Down through the ages, has there ever been anything more romantic than a scary movie, drawing the two of you into each others arms? It worked at 15, at 25, and we are fully confident it can also work at 35, 45, 55, etc, etc, etc.  It’s time to check out the  Scare-Fests with your spouse/date, and rediscover the best scary romance times!

 There are quite a few Scare-Spots to choose from around the Twin Cities.  Even if it is a road-trip, try  Zywiec’s Landscape and Garden Center in Cottage Grove, for the Haunting Experience 3D.  Visitors begin their exciting excursion in a 3-D haunted house, where special glasses provided by the center will have you leaping into each others arms.

Next, thrill seekers are ushered into the haunted mansion, where they discard their special-effects lenses as maniacal, bloodthirsty flower fans chase them through 20 horrifying rooms and out to the waiting hay wagons. After being briefly schooled on the horror of hay-fever allergies, the daunting descent into the frightful forest begins with a mile-long hayride through haunted woods and panic-ridden cornfields.

Visitors who manage to make it out of the haunted attraction alive can enjoy Zywiec’s nightly bonfires, as well as free movies projected on a large outdoor screen, while munching on snacks and perusing seasonal décor such as Indian corn, mums, pumpkins, and candy-corn seedlings in the garden center. The entire haunted experience lasts at least an hour and a half and stays open from dusk until 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. on weekends, though guests should check out the calendar before they leave to make certain the attraction is open. 

Another Twin Cities option is ValleyScare. Valleyscare is happening at Valleyfair Amusement Park throughout the month of October, mostly on weekends. 

Indoor mazes and spook houses abound, such as Chateau du Damné, a vampire-infested Renaissance castle, the posse of insane clowns at CarnEvil, the Mangler Asylum, where Dr. Mangler performed twisted experiments on the residents, and finally, Mr. Cleaver’s Bloodshed.  

The hours between now and the 31st are Saturdays from noon to midnight, Sundays from 6 to 11pm, and Fridays from 7pm to midnight. The only exception to these hours are Wednesday and Thursday (the 20th and 21st), the park is open from 7pm to midnight as well.

If “Scare” is just not in your future as a couple, perhaps try a corn maze to test your couples team-building abilities! (Of course there might be a few scares as you try to find the exit!)

Berry Hill Farm in Anoka has a field maze

Shafer Corn Maze – Hwy 8, Shafer, MN 55074

Apple Jack Orchards – 6 acre corn maze – 4875 37th St SE, Delano, MN

Sever’s Corn Maze – Shakopee, MN (by Canterbury Downs)

Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard – Jordan MN 

Afton Apple Orchards – 12 acre Corn Maze – 14421 90th Ave. S, Afton, MN

Gilbertson Farms – 12791 Oakhill Rd, Scandia, MN

Enjoy being Scared Romantic! Relive the thrill!

Perhaps it feels a little early for such crisp air, but it’s a chance to embrace the Fall with a romantic road trip.  Consider a fun fresh day-date with a search for tart apples and the beginning blending of fall colors!

Bite into Fall with an apple/leaf road trip!  If you haven’t headed SW of the Twin Cities in a while, take a spontaneous road trip down 169 south. Once  you pass the town of Jordan, just a little further on your right, you will find an amazing sunshine yellow building with multiple signs about apples, candy, and baked goods.

 They even promise 64 kinds of rootbeer and some 70+ kinds of licorice!  Pull in, and you will find 10-15 varieties of apples, which you can sample before you choose your favorite. You’ll find yummy extras from a huge variety of salsa’s to an amazing array of smoked bacon and jerky.  They always have fresh pies, strudel, and a whole room filled with candy, from old fashioned kinds you haven’t seen in years (Turkish Taffy anyone?) to European candies, to current favorites.  It’s a dream day-date guaranteed to make you giddy!

While you are in Jordan, hit a few antique stores - there are 4– one of them in an old brewery.  And maybe try the local meat market, still family owned and famous for it’s ring bologna.

Or maybe you’d like to pick your own apples?

It’s the original date!

