I suppose it depends on your idea of romantic, but as far as I'm concerned, a cabin in the woods is about as romantic as it gets. Of course, I certainly don't mean roughing it in a secluded forest with no heat or running water... I mean a beautiful log cabin with a gorgeous view and a private hot tub on the deck... now that's romance!
One year my husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio. I'd never been to the area and didn't know much about it, but I'd always wanted to check it out. It was a little off the beaten path (our last few roads were dirt and gravel), but the place was amazing.
We stayed at a place called Harvest Moon Cottages (we stayed in the Dreamcatcher). The property has 6 cabins, all fairly close to one another but positioned in such a way that you couldn't see any of the others from your own, giving you the feeling that you had all the privacy in the world. The Dreamcatcher had 2 bedrooms, a large deck with a hot tub overlooking a wooded area, a full kitchen and a super comfy living room area (and, of course, a bathroom). We were there in the winter and, I must say, there's something awesome about sitting outside in a hot tub, all toasty warm, watching the snow fall.
The getaway was exciting enough, but my hubby had a few additional tricks up his sleeve for the weekend. Surprise Number 1: a traveling spa. Two massage therapists came out to the cottage for a relaxing couples massage. They moved some furniture, set up in the living room, and brought everything they needed with them to turn our little cabin into our own little spa for the day. Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of the company, but this website lists two traveling spas in the Hocking Hills area.
Surprise Number 2: a personal chef to cook us dinner in our cabin. Grouse Nest Traveling Chef sent a chef right to our cabin with everything he needed for our dinner. He prepared and served a four course meal right there in our kitchen and the food was wonderful!
Needless to say, we didn't have much reason to leave our cabin. However, for the more adventurous types, there is actually quite a bit to do in the area. This website has tons of suggestions for activities nearby (from wineries and museums to horseback riding and hot air ballooning) and I hear it's a beautiful place to hike.
Keep in mind that there are literally hundreds of cabins for rent in the area and, regardless of what you might be looking for, you're sure to find something to fit your needs. Google is my best friend when it comes to planning a trip like this :)
Tips & tricks for a successful romantic weekend:
1. As far as the Hocking Hills area is concerned, most of these places are nowhere near the conveniences many of us are used to. Try to bring everything you might need for the weekend so that you don't have to run to the store for the things you've forgotten.
2. It's meant to be a romantic weekend, if you forget anything that you can live without, try not to worry about it. Don't bother wasting time with makeup and hair products... it's meant to be quality time together, not alone time primping in the bathroom :)
3. Item number 2, to some extent, includes cell phones, iPads, and all of the other gadgets we've become so dependent upon. One of the best things about the Hocking Hills area is its lack of wifi and cell reception. If you're willing to give yourself a few days away from the rest of the world, this is a perfect place to do it. Besides, you're better off updating your facebook status when you get home. Bragging about your romantic weekend after the fact gets your husband major bonus points with your friends. Tweeting about it during the actual weekend suggests you're spending more time on the web than in each other's company.
Happy traveling!
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