Right smack in the middle of cold February is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate the warmth of love. While some options are off-limits for Mainers — a romantic picnic or other warm-weather activities aren’t really in the cards — there’s plenty to do to show your loved one how much you care and stay cozy in the process.
Go for a stroll along a waterside trail.
Unless you’re an avid winter hiker, February is not known for its ideal walking conditions. Fortunately, there are in-town walking paths across the state that are city-maintained and kept ice-free. In Portland, both the Bayside Trail and Back Cove Trail offer scenic views of Back Cove, while in Brewer, the Brewer Riverwalk runs a mile along the Penobscot River. In Belfast, the Harbor Walk is in use year round by runners and walkers, and includes the picture-perfect footbridge across the Passagassawakeag River.
Want to make a date of it with a post-walk beverage? Belleflower Brewing, Lone Pine Brewing, Goodfire Brewing, Urban Farm Fermentory and Blue Lobster Urban Winery are all within a stone’s throw of both trails in Portland. Mason’s Brewing and High Tide Restaurant are both directly adjacent to the Brewer Riverwalk, and in Belfast, Marshall Wharf Brewing Company has a cozy fireplace to warm up next to after your walk.
Go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Did you know there are multiple places across the state where you can go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride? What’s more romantic than dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh? “Jingle Bells” wasn’t originally a Christmas song, after all. You can really wow that special someone by signing up for a sleigh ride at places like Leonard’s Mills in Bradley, which offers rides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday through March 2, for $10 per person; call 207-944-2999 to confirm. Your valentine will have to forgive you for postponing the celebrations until the weekend.
Multiple other farms across the state offer sleigh rides, including Winterberry Farm (207-649-3331) in Belgrade, High View Farm (207-595-1601) in Harrison and Drafty Acres Farm (207-416-8132) in Palmyra. Each place offers packages as simple as just the sleigh ride to full experiences for up to four people including hot cocoa, a pot of soup, a campfire and sledding or skating excursions. Make sure to call before you plan anything with your honey bunny.
Dine in a heated igloo or patio.
Outdoor dining isn’t particularly pleasant this time of year — unless you’ve got a heated igloo or patio. Several restaurants across the state have got just that, so you can enjoy the frosty views and, in the case of igloos, have a bit of privacy. In southern Maine, Harbor Bistro & Terrace in Portland and Pineland Farms in Gray both have igloo seating, while Chaval and Terlingua, both in Portland, have heated outdoor patios. In the Bangor area, both Timber in Bangor and Kanu in Old Town have igloos, the former on the patio and the latter on the rooftop bar.
Go north.
We’d be willing to bet that quite a few Mainers have never ventured north into Aroostook County. The County is not just an undiscovered land for southern Maine city folk, but also stunningly beautiful and a truly unique corner of this country. Here’s an idea for a romantic adventure: tell your valentine to pack a bag, pile into the car and drive north on I-95 until the highway ends. You could check out Houlton’s adorable downtown, drive the length of the scale model of the solar system, experience some winter sports, seek out ployes or tourtiere, or simply marvel at the natural beauty of the St. John Valley. The people are incredibly nice. You will hear French being spoken. L’amour feels cozy in The County.
Cozy up with a Maine-set romantic comedy.
With V-Day falling on a weekday, you may want to stay in on Wednesday night. You can still mark the occasion with a Maine-set romantic movie, where the only dress code is pajamas and the menu is whatever you want it to be. For classic movie lovers, the romantic drama “A Summer Place” or the Marilyn Monroe-starring “How To Marry a Millionaire” are both set in Maine seaside villages. For more contemporary movies, “Hope Springs,” starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, is set in a movie version of Camden, and “Tumbledown,” starring Jason Sudeikis, is set in a small Maine mountain town.