Find your closest apple orchard by visiting Minnesota Grown‘s website. They have 108 different apple orchards to choose from!  They also have directories for Fall raspberries, pumpkins, winery’s, and farmer’s markets. Lots of possibilites for Minnesota-grown dates!

So get in the spirit (before leaf-raking time hits!) and make your own unusual date of apple picking, apple tasting and some antiques. Think of it as Couples Fall Therapy!

Don’t just let weekends fall to cleaning the garage and watching football. Spark your marriage with a weekend A+ Romantic idea!  Enrich your marriage mindfully with our Twin Cities destinations for romance and fun. What could be more romantic than heading back in time?

Take a stroll through the Renaissance Festival!  Open weeknds through Oct 1, you can spend the day or a few hours renewing your relationship. Try on a new role with each other, think “a simpler time” and join the fun at the Ale Festival this weekend!

The Royal Ale Festival will include Byggvir’s Big Beer Cup’s National Homebrew Competition, free beer tastings from Shell’s, a home brew demonstration, and much more. Byggvir’s Big Beer Cup features more than 250 beers from across the nation.

The festival is located on Hwy 169, three miles south of Shakopee.  Price of admission is $19.95 for adults.  Discount tickets are available at participating Super America and Walgreens stores.  Parking is free. 

Not in the mood for time travel? Then take your love to enjoy the end of summer at the last outdoor music festival!

The Concrete and Grass Music Festival, besides being one of the last festivals of the season, is certainly one of the most eclectic. This free outdoor event held at Mears Park, downtown Saint Paul is a unique partnership of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Schubert Club and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

On Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, the Concrete and Grass Festival takes to the outdoors with two stages in Mears Park. Friday night, the Main Stage gets things started with The Minnesota Opera at 5pm. Irv Williams takes the stage at 6:30, followed by the hip hop and soul stylings of Dessa at 8:30. Meanwhile on the Acoustic Stage, you can catch an acoustic set from Desdamona at 6pm, then Molly Maher at 7:30.

Saturday kicks off at noon on the Main Stage with Salsa del Sol followed by Schubert at 1:30, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at 4pm. The evening features two established local rock acts. Communist Daughter hits the stage at 6:30, then at 8:30, catch the Suicide Commandos.

The Acoustic Stage includes performances by Eve & the Apple, Tanner Taylor, Moses Oakland, and Young Relics. You can read bios for all performers online if you’re curious. For a full schedule of performances and set times, visit the schedule page.

So make it a Romance Weekend with these fresh date ideas. Improve your relationship with the unexpected. And enjoy the weekend TOGETHER! 

Is it all the recent rain – or is it your relationship that needs some sunshine?

Sometimes, rain or shine, you just need to get out on a date! Maybe it is time to do something different.  There are lots of fun activities in the summer in the Twin Cities.  You can do some web searches, talk to friends, or just log on here and look for some fresh date ideas…this week with an emphasis on MUSIC!

Coming soon….

Check out the Twin Cities Jazz Festival June 17 -19 at Mears Park in St. Paul

You could enjoy a relaxing date with a sit and stroll while listening to fabulous music.  Friday afternoon, the music starts at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage with Story City. There will be an additional stage, the Sixth Street Stage, with more live music on Friday night as well, featuring Pete Whitman’s X-tet and Aakash Mittal. The Main Stage headliner for the evening is Joe Lovano with Us Five starting at 8:30. 

Mears Park

Saturday the 19th includes a concert at noon on the Main Stage. Highlights for Saturday include such giants as saxophonist Bobby Watson at 4 p.m., John Ellis & Double-Wide at 6, then the main attraction at 8:30 featuring guitar virtuoso John Scofield.

Also on Saturday, a third stage is added, presented by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education. This stage features the BFGS Quartet, and a number of student jazz groups from the area.

Or flip the memorable possibilities and try a new style together – Country!

Check out Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar & Grill for a little country fun! The vibrant atmosphere would shake off the cloudiest blues. The website shows their upcoming event, including Accoustic guitar with Tim Siegler on June 21^st!  You’ll find it in the newly reborn “West End” of St. Louis Park – if you haven’t been recently you’ll find the area looking quite different! 

