Although this article has a lot of great dating tips, advice, and ideas, it offers much more. It gives you an education and a step-by-step strategy that you can use to dramatically improve your dating success and enjoyment.

To draw your attention to key points, you will find these markers throughout the text: (Dating Tip:) & (Dating Ideas:).

Benefits to Mastery

Most of us approach dating in a lackadaisical manner as if our actions were dictated by instincts that we have no control over, like it is with animals. The difference, of course, is that humans have an infinitely superior intelligence that provides us with the ability to think, analyze, and choose.

Mastering dating rituals and techniques can change everything in terms of how successful you are in the courting process. This includes not only having the ability to recognize early when it’s time to move on, but also how to create romance and passion with the person you have determined to be a promising match. (Dating Tip:) Dating rituals and techniques create the mystery and romance that women love and render the enticement and passion that men love.

Other benefits to gaining these skills is having more poise and confidence, which translate to having more fun! The final reward is a successful dating experience with someone you recognize as being the one who’s right for you!

Building from the Basics

We will develop this information from a solid foundation by building from the basics of dating. For it is through the dating basics or rituals where we will apply the techniques that we shall learn about. Even the highly experienced dating veteran will benefit from this review.

The first date can produce a wide range of feelings from extreme nervousness and apprehension to being relaxed and self-assured for the well prepared or experienced. Opinions on how the date went can also vary widely from, “I think we had a great time” to “I’m not sure if either one of us had a good time or not.” The uncertainty and mixed emotions are normal. The variation to either end of the scale of possible emotions depends on how much dating experience a person has and how long it’s been since they dated last.

Responsibility for at least the first several dates, even by today’s standards, typically rests almost entirely on the man. Ladies can be helpful, however, by being cooperative with plans and gracious as her man tries his best to execute the various dating rituals and customs such as opening doors, ordering wine, and so forth without stumbling.

First Date

The first date should be scheduled a week to two (2) weeks in advance, and it should be on a weekday (Monday through Thursday), not Friday or Saturday night. Friday, and especially Saturday, nights are reserved for the more advanced stages of dating. If work or school schedules doesn’t permit this, then a date during the day on Saturday or Sunday will work. (Dating Tip:) Incidentally, you should be trying to date several people, or at least more than one (1), during your quest. Focusing on just one person can stifle your resolve to reach your target.

Guys, you should select a particular day and time for your date in advance of asking her. If she tells you that it’s not a good day, do not negotiate unless she offers a specific alternative that fits into your plan (Monday through Thursday, anytime, or Saturday or Sunday, during the day). If she doesn’t offer a specific alternative (This would not include, “Call me next week.”), say to her, “Perhaps some other time.” That’s it! (Dating Tip:) The reason for all these tactical moves is this: If she is interested, she will help make it happen by re-arranging her schedule or by offering a specific alternative. Ladies, I’m sure you will agree with this. (Dating Tip:) Gentlemen, if you do get an unclear response to your invitation for a date, then make the decision based on your gut instincts on whether you should give it a second try or move on. If the second try doesn’t work, then don’t waste your time, just move on! The same is true for the ladies. (Dating Tip:) If a guy is not following these guidelines by not giving you enough advanced notice, or he has no plans when he picks you up, or he’s not attentive during your dates, move on! In either case, the situation for the person you are attracted to could change in the future, but for now they are probably not interested.

The destination for your date should be simple and inexpensive, but clean and nice, and in your neighborhood. There is no sense investing your time or a lot of money until you determine if you like each other. (Dating Tip:) Most women will only become uncomfortable, or perceive you as being foolish, if you spend a month’s pay on the first date. (Dating Ideas:) Possible locations for a first date might be at a local tavern, a coffee house, or an inexpensive restaurant.

Your Best Act is Being Yourself

Don’t try to impress your date with your money, your position, your car, or your body measurements. Using these things to win someone over will only attract those with superficial intentions. (Dating Tip:) Win them over by showing them the qualities you have inside by simply being yourself.

Actually, the most important thing you can do on a date is to be yourself. There is always the temptation to act like the “Goddess Princess” or the “Knight in Shining Armor,” especially after a few drinks. There is also the tendency to go along with things that conflict with your values, or to overstate your accomplishments or virtues. Trying to be somebody you aren’t will not only bind you to a pack of lies, but it will often bring about an arrogant and conceited manner in you. It’s also a lot of work being someone you’re not. Wouldn’t you rather have someone fall in love with you as you truly are? Of course you would! So do it. Be yourself!

