For A Romantic Getaway

We’ve made it through the holidays. We’re either well on our way with New Year’s resolutions or we’ve gotten realistic. And Valentine’s Day is right around the corner; if you’re like me, it sneaks up on you without quite enough planning! For the sake of your health and your relationship, here’s an idea: Schedule a quick, romantic getaway during this winter lull to reconnect with your honey and get some downtime in a sweetly unfamiliar place.

You want to keep the emphasis on the fun and not get carried away with anything elaborate and expensive. A weekend away with minimal planning increases the chance that you’ll actually do it-no good excuses, and it’s easy to find someone to check in on the cat.

A quickie in midwinter can be especially economical and especially delightful. You’ll encounter a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere that’s lacking in the midst of summer tourist season. You’ll also encounter off-season rates.

I fondly recall a midwinter weekend in a tourist town near my West Michigan home. Yes, some places were closed for the season, but the rest of the town was just as scenic and beautiful in winter. We eavesdropped on local chatter in the diner and neighborhood pub that had been crawling with tourists just a few months before.

So, here’s my down-and-dirty guide to a relaxed, relationship-rejuvenating weekend in the middle of the long winter night.

1. Keep it simple. Vacations can be exhausting, but you’re already exhausted, so don’t engage in deficit energy spending. Don’t plan rounds of museum visits or shopping. Don’t plan to do anything, unless both of you really want to. Make that a ground rule.

2. Keep it local. You don’t want to add an 8-hour drive to both ends of your weekend. Unless you live in the middle of the Badlands, you probably already know about cool places within a few hours-maybe a B&B you always wanted to visit or a quaint town with a couple good restaurants and a sweet vibe.

3. Make it about the two of you. You don’t have a lot of time, so make it count. One nice meal. A few nice bottles of your favorite beverage. You can always stream a sweet or sexy or even erotic movie in your room. Don’t forget your toys, lubes, and oils.

4. Get your sexy on. Don’t go overboard. (See #1) But a new camisole can make you feel like a million bucks. A nice lotion or essential oil on your skin. A shave. The little things.

5. Only pillow talk. Don’t bring up anything more challenging than what movie to watch or whether to go out for dinner or order room service. Lay unpleasantries firmly aside. There’ll be plenty of time for the serious stuff when you get back.

6. Create memories. Bring a favorite playlist or a wine you both love or a movie that’s significant. Pack a few favorite snacks. You could bring seed catalogs to browse through, just to build your anticipation of the change of seasons.

7. Just do it. Don’t overthink. Don’t plan. Don’t put it off, or your calendar will fill up. Pick an inviting location nearby; pick a weekend; make a reservation; go!

A weekend getaway–whether or not you call it a valentine–won’t break the bank but will ease both of you out of the post-holiday, wintertime blues. And maybe just knowing you have this special weekend on the calendar will remind you to be more gentle with each other, which is a lovely first step to intimacy.

Dr. Barb DePree gynecologist, NAMS certified menopausal provider and founder of the website middlesexmd.com