For those die hard rock fans who like their relationship renewal in a comfort zone, a good date night can be found between First Avenue and Hard Rock Café downtown Minneapolis .  Check out the live music on June 18^th with Big City.

Revist First  Avenue if it has been awhile. It’s been the Twin Cities Danceteria since 1970!

Check out Delta Spirit, Lookbook, or Fujun on Friday; or  the JayHawks, Haunted House, or HollyGoLightly and the BrokeOff’s on Saturday.  Or visit their full June Calendar to find your perfect date! 

Can’t you just feel the fresh sunshine of new experiences creating a new Date Night like you’ve never had before?  Of course – you also need to remember that you can find your own unique Romantic Adventure with Out of The Box Dates.  That makes for an exciting and fun date night any time – with no waiting lines!  Enjoy!

Hints & Hotspots to Help You

Have you ever heard of Dr. Pepper Schwartz? She’s a Sociology prof at the Univ of Washington, and a sexologist who has written 12 books and is a leading industry expert on relationships.  She has some effective tips on staying married, which we are going to pair up with some exciting Twin Cities hotspots for date nights. You can earn an A+ in Romantic Ideas!

Hint #1

Don’t try to persuade your spouse that you are right; instead look for a comfortable middle ground.

HotSpot #1

Perhaps finding a good spot for a comfortable conversation would be helpful?  Try  Piccolo in south Minneapolis – voted Best New Restaurant by City Pages in April.  They believe in enhancing the dining experience with variety in small tastes and healthier eating. Now that is romantic advice!

Hint #2

If you find either of you are getting defensive in conversations, take responsibility and suggest a do-over. This can make it easier for either of you to admit you’re are wrong.

HotSpot #2

Suggest a do-over in a wide open place – perhaps a park with ample walking time to help you both keep your cool!  You may have a favorite neighborhood park, or for something new, visit Ft.Snelling State Park.  Just off 494 by the airport, you can’t miss with hiking on Pike Island, swimming or walking the beach of Snelling Lake, or canoeing on Gun Club Lake.  Be corny and stop in the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center for a memento of your day and maybe a fridge magnet to represent your new efforts to communicate defenselessly. Now that is a  cheap date night!

Hint #3

 Affection isn’t just about sex – it’s about hugging and holding hands too. Share a smile, a kiss, or a hug at the end of the day.

HotSpot #3

What better place to rekindle romance than walking hand in hand through a winery, on the gorgeous 55-acre grounds if Chateau St. Croix (complete with a carriage house, stables, gardens, and a fishing pond). Schedule a tour and learn about winemaking, or sign up for their Tuscan Vine & Dine evening on June 11^th or the Marseille and French Riviera Vine & Dine evening on June 25^th.  Have fun!

So try our hotspots, check out Dr. Schwartz’s book, “The Love Test: romance and relationship self-quizzes”, and consider an Out of the Box Date for a romantic adventure!  Watch your marriage endure!

Two Romantic Twin Cities Destinations

Every relationship needs stretching from time to time.  Think about it as if you are taking your daily commute via a completely different route. You see things right around home that you hadn’t noticed before, or from a different angle.  Take a new view of each other by trying something you’ve never done together before.  We have two very different destinations that could provide just the spark you two could use!

Try an artsy collaboration!  The enticement is not to BE artsy, but rather, to try something different, something new, where you just enjoy the act of collaboration!

Twin Cities Destination? Mosaic on a Stick.   It is a community classroom, mosaic supply store, and studio.  Join your spouse by taking a class, or check their website for their “open” days, where for a small fee you get supplies and free reign to make whatever mosaic comes to mind, after sifting through tiny cubes of ceramic tile, beads, and other fascinating tidbits.  Together you could create your own work of art to celebrate yourselves or a special occasion. Or sign up for a class together!

Do you two have more of an outdoors yearning? What better way to be romantic than to search for hidden treasurer together!  Find marriage enrichment by joining the craze for geo-caching.

One of the best ways to explore this together is at Ft. Snelling State Park. They offer 1 hour classes on geo-caching basics, and have 25 GPS units that you can check out to try your new skills together.  It’s an excuse for a romantic stroll…with a purpose! You can cut your geo-cache teeth on their current Wildlife Safari challenge in all the MN State parks.