Attraction Intoxication

Although you may be intoxicated by the beautiful or handsome appearance of your date, do not reveal the full extent of your feelings just yet. Save that for the right moment several dates down the road. Just say, “You look very nice this evening.” and leave it at that. (Dating Tip:) In regard to sexual innuendoes, they have no place during the early stages of dating. They can be offensive to women, and sometimes to men as well.

Do not permit physical attraction (or lust) to cloud your judgment. When this happens, your vision begins to fade away, and you risk the chance of fooling yourself into believing that you have found the one who’s right for you. Don’t allow physical attraction to obscure your emotional requirements. Because when you find someone who satisfies both, the fireworks will be a continuous grand finale’, and not a brief show followed by a string of duds. So don’t settle for an individual who falls short of your vision. (Dating Tip:) To quickly determine if someone meets our criteria, we need to pay attention to our intuition and not be timid about attempting to determine their true character through tactful questions.

Tactical Questions

Keep the conversation light during the first few dates, but try to tactfully find out if your date has the qualities you seek in a partner or friend. (Dating Tip:) And don’t tell them your whole life story and all your intimate secrets right away. Prolong the mystery. In fact, always try to maintain some degree of anonymity in some area of your personality or life, as it naturally provokes more excitement. Mystery is a mental aphrodisiac!

Take notice of your date’s personality attributes and how they demonstrate their values through their actions and unrehearsed comments. Then ask yourself, “Do their responses reflect my values?” Human resource professionals carefully use crafted questions to get people to talk about themselves while they unwittingly reveal key aspects of their character. (Dating Tip:) Questions like these, used in a date setting, can also be revealing as well as lead to stimulating conversation.

On the first few dates, your questions should be geared toward discovering what you have in common and generating stimulating conversation. Save the more probing and tactical questions for a later time down the road. Typical questions might include:

- Where did you grow up?

- Do you have brothers/sisters?

- Where did you go to high school/college?

- What are your favorite movies?

- What are your favorite songs?

- What are your favorite sports?

- What type of books do you read?

More probing questions, which tend to reveal a lot about a person, should not occur until the third or fourth date. You can keep them from sounding like interview questions by presenting them playfully in a game-like manner. Probing questions might include:

- Where do you see yourself in three (3) to five (5) years?

- Using single words, how would you describe yourself?

- What’s your greatest achievement?

- What’s your greatest disappointment?

- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

- What is your best attribute?

Here are a few words of caution regarding the use of questions. (Dating Tip:) If you’re dating more than one person at the same time, and you have any tendency to get confused about what you’ve talked about with each individual, I would suggest that you make notes on what you talked about in your journal or calendar. Nothing is more disappointing to a date than when it is discovered that you can’t remember what you spoke to them about. (Dating Tip:) On the other hand, nothing is more charming to them than when you remember specific details about your conversation.

At the End & Before the Next Date

Gentlemen, if when saying good night on the first date you feel a kiss might be appropriate, kiss her once to the duration that feels right. (Dating Tip:) Then say good night, turn, and walk away. Do not linger, talk more, try to kiss her again, or ask her for a second date!

Ladies, be sure to thank your date for the things that he bought you during the date. Be sensitive to the fact that dating is expensive and you never know how deep a man is going into his current budget to take you out.

Wait a few days and think it over. Is he or she worth pursuing? If so, gentlemen call her about a week later and schedule the second date for around a week from then. (Dating Tip:) Ladies if you haven’t heard from him within two (2) weeks, move on! Don’t allow yourself to take it personally, even if you had a great time! Don’t waste your time trying to figure it out. Just get yourself back out there! Ladies, if you’re the one who’s not interested, simply refuse his offer for a date, even if you don’t have a date for the company Christmas party! You’d make a much better impression on your friends and management if you were there with someone who was truly right for you!

Second Date

The second date should be advanced one more step by scheduling it later in the week on a Thursday or Friday evening, or Sunday, but not Saturday night! The destination should remain inexpensive, but slightly more adventuresome. (Dating Ideas:) Perhaps a light dinner at a unique sandwich or coffee shop, a movie, a special ice cream parlor, and/or a walking tour through a popular area with a lot of interesting stores.

The goodbye kiss on the second date can last a little longer, or a kiss or two (2) during the date is OK, but don’t draw them out for too long. (Dating Tip:) Build up to that. Then later on down the line, after your friendship and feelings have been established, the long romantic kiss will be very heartfelt and memorable. If rushed, there’s the possibility that the progress of your relationship development may not match, resulting in an awkward moment. So let interest, excitement, and romance develop at its own pace and give your partner/friend something to think about between dates! (Dating Tip:) Gentlemen, after the goodnight kiss, if there is one (some people take longer and that’s OK too), say good night and leave. Do not linger! And do not schedule the next date then. Wait! Waiting not only gives you a cooling off period to get your head straight, but it also builds excitement and romance.

