Spice up the season!
It’s the time of year for falling leaves, cozy sweaters and spiced lattes. This also means it’s the time to turn up the romance! Whether you are planning your first date or your 100th, your sweetheart won’t be disappointed when you impress them with a thoughtfully planned rendezvous.
In the spirit of Autumn, we have put together a list of lovely date ideas to help you ‘woo’ that special someone.
1. Take A Fall Cruise
Grab your life jacket and get ready to set sail on one of the 1000 Islands Fall Cruises! Enjoy a sightseeing ‘Discovery Cruise’ or sit down for an elegant dinner on one of their many lunch and dinner cruises. Planning a first date and nervous about the unavoidable awkward moments? No problem, 1000 Islands includes live entertainment in all 3-hour cruises.
2. Improbable Escapes
Get your game face on and make this a group date! Take the ultimate test of trust and teamwork at an Improbable Escapes escape room. You and your pals are locked inside a uniquely-themed room for one hour with the task of finding your way out through puzzles, rhymes and stories. It’s tougher than you’d think.. Can you beat the clock?
3. Get Spooky On A Haunted Walk
What better excuse to cuddle up to your cutie than some good old-fashioned ghosts? Skeptics and superstitious agree that The Original Haunted Walk of Kingston is full of hair-raising scares! They are known for their animated tour guides and creepy storytelling, so you can rest assured that you are in for a spine-chilling adventure.
5. Brockville Railway Tunnel
Sometimes a date can be as simple as taking a long walk hand in hand. Why not make your walk more interesting by travelling over to the Brockville Railway Tunnel! As the hub of the Brock Trail recreation pathway, the recently restored relic receives rave reviews for its eclectic mix of lights, music and history. Please note that the Railway Tunnel will close for the season on October 10th.
6. Brockville Arts Centre
The Brockville Arts Centre is deeply rooted in the vibrant Brockville arts and music scene. This beautifully restored heritage theatre is well known for its comfort, friendly staff and fine acoustics. View their website for their list of upcoming shows!
7. The Capitol Axe Throwing
Ever want to just throw some axes? We do! The Capitol Axe Throwing in Brockville is the place to get in on the fast-growing sport of axe throwing in a safe place. The Capitol is your next unique date night!
8. Cycle Through A Red & Gold Wonderland
A little exercise never hurt anyone…so on your next date night take your pal to the Waterfront Bike Trail in Cornwall. Open to walkers, runners, bikers and rollers, you won’t get bored following the trail through forests, fields, bridges, and alongside the glorious St. Lawrence River.
9. Rurban Brewery
Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple, and if that sounds like your kind of party, then you should check out Cornwall’s very own Rurban Brewery. Family-owned and operated, this microbrewery is always looking to infuse new flavours for their taste-testing visitors.
10. Pumpkinferno
Take your sweetie to the award-winning Pumpkinferno and discover a selection of mesmerizing glowing pumpkins! This event is also taking place at Fort Henry in Kingston!
11. Apple & Pumpkin Picking
Apple and pumpkin picking is a tradition in SDG Counties and places like Avonmore Berry Farm, Cannamore Orchard, Dentz Orchards and Berry Farm and more are ripe for making memories. This is THE perfect fall activity to take part in and the perfect date idea for you and your bae. Have fun picking apples, pumpkins, drinking cider, and even see some animals!
10. Harvest Season
‘Wine-not’ plan a Fall weekend to travel through Prince Edward County to take a tour through the wide range of County vineyards! Settle in at one of the many cozy boutique inns such as The Wilfrid Boutique Farmhouse or The Drake Motor Inn and discover some delicious wines from local wineries. Discover more wineries in the county by visiting our extensive winery list: Sip Your Way Through These 28 Wineries in South Eastern Ontario – Volume 1
11. Go On A Romantic Beach Stroll
While you are enjoying harvest season, spend a day at Sandbanks Provincial Park, where you can take a bicycle tour, watch bird migrations, and take a walk though dunes and wetlands. Take a jump in the shallow water of Lake Ontario if you are feeling fearless!