Any time spent truly together is an excellent romantic destination. Whether it is a super cheap date night running errands together (without the radio playing), or taking a walk around the block at sunset, or taking a fun shower together, it is a successful romantic destination that could give you a new view on your relationship.  So start stretching! Who knows where these A+ Romantic ideas could take you!

Sometimes romance IS in the crowds…

Sound crazy?  A couple can be come an island of closeness even with people all around. Whether it is an excuse to hold hands, squeeze together, or have a face-to-face conversation, a crowd can be very romantic!  We have several intimate-crowded-adventure-ideas for you…..

My husband I and recently went to Luci Ancora in St. Paul, billed as a casual elegant restaurant for people who like food.  The first thing I noticed is how close the tables were to each other. I shrugged – and decided it was like the cute little bistros in Europe.  The funny thing was, as you get lulled into the gentle buzz of all the conversations, you actually cease to notice any individual chats around you, and focus on your own. 

We had what really felt like a “date night” of non-stop conversation, easily moving from kids and jobs to sharing experiences and really talking. Thumbs up to Luci Ancora!  And we recommend the mussels appetizer and try the Limón cello sorbet for a light refreshing dessert!

Another inspired crowded yet cozy date night?

Add a little jazz to your date-life!

Try a Blues singer/piano combo at the Dakota Jazz Club.  Davina has been a hit in Minneapolis, Memphis and even Switzerland for the melting pot of her blues, American roots, and New Orleans music.

Or try a little Pop with 10-time Grammy nominated Meshell Ndegeocello!  Her music, energetic and assertive, is equal parts funk, folk, hip-hop, jazz and African roots music. And you won’t be the first to find romance in the intimate candle-lit jazz room. 

And here’s an A+ romantic idea that can bring intimacy whether it is crowded or not – tho you will find people there! Try Patisserie Margo. They’ve been referred to as the bakery version of “Cheers”, where everybody knows your name. If you need desserts for a party, morning pastries or just a treat for the two of you, this is the place to be. They have muffins, scones, croissants, danish, bars, cookies, bread, quiche, sandwiches, and famously sinful desserts. Of course, they make everything from scratch daily.

What better way to create a memorable date night and relationship renewal than splitting a scrumptious hand made dessert?  Share a fork and look into each other’s eyes – the crowd will melt away!

How to find the perfect romantic gesture!

Sometimes Romance is right under your nose. Look around your hometown. You might be surprised at what you find.  We found several ideas in the Twin Cities to share….

Finding romance, no matter how long you’ve been married, or how long you haven’t been dating, is all about the romantic gesture.  And that gesture can be something as simple as a stroll at sunset on a warm spring evening.

Here are two A+ ideas for some great romantic strolls in your metro backyard.

Top of the list:  The University Avenue Project. It is a six-mile photographic journey!  From May to October, Wing Young Huie’s photographs will transform St. Paul’s University Avenue into a six mile public gallery.  Hundreds of images will be on display in windows and on buildings from the KSTP Tower to the State Capitol.

Wing Young Huie and Tara Simpson Huie

Each night at a Landmark Projection Site, Wing’s images will be shown on 40 foot screens, accompanied by a soundtrack from local musicians. Monthly cabarets will feature live community performances and new media presentations. 

   

This is billed as the Language of Urbanism, but is also a great excuse for the language of love, including walking slowly, holding hands, and having some discussions and experiences you hadn’t considered an hour ago!

  Second on the list has to be a classic:  The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.  It is one of Minnesota’s crown jewels and its centerpiece, the Spoonbridge and Cherry, has become a Minnesota icon. The Sculpture Garden is essentially a free museum in a park.

 

 

How long since you have been there?  Wander freely to your two-hearts content and take in the sculpture, the landscaping, even the mini-arboretum walk-thru.  You will find the pace of life slows, and the pace of your hand-in-hand stroll becomes the best stress-buster you could ever imagine!  Where else can you improve your blood pressure and achieve a romantic gesture all-in-one?!

 

You might as well keep walking, over the Irene Hixton pedestrian bridge, designed by famous sculptor Siah Armajani crossing Hennepin Ave. and dropping you neatly into Loring Park. There you have a choice of 3 or 4 stops to get a bite or have a drink. 

