Outdoors

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.” – Alice Walker

What more perfect setting is there than the great outdoors to enjoy a fun, relationship-building date with your partner? From exploring rugged terrain, to meticulously sculpted floral masterpieces, to breathtaking mountains and mirror-like lakes, there are plenty of outdoor adventures to dive into that will allow you to spend quality time with your love. And exploring is always better, together.

Botanical Gardens

We are blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful Botanical Gardens. As spring arrives, the gardens explode into vivid colour. These meticulously maintained wonderlands offer lovebirds beautiful lawns perfect for soaking in nature’s miraculous recovery. Winding pathways twisting through forests lead to surprise discoveries of sculptures, water features or beautiful flowerbeds, and plentiful benches where you can share your most intimate feelings.

Tours are usually available for visitors at botanical gardens, whose exhibits can be classified by type of plant, plants from a specific area of the world, and so on. You won’t be disappointed by the vibrant colours and interesting plant and flower species all around you.

Flower Farms

For a fun outdoor activity and a romantic way to show your love, make a trip to a nearby flower farm and let your love pick their own!

Just as the ‘locally-grown’ phenomenon has taken hold over the food industry, many small-scale farmer-florists have also answered the call for fresh, sustainably-grown flowers to serve their local markets. As it’s difficult for them to compete with mass growers, you’ll often find exquisite and unique blooms, often heirloom, at these farms.

Though many of Canada’s fresh-cut flower farms are not open to the public, some do offer pick-your-own fields, flower sales and opportunities to view their gorgeous blooms. We do live in Canada and have a short growing season, so make sure you call in advance to check when the farm you’re visiting is open.

Rowing Boats

This is a fun date idea that goes way back to the turn of the last century. Back then, an upper-class couple would often go out on a rowboat for a romantic date. It was one of the few ways they could be alone together, but in full view, so as not to be accused of any improprieties.

Things have definitely loosened up these days and going out on a rowboat or canoe with your partner is a perfect way to enjoy a few hours together, in full view or not. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get out onto an expanse of water, row to a secluded spot and gaze out at the natural beauty surrounding you.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are stunning displays of multi-coloured lights that dance across the sky and are seen mostly in Northern regions.

What are the Northern Lights?

When the solar wind from the sun, made up of charged particles, collides with atoms in the earth’s atmosphere, it causes electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release light, creating the beautiful flourishes that illuminate the sky.

Where to See Them

Because Canada is close to the Arctic Circle, it is one of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the lights.

With their dark, winter nights, all 3 of the country’s Territories are naturally ideal spots to catch the most luminous of shows. Plan a bucket-list trip to Whitehorse, Iqaluit, or Yellowknife, and not only do you chance witnessing a spectacular show but you’ll be able to check a visit to the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ off your list. Whitehorse has a Northern Lights hotel where you can book a chalet and view the aurora through large glass windows in the comfort and warmth of lovely accommodations.

If you can’t make it to our northern-most regions, you can often get decent views of the aurora from the upper latitudes of the provinces. The skies of La Ronge – SK, Churchill – MB, Thunder Bay – ON and Fort McMurray – AB are all dark enough and provide quality backdrops for the lights to come alive.

When to See Them

The Northern Lights can be seen year-round, but the absolute best time of year to see them is between October and March when the nights are longest. Make sure to check the weather forecast as a cloudy sky will prevent the lights from coming through.

Hiking

A hiking date is the ideal way for you to spend some one-on-one time with your love while enjoying all the beauty around you out in the fresh air. You can stop for a picnic along the way or go for a swim if you hike along a river or lake. Take a perfect selfie in front of a waterfall or surrounded by the changing colours all around you in the fall.

Heading out into the great outdoors on a hiking trail can seem like a ‘walk in the park’. But there are a few things for you and your partner to keep in mind before you venture out for the day or even just for a few hours.

You’ll need to consider the difficulty of the trail, what supplies you should bring and how best to be prepared to make your journey as safe and fun as can be. Here are a few tips to get you ready for your next hiking adventure.

Where to Go

The first thing you’re going to want to do is decide where you’re going to hike. If you’re not sure where to start, there are websites and blogs where you can find information such as the level of difficulty, distance and characteristics of a particular trail. Hiking trails are ranked as Easy, Moderate and Hard. You can often also see whether a route has trail markers in place to make navigating a little easier and some might indicate if bathroom facilities are available.

Hiking Wear

Number one here is keeping your feet happy. Low-cut day hiking shoes are lightweight and ideal for groomed trails and where you don’t need much ankle support. Day-hiking boots come in mid- and high-cut styles and are good for longer or more rugged trails. Backpacking boots are stiffer but provide the best stability and are a good option when carrying heavy loads. Trail hiking shoes are lightweight and are great for short hikes on groomed trails and for running. You’ll also want to consider factors such as breathability, weight and whether your footwear is waterproof when you make your choice. Your feet will thank you for it.

Depending on the time of year, you will want to dress appropriately. In the summer, wear light trekking pants that will provide some protection, especially if you are going through rougher, ungroomed trails. If you get warm, just remove the zippered pant legs rather than trying to change into shorts. You might also want to include a light hat for protection from the sun.

If it’s winter, start with a base layer of long underwear and a long-sleeved top, adding a mid-layer and an outer jacket. You’ll probably start warming up as you get into your activity, so you can easily just take a layer off or put one back on if you get cold. Thick wool socks, a warm hat and fleece gloves complete your winter hiking wear.

Hiking poles aren’t necessary but could come in handy to help you keep your balance on tricky terrain.

Supplies

You’ll want to make sure to include some or all of these suggestions of items to bring along in a light knapsack, both from a convenience and safety point of view.

Make sure to pack a few of your favourite protein bars and snacks for sustenance, or that romantic picnic lunch you want to linger over with your partner. Don’t forget, you’ll need a good supply of water as well. Your increased activity level combined with a beating sun can quickly deplete the body so you’ll want to keep up your energy and hydrate along the way.

Make sure to bring along some sunscreen and insect repellent. There’s nothing worse than suffering from sunburn or getting stung by those pesky Canadian bugs.

You may also want to include: a blanket to sit on, a map, a first aid kit, a light source, a form of communication (i.e. your phone), an external battery pack, a small knife and a garbage bag in case there are no trash cans along the way.

Just Before You Go

So you now have your hiking gear and supplies all carefully assembled and you’re both ready to go. But before heading out anywhere, check the weather forecast to make sure you won’t be stuck in a thunderstorm or blizzard. You’ll also want to ensure the trail conditions are favourable when you venture out.

You’re now ready to explore the outdoors and enjoy your next romantic hiking adventure together!

Check out our Top 10 Hiking Trails in BC!

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