The holidays are a great time to bond with family members and friends. But with all of the time spent hosting and entertaining, it can be easy to forget to spend some quality one-on-one time with that special someone.
Whether you’re looking to spend a few hours together or an entire weekend, there are plenty of ways to keep the flames of romance burning throughout winter.
Here are five fun winter date ideas that will satisfy lovers on a budget or couples looking to splurge:
Ice skating
There are few things as romantic as holding on to your partner for dear life as you slide around an ice rink. A couple that falls together stays together.
From Avalon on Ice in north Fulton to Centennial Olympic Park’s annual ice rink, there are plenty of places to bundle up and bond over a solid block of ice this winter and a warm cup of hot chocolate.
Here are a few ice rinks around metro Atlanta:
Avalon on Ice: Through Jan. 22. 3-10 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays; noon-7 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. school holidays. $18 (includes skates), $14 (children under 10; includes skates). Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. 770-765-1000, Experienceavalon.com.
Winter Wonderland in Marietta: Through February (weather permitting). 4:30-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 4:30-11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays; noon-8 p.m. Sundays. School vacation hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; noon-8 p.m. Sundays. Holiday hours: 2-10 p.m. Thanksgiving; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Christmas Eve; 2-9 p.m. Christmas; 10 a.m.-late New Year's Eve; 2-9 p.m. New Year's Day. $12. Marietta Square, 4 Depot St., Marietta. 770-429-1115, winterwonderlandmarietta.com.
Winter at Atlantic Station: Through Feb. 14. 4-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; noon-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; noon-9 p.m. Sundays; 3-11 p.m. holidays. $13 (general admission), $10 (children under 12, seniors, military and college students), $75 (season passes). Atlantic Station, 1380 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta. 404-410-4010, atlanticstation.com.
Centennial Park Ice Rink: Through Jan. 8. 4:30-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 4:30-11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. See website for holiday hours. $12 (90-minute skate and skate rental). Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W., Atlanta. 404-223-4412, gwcca.org/park.
The Aquafina Rink at Park Tavern: Nov. 24-Feb. 20. 4:30 p.m.-midnight Mondays-Fridays; 11:30 a.m.-midnight Saturdays and Sundays. (Must be 16 or older after 8 p.m.) $15 (non-peak days), $20 (peak season days). Park Tavern, 500 Tenth St., Atlanta. 404-249-0001, parktavern.com.
Read more about winter dates in metro Atlanta:
Snow Mountain
Double date with friends at Snow Mountain and re-create the snow days of your childhood. Activities at this winter attraction include Avalanche Alley, a 400-foot tubing hill, and Snowman Valley, where you and your partner can build a snowman or create a loving pair of snow angels.
Weather conditions may limit or cancel Snow Mountain activities. Visit Stonemountainpark.com or call 1-800-401-2407 before heading to the park.
Times vary. Through Feb. 26 (select dates). $28 (plus tax) for just Snow Mountain. Laser Lawn at Stone Mountain Park, 100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 1-800-401-2407, Stonemountainpark.com.
Read more about Stone Mountain:
Cooking class
If your significant other loves to cook, a date night cooking class is a great idea!
Learn to prepare a meal together and sample your creation this winter. Companies such as Sur La Table host regular “Date Night”-themed cooking classes for couples. Theirs includes “Best of New Orleans” and “Autumn in Italy” classes for $79 per person. Vino Venue and the Cooking School at Irwin Street also host regular cooking classes that are specifically geared toward couples.
The Cooking School at Irwin Street, 660 Irwin St., Atlanta. 404-889-6568, irwinstreetcooks.com.
Sur La Table Atlanta, 3500 Peachtree Road, Suite 1035, Atlanta. 404-973-3375, surlatable.com.
Sur La Table, Alpharetta, 1082 North Point Circle, Alpharetta. 678-280-0090, surlatable.com.
Visit Helen
Vacationing in the North Georgia mountains is a great way to eliminate distractions and spend some uninterrupted quality time together.
Hike to Anna Ruby Falls, enjoy a game of mini golf at Alpine Golf Village, or shop and dine on Main Street before relaxing in a cozy cabin during a getaway trip to Helen, Ga. Located about 90 miles from downtown Atlanta, the town was re-created in the style of an Alpine village in the late 1960s. www.helenga.org/attractions.
Read more about winter vacations beyond Atlanta:
Go to the spa
Unwind from a long workweek by enjoying a relaxing day at the spa with your significant other at Jeju Sauna. For $25 per person, you can have access to the Korean-style facility for a full day, including a saltwater pool, Jacuzzis and seven mineral saunas.
Additional services such as body and acupressure massages cost extra.
Jeju Sauna, 3555 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth. 678-336-7414, jejusauna.com.