 

 

Try Café Lurcat, Joe’s Garage, or Dunn Brothers Coffee!

  

  

  

  

 A Romantic gesture doesn’t have to be predictable; it can come up on the spur of the moment and be all the more treasured. 

 

Take a stroll and try it! 

 

 

So what does this A+ romantic idea company  have in common with Bed & Breakfast Getaways?  Well, Out-Of-The-Box-Dates Founder and CEO, LeeAnn Williams participated in our very first trade show – which means YOU are going to see some more cool and unique dates around Minnesota and Wisconsin.

LeeAnn displayed Out Of The Box Dates (OOTBD) at the Crown Plaza North in Minneapolis with the specific purpose of sharing our Romantic Dates and offerings with the Bed & Breakfast community of Innkeepers.

 The Bed and Breakfast owners, all 55 of them, primarily in Minnesota, and some in Wisconsin are very proud of their properties and the experience they offer their guests.  In LeeAnn’s words, “it was a privilege to meet the owners, and hear their excitement as they shared their unique offerings. ”

OOTBD offered a free assessment of the B&B’s current romance package… and we discovered the number one reason why people don’t stay at a B&B when traveling is because… they didn’t think about it.

 We’re about to change that!  Stay tuned as each of a myriad of proposals we received to create custom dates at B&B’s  in and around their hometowns become available. You can be the first to experience an exceptional new Date!

 In the meantime, don’t be one of those people who stay in some sterile suite with bagels for breakfast, when you can  experience an OOTBD at a B&B! Check out our current exciting, no planning required,  romantic MN date called The Pillar of Love!  And feel free to click on these B&B search sites and enjoy a unique and personal travel experience!  

B&B Directory  B&B Planner  B&B Online  BnB Finder  Lanier B&B

And one more fun and amusing fact?

During the show, we found out that the first thing a male guest will do is check out the shower head to see how nice it is!

Well, we recommend you watch for Out Of The Box Dates updates regarding weekend get-away Bed & Breakfast Dream Dates…which make great gifts….(we’ll let you know about the shower!)

 Thanks to the OOTBD staff’s help in preparation for this show!

HUGE thanks especially to Scott for his help at the show!

We tend to think of idleness and play as indulgences or distractions from what we should be doing…but low productivity pursuits can have some surprising benefits!

 Any of us can be accused of treating our relationship like a back-burner item.  We have eternal responsibility – demands of work, pay the mortgage, run kids to extracurricular activities – it can keep a person running 24/7.  It feels impossible to “steal time” for pure enjoyment or relaxation.

But studies have shown that downtime and self-renewing enjoyments can help us upgrade our overall levels of happiness and even boost our creativity and mental clarity.  What better ways to increase creativity, clarity, and happiness in your relationship than to spend some time with your spouse that is purely play time?!

Accumulated stress can spill over into all areas of our lives.  “Without renewal,” writes Stephen Covey, author of the famed The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, on his website “the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish.”  So how do you bring playtime into everyday life with your spouse?

The act of daydreaming does some interesting things to your brain. There is an arch through the midline of the brain, according to Marcus Raichle, PhD, who published Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing a cluster of the brain that is affected by “downtime”.  This arch is the “default network” utilizing strong connections with parts of our brain involving decision-making, memories, and content with emotional significance to us. When you daydream, this default network leaps into action and makes sense of the occurrences, actions, feelings, all the bits that make up our crazy days. This heightened “processing” in the arch is the best way to invite ideas and solutions.  It can create the Eureka factor – sudden realization or insights.

So daydreaming, especially with your spouse, can be a fabulous way to relax, have fun, and allow your brain to produce a better brighter you!  Better for the relationship, better for the family, better for the job.

So don’t think of it as “working” on your relationship.  Solve two things at once – playtime with your spouse, and being a happier more creative individual!  Whether it is daydreaming together, taking a walk, or doing something together that is not targeted towards a result – in short, Monkey Business – you will just feel your brain working better after playtime, as well as experience a relaxed and enjoyable relationship moment.