Howard County is often referred to as “The Heart of Maryland.” When one thinks of things of the heart, romance comes to mind, and Howard County abounds with romantic things to do.
A quaint, historic bed and breakfast, a couples’ afternoon at a nearby spa, sumptuous hand-crafted chocolates, wooded glades, serene retreats and musical programs with internationally recognized artists all can be found in Howard County.
When you want to reconnect with that special someone, there are many Howard County locales to do just that. Turf Valley Spa offers great couples’ getaways, like a Couples’ Golf & Spa Overnight Getaway and a Spa Romance Overnight Package (www.turfvalley.com/ellicott-city-maryland-spas.php).
Other romantic stays can be had at The Wayside Inn Bed and Breakfast (www.waysideinnmd.com), where you can choose a room that includes a claw-foot bathtub and other options to make your stay special. At the Columbia Inn at Peralynna (www.peralynnainn.com), your stay can include breakfast in bed and other special amenities.
The Obladi, the only hotel in the Ellicott City Historic District, can take some back to their “courting” days, if that was when the Fab Four were current. The name alone will conjure up memories, and you can stay in a room named after your favorite Beatle: John, Paul, George or Ringo (www.theobladi.com).
An evening out to catch a live performance can be quite nice when you are with the one you love. Warm up a cold December evening with a Christmas classic from Irving Berlin. Toby’s Dinner Theatre will present the Broadway musical “White Christmas” from Nov. 10 to Jan. 8 (www.tobysdinnertheatre.com).
The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, a local, highly acclaimed theater company, will be offering the quintessential Shakespearean romance, “Romeo and Juliet,” in the summer of 2012, and it all happens under the starlit sky (www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com).
An evening watching Shakespeare at the Patapsco Women’s Institute. Phote: Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
The Columbia Orchestra will have your arms around each other as you listen to Aaron Copeland’s “Appalachian Spring” on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (www.columbiaorchestra.org). And Sundays at Three at Christ Episcopal Church in Columbia will feature a piano recital program of works by Beethoven, Ravel and Chopin on Nov. 6, with the “Moonlight Sonata” as a featured piece. Classical music is certainly romantic to many, and with this sure-to-be virtuoso performance by Brian Ganz, those who agree won’t be disappointed.
If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, ladies, make a reservation at one of Howard County’s romantic restaurants, and with the fantastic wine pairings. Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant (www.tersiguels.com) in the Ellicott City Historic District, The Elkridge Furnace Inn (www.elkridgefurnaceinn.com) in Elkridge and The King’s Contrivance (www.thekingscontrivance.com) in Columbia are among the most romantic in the county. Superb food, excellent service and an atmosphere that makes you want to hold hands between courses are what you can expect.
For some other out-of-the-ordinary romantic experiences in and around Howard County, consider any of the next ideas.
• Stroll the beautiful Azalea Gardens just outside Howard County at Brighton Dam. This location boasts 20,000 shrubs on five acres overlooking Triadelphia Reservoir, and it’s absolutely free (http://gigapan.org/gigapans/22862).
• The Shrine of Saint Anthony is a little bit of Italy right here, with a 70-year-old late Italian Renaissance building on 310 acres of rolling hills and woodlands. A stroll here with that special someone may just have you asking the friars to tie the knot that very same day (www.companionsofstanthony.org).
• The Wine Bin offers open air movies during the summer months right in Historic Ellicott City. It also offers fabulous wines at reasonable prices that you can purchase and take outside with you to enjoy during the film. There are even hand-crafted chocolates for you and your date to enjoy (www.winebinec.com).
• At Tea on the Tiber, you can experience the quiet elegance and refinement of a grand English tea parlor. As you sip your tea, you can imagine ladies and gentlemen of a bygone era in their afternoon finery enjoying the comfort and camaraderie of friends. Join them for an afternoon of fine teas and traditional English fare with your special someone (www.teaonthetiber.com).
• Enjoy a romantic flight for two at Friendship Hot Air Balloons. A 45–60-plus-minute sweetheart flight for you and that someone special can be scheduled Monday–Thursday. If you have a special request, call them to discuss details (www.ballooningusa.com).
