This Valentine's Day, Romance in Monterey
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA, February 1, 2007. Put down that box of chocolates and pick up a brownie point or two when you book a trip to romantic Monterey County for Valentine's Day 2007. Monterey offers a sweet selection of decadent spa treatments, luxury accommodations, breathtaking views and amorous events sure to send cupid's arrow straight to your lover's heart.
Old-fashioned romantics will enjoy A Day of Romance in Old Monterey (Feb. 10) when the Cooper-Molera and Diaz Adobes, Larkin House and Stevenson House open for public tours. Docents in period clothing will enact historical stories of love and affection and costumed performers showcase dances from the 1840s. Tours last two hours, departing every half hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (except 12:30 p.m.) from Cooper-Molera. Limited tickets are available; call 831-649-7109 for information.
Couples can take a walk on the wild side and play The Mating Game at Wild Things (February 3, 10, 14 and 17). It's a fun-filled evening exploring the coupling behaviors of the animal kingdom, including elephants, black bears, lions and tigers on site at Wild Things' animal facility. The event includes hors d'oeuvres, cider and chocolate and the chance to take a photo with a surprise animal. Each night, one couple wins a stay at the adjacent Vision Quest safari-style B&B (831-455-1901; www.wildthingsinc.com).
Lovebirds will raise their glasses in celebration during the annual Wine Passport Weekend (Feb. 16-18). Guests pick up a wine "passport" and explore Monterey County's top wineries and tasting rooms, complete with live entertainment, food and wine sampling and prizes. For information and tickets, call 831-375-9400 or visit www.montereywines.org.
Many area hotels offer romantic packages, including everything from fireplace rooms, long-stemmed roses, and homemade chocolates. The "Loving Luxury" three-night package at Bernardus Lodge, for example, includes a full daily breakfast, Loving Luxury spa treatment and one of four 50-minute additional treatments, a chocolate and champagne turndown the night of arrival, nightly bath butler, and a special Bernardus Lodge departure gift (888-648-9463; www.bernardus.com).
Another option is the "Pure Romance" package at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, which includes deluxe accommodations for two, a welcome amenity of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, two 50-minute spa treatments, complimentary use of all spa facilities, and breakfast for two in bed or in the hotel's award-winning Duck Club Grill-accompanied by jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Monterey Bay ((800) 334-3999; www.woodsidehotels.com/monterey).
Guests who don't book a hotel package still have plenty of options for romance. For a personalized, memorable experience, Romantic Room Designs offers a unique concept only available on the Monterey Peninsula. For any special occasion celebration (including Valentine's Day), Romantic Room Designs will decorate client hotel rooms with a romantic flair, arrange a sunset bonfire on the beach, deliver a special gift item to a favorite restaurant, or ship one of the company's design concepts directly to a home address (with decoration instructions included). The company's most popular hotel design, the "Romantic Bedroom", is perfect for Valentine's Day (1-888-871-3248 ext. 1; www.romanticroomdesigns.com).
A number of Monterey County restaurants also arrange special Valentine's Day menus each year. The Covey at Quail Lodge will host a Valentine's feast (Feb. 13-17) to swoon for-Chef Matt Bolton will prepare Dry-Aged C^ote du Boeuf for the main course, and guests will receive a rose (for the lady) and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert (888-828-8787; www.quaillodge.com).
For sweethearts in search of guiltless decadence, the Spa at Pebble Beach offers a Chocolate Body Treatment-75 minutes of rich, dark Belgian chocolate and ground Kona coffee combined with the powerful antioxidant power of tannins, vitamins E, B, and hydrating cocoa butter (888-565-7615; www.pebblebeach.com).
A complete list of Valentine's holiday events, dinners and hotel packages is available on the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau website, www.montereyinfo.org (click on "Great Deals").
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