Top romantic spots in Canada

You say you got a wrench for Valentine’s Day? And – we blush for you – the last birthday gift you gave was a pair of socks? Perhaps it’s time for a little romance Rx. Our prescription: a passionate one-on-one getaway. From coast to coast, here are ten Canadian heart-thumping, pulse-racing spots to fan the flames of love.

Not all of us can come up with swoon-worthy sonnets for our darlings. To the rescue: Shakespeare by the Sea in Halifax. Every summer, the city’s local thespians perform the best of the Bard – from classic love stories like Romeo and Juliet to the fantastical A Midsummer Night’s Dream – under the stars and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 902-422-0295

If the silky richness of pâté before dinner is a sort of culinary seduction, Le Saint-Amour must be the Don Juan of restaurants. On a candlelit terrace, the Quebec bistro offers patrons a menu with four different foie gras options – including canard à l’Armagnac with a sweet Sauternes and fig jelly. The only challenge? Saving room for the rest of your meal.
48 Ste. Ursule St., Vieux-Quebec, Quebec, 418-694-0067

With dancers waltzing chest to chest – and sometimes head to head – Argentine tango is nothing short of passion in motion. Watch the sizzling steps of performers from Buenos Aires and beyond during the Montreal International Tango Festival from July 8 – 16, 2006. Or, pull your beloved close and try not to step on any toes during the festival’s parties, where those of all levels are invited to dance alongside visiting masters.
Montreal, Quebec

The Taj Mahal was built for the love of a woman: The Grande Bibliothèque de Montreal, on the other hand, was designed for those with a lust for words. And what an impressive literary love-in it is, with an innovative mix of ethereal glass, weighty concrete and warm wooden slats that has earned kudos from those who adore architecture as well as ardent readers. Best of all, the 33,000-square-meter (355,209 feet squared) salon has lots of armchairs – perfect for spending quality time with Marguerite Duras’s The Lover or Pablo Neruda’s beguiling stanzas.
475 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E., Montreal, Quebec, 514-873-1100

The décor at this hip Toronto lounge is definitely for the bold and the beautiful. Patrons of Laide are seated in bed-like cushioned alcoves while films are projected onto the walls. The menu is equally geared to passionate palates – highlights include lamb and cashew dumplings and blue crab mascarpone ravioli. To finish: chocolate tart with sour cherry compote for two, most delightful eaten with a single spoon.
138 Adelaide St. East, Toronto, Ontario, 416-850-2726

A Turkish steam bath may be Old World, but the sleek brushed metals and leather loungers at Toronto’s new Hammam spa make it an up-to-the-minute pampering spot. Try the signature sweat treatment with healing essential oils or a detoxifying round of mud therapy. Or, share the bliss with your significant other during a couple’s Swedish or Deep Tissue massage.
602 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario, 416-366-4772

Who doesn’t love a good hand-holding session while listening to romantic ballads? At the Winnipeg Folk Festival (July 6 – 9, 2006), over 55,000 people snag seats on the grass for performances of blues, folk, Celtic and world music. Headline acts have included country queen Emmylou Harris and Mexican crooner Lila Downs, who appeared in the film Frida. Bring a blanket, snuggle up with your sweetie, and watch the show.
Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 204-231-0096

To secure a daybed-style seat at Ginger Sixty Two, you may have to beat patrons like Ashton Kucher and Al Pacino to the punch. Located in a former girlie club, the Vancouver “cocktail den” draws A-list clientele with cheeky tipples such as Ginger Not Marianne (a ginger-infused vodka, ginger beer and muddled fruit concoction) and small plates including wild B.C. salmon tartare and naan pizzas. As for its appeal to couples, sexpert Kim Cattrall recommends it as the city’s top spot for an intimate night out.
1219 Granville St., Vancouver, British Columbia, 604-688-5494

Couples courting a greener future along with romance can enjoy the ultimate in eco-indulgence at Raincity Grill. Inspired by two activists on a one-year, 100-mile diet – an ethical-eating regimen aimed at supporting local agriculture – the chef at this Vancouver restaurant recently launched a menu featuring only foods and wine grown, raised or processed within a 100-mile radius. Menu items have included Cortes Island mussels and Bartlett pear carpaccio.
1193 Denman St., Vancouver, British Columbia, 604-685-7337

Forget roses. At the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm, the stem that stands for romance and beauty is thorn-free and mauve. From July 7 to 10, the 12-year-old farm in Kelowna, British Columbia, teaches visitors to weave lavender wands, baskets and wreaths – and serves up delicacies such as lavender ice cream. Should you wish to bring a touch of purple home for your honey, you can also purchase lavender bath salts and oils.
4380 Takla Rd., Kelowna, British Columbia, 250-764-7795