Third Date

If things seem to be advancing well and your date appears to fit your criteria so far, gentlemen, ask her for a third date after about a week and schedule it approximately a week in advance. And elevate the courting process to the next level, perhaps a Friday or even a Saturday night! (Dating Ideas:) Dinner and dancing, or dinner and a movie are good choices.

Ladies, if he doesn’t meet your criteria at this point, move on! (Dating Tip:) Don’t think that you can change him! Instead of wasting time, get back out there! If he calls, just tell him that your situation has changed and you’re no longer available. If he’s persistent, be honest, but also remember to be kind and empathetic. Just tell him something like, “I think we would both be happier with someone else.”

I am placing more emphasis at this point on the ladies decision on whether they should move on because women typically have better judgment than men during the early stages of dating. Later on, it switches.

Dancing Expresses the Heart

I am going to change directions for a couple of minutes to provide you with some important and exciting thoughts about dancing. Let me start by giving you a bit of history on dancing. Humans have been dancing for thousands of years. Many different forms and uses evolved along with the development of human society. Although dancing was used for a wide variety of situations, its underlining purpose in most of them was to inspire and to gain unity of thought or focus. Male warriors danced together to strengthen one another, females danced together to support one another, spiritual leaders danced to achieve a closer connection with their higher power, and lovers danced together to celebrate, connect, and express their affections for each other.

I would suspect that the greatest number of dance variations, especially in modern society, exist between men and women. There’s the waltz, the tango, the swing, the two-step, and many more. My favorite is the free-style dance that you might see in a nightclub, because it allows complete freedom to express your individuality.

Whatever your tastes are in dance, what is important is whether or not you and your partner/friend harmonize in style, rhythm, and tempo. (Dating Tip:) If not, it is very likely that you will not harmonize in other major areas of your relationship as well, but especially in the area of romantic compatibility.

Think back. Have you ever danced with someone who seemed to be dancing alone? They moved in a manner and speed that was way out of rhythm from yours? Have you ever danced with someone who forcibly led with his or her own style without regard to whether you were following or enjoying it? Have you ever noticed how this same person tried to control everything off the dance floor as well? It’s very uncomfortable to be in these situations and not enjoyable or fun as it should be.

In contrast, when you find someone who harmonizes with your dancing style, the activity can be both fun and erotic! You will also find that you get along, almost mysteriously well, off the dance floor as well! If you can’t fully appreciate the amorous and romantic aspects of dancing, rent the movie “Dirty Dancing.”

You can see then that the way a person dances is really an expression of their internal self. (Dating Tip:) Therefore, it is important to zero in on this aspect of your interactions when you’re with someone. Don’t settle for less, either. Dancing with the one who’s right can be absolutely magical! And your dancing skills really have little to do with it. Now let’s return to our main topic.

Evaluate Your Aim

After the third date, it’s time to consider if you should continue dating this person or not. (Dating Tip:) Start by reviewing your criteria for an ideal partner or friend and comparing it to the person you’ve been seeing. If you have not yet created a list of criteria for your perfect partner, I would strongly suggest that you do.

Do not rationalize! Think carefully about your evaluation and then make a decision to continue or move on. And stick to it! Incidentally, this choice becomes a lot easier if you’re dating more than one person at the same time, which is highly recommended.

Reality before Sex

If you’ve decided to proceed, and you feel sex is a possibility, it’s time to revisit reality, and discuss contraception and protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). This would be appropriate for couples of any age. (Dating Tip:) You may feel uncomfortable with the thought of discussing these subjects with your partner/friend, but it’s your life and these issues must be resolved. One bad choice in this area can instantly ruin your life forever!

(Dating Tip:) I would strongly suggest no matter how truthful, safe, and healthy your partner/friend seems, that you make certain that an adequate birth control method is being used, and that you both get tested for STD’s before your first sexual encounter. If you don’t have medical insurance to cover these expenses, most local health departments offer birth control counseling and STD testing for free or at a nominal fee.

Fourth through Sixth Date

If you’re ready to move on to dates four (4) through six (6) it’s time to start planning some adventures. (Dating Ideas:) Guys, get creative and do some research to find some unique restaurants and activities such as dinner cruises, plays, concerts, or special events. Concentrate on the activities that would take you outside of the area where your date lives or works. Your objective is to create unique, memorable, and adventurous experiences together.

