Five Great Dates: Special Occasion Date

Whether you want hard-core romance and wine or to unleash a little magic, make this a night to remember.

While Bookcliff Vineyards offers great food and wine pairings all year, the chocolate and wine pairing weekend before Valentine’s day is a bit more decadent and includes live music by Phil Robinson. Make her smile, make the reservation. Don’t feel limited though, Your Place or Vine and Wine and Cheese both offer similar ambiance and great menus. At Your Place or Vine in Prospect, feel free to skip the wine and make it a cocktail tasting with cocktails featuring Vodka 14 and Leopold Bros liqueurs. At Wine and Cheese, try a flight of champagne with the gruyere voted “Best Cheese in the World” in the 2008 World Cheese Championships.

To really unleash a little magic and skip the cliches, the Butterfly Pavilion absolutely captures the princess fairy tale with Wings of the Tropics. Stop by the Water’s Edge for a little Under the Sea action. Bring a camera and avoid school days/times for the best results.

Follow up with stargazing at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, but be sure to plan ahead for Friday night lights in good weather. Don’t miss out on the last months of holiday romance in Louisville with sparkly street lights, an ice-skating rink and free horse-drawn carriage rides. Still not enough? Schedule a hot air balloon ride with any of the dozens of local companies and fall in love with those purple mountains majesty all over again.

Your Place or Vine: 2020 Ionosphere St., Longmont, 303.834.8536

Tuesday and Wednesday, 4pm–9pm; Thursday–Saturday, 4pm–10pm; closed Sunday and Monday

Wine and Cheese: 14697 Delaware St., Ste. 1000/1100, Westminster, 303.452.4900

Daily, 11am–10pm