12. Explore the K&P Trail
Hiking the K&P Trail at this time of year is magical. The K&P Trail is a 180-km former railway line turned multi-use recreational trail that connects Kingston to Renfrew. However, Frontenac County owns and operates a 90 km stretch along the way. The Frontenac K&P Trail is a fully developed, stone dust rail-trail with stops in Sharbot Lake, Godfrey, Verona and Harrowsmith and is perfect for cycling, walking, and even horseback riding.
13. Fall Coloured Drives
Hop in the car and hit the open road with six driving tour itineraries across L&A County! Experience rural countryside, stunning water views, history and intrigue along six pre-planned routes on well-maintained roads. Lush nature, shorelines, farms, and friendly small communities bursting with charm and history are waiting to be discovered. Whether in your custom car, motorcycle or good ol’ family vehicle, these itineraries provide detailed maps and extras that allow visitors to set their own pace while discovering L&A County!
14. Get Lost In A Corn Maze At Wynn Farms
No better way to guarantee some undivided attention than getting lost in a corn maze. This year, the creative folks at Wynn Farms have their visitors diving deep, learning about underwater creatures, on a submarine and exploring shipwrecks in their Under the Sea corn maze! Be sure to check out the Moonlight Corn Maze for an after-dark experience. There is also an incredible pumpkin patch here, as well as pick your own apples and much more. It’s basically your one-stop fall spot with lots of activities for making memories. This place is a-maze-ing!
15. Sager Conservation Area
This is the perfect daytime date to go on if you find yourself in the mood for an adventure. Take a quick 5 minute walk up a large hill to meet a 30 foot tall tower to the Sager viewing platform. With a 360 degree view of the Bay, you can play some iSpy, or have a special moment with a certain someone while you overlook the country landscape. Worth the climb any time of year.
16. View The Colours From Above On A Helicopter Tour
Can you think of anything more romantic than a private helicopter ride overseeing the beautiful, colour-rich landscape and deep blue water? If you are feeling the love, take your soulmate over to 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours and get a first class, birds-eye view of the St. Lawrence River. You can choose between 10, 20, 30 and 60 minute flights, each providing you with even more beautiful views. If you are afraid, don’t fret, the pilots are known to be very fun and knowledgeable!
17. City Cruises & Rockport Cruises
Venture through the 1000 Islands, soak up the history and beauty of the river, and hop off the boat at Boldt Castle (don’t forget your passport) to explore a building built from true love – the original owner build the castle for his wife! Choose your adventure with three trip options at 1, 2 and 5 hours.
18. Get A Bird’s Eye Views Of The Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is a feast for the eyes! With rock outcroppings, pristine water and lush forest, the Rideau Canal promises photo-ready scenes that unravel before your eyes. Rock Dunder, owned by the Rideau Waterway Land Trust near Morton offers a summit loop that gives a breathtaking view of the canal with water and colourful treetops below stretching as far as the eye can see. This trail requires a day pass to access it.
Another unforgettable vantage point of the Rideau Canal is in Chaffey’s Lock on a former train bridge, which is now part of the Cataraqui Trail. A short walk from the lock awards visitors with an unforgettable view of the canal far below the bridge, which dates back to the early 1900s.
Lastly, Foley Mountain Conservation Area in Westport looks out over Upper Rideau Lake from a granite ridge at Spy Rock. After marvelling at the lake and village below, check out the family-friendly trails at Foley Mountain overlooking a beaver pond, turtle habitat and more. Gram worthy views for days!
19. Maison Maitland Cooking Class
These cooking classes are the perfect way to learn some new dishes — not to mention it’s a great date spot! If you’re not sure what you want to cook just yet, don’t worry, there are plenty of options to choose from such as a sweet and savoury pastry class, a Tuscany farmhouse class, and a ‘Dinner with Julia Child’ class.
Beautiful colours, warm cups of coffee, and cozy vibes make fall the perfect time for romance!