After the sixth date, it’s time (once again) to consider whether or not you want to continue dating this person. (Dating Tip:) Again, review your criteria for an ideal partner or friend. At this point, it may be more difficult to break away or think clearly, especially if you’ve been intimate and your weekends are no longer lonely but filled with the excitement of dating! Think carefully about your evaluation, and then go with your gut instincts as to whether you should continue or end it. Keep in mind that it’s a lot easier to end a relationship in the early stages than later. In fact, as time goes on, it gets progressively more difficult. So give it serious consideration, and don’t allow a temporary good time to postpone your discovery of the one who’s right! If you decide to continue though, do so with gusto!

Seventh through Ninth Date

If you decide to move on to dates seven (7) through nine (9), it’s time for some trips, some introductions into your personal world, and some romantic activities. Ladies, at this point, it would be fitting for you to start planning an activity every once in a while, where you pay for a portion or all of the expense. Even if it’s just a home-cooked meal, most men will love it! (Dating Tip:) Guys, some brainstorming and research may be required here. Also, planning an activity together might be appropriate, allow you to see how you work together, and may result in a truly memorable experience!

(Dating Ideas:) Trips might include an entire day (or evening) at an amusement park, cultural center, a specialty show, a zoo, or a museum. For those who are more sports orientated, a day of snow or water skiing, sailing, golf, or tennis may be more of an appeal. (Dating Tip:) Exposure to each other’s personal world is necessary so that you can thoroughly assess the integrity of your matching. This means that you need to introduce your partner/friend to a couple of people and activities that are important to you in your life. Then you will need to do the same with your partner/friend and gain exposure to key people and activities in their life. (Dating Tip:) You will then be able to determine whether or not your two (2) lives will blend together successfully. (Dating Ideas:) Romantic activities can vary from a walk on the beach, a picnic in the country, or a candle light dinner at home to those of greater intimacy such as a weekend at a resort.

After the ninth (9th) date, it’s time (once again) to evaluate whether or not you want to continue the relationship. (Dating Tip:) Again, review your criteria for an ideal partner or friend.

At this point, the idea of breaking it off can be painful. But if it’s not working by now, I can assure you, it probably never will! So if your evaluations on this person are coming out poorly and they have few, if any, of the qualities you “must have” or “cannot have” in a relationship then you need to face facts. (Dating Tip:) Don’t rationalize! Don’t sell yourself short! And don’t waste anymore time! Think carefully about the conclusions you came to in your evaluation. Make a decision, and don’t look back!

If, on the other hand, you determine that the person you are dating matches your criteria for an ideal partner or friend, and you feel that the chemistry is right, then continue on without fear, without hesitation, and without measure of what you expect to receive in return!

Q. Is there anything real behind a love quiz?

A. Good question. The answer is “maybe, maybe not”. You see, the value of a love quiz depends upon who designed it and what the purpose of the love quiz is. If it was written by a magazine writer, for entertainment purposes, then that’s a good example of the “maybe not” category. However, if the love quiz was written by a professional who is trained in behavioral sciences, psychology, or relationship counseling, then you might be over into the “maybe so” side of the answer.

You see, a love quiz can be based upon real, substantive issues, questions that really matter and answers that provide insight, or they can be frivolous and designed to give a few yucks to a group of bored girls.

If your love quiz has questions such as: “How important to you is quality time apart in a relationship?”, or “Could you forgive infidelity if you were partially to blame for the act being committed?”, then the love quiz is attempting to identify core relationship issues that tell you something about yourself and/or your significant other.

If, on the other hand, the love quiz has questions like: “Could you date a guy who wore braces?”, or “What would you do if your crush burped in front of you?”, then you’re probably reading a teen magazine love quiz that has no significant value.

Even a love quiz that is written with the best intentions can provide misleading results if taken in an uncontrolled environment where the quiz taker may not understand a particular question or where the possible answers are confusing or poorly worded. For the best results, a genuine love quiz should be administered by a professional and the answers analyzed afterwards. That way issues can be explored and answers clarified.

The true purpose behind a professionally designed love quiz, especially a love quiz that is taken by both people in the relationship, is to determine whether or not the relationship has a long-term chance of survival based upon quantifiable personality characteristics that have been determined to be important in committed relationships.

These characteristics include all of the traits that you might expect such as: honesty, integrity, understanding, forgiveness, drive, ambition, moral strength, religious views, political affiliations, money management skills, sense of humor, and the importance of physical attractiveness to the other person.

By taking a love quiz that explores these issues, and having the results mediated by a qualified professional, a couple has the opportunity to make decisions about the viability of a long term relationship based upon their view of what is important to each other. If a love quiz results in one partner having viewpoints that are too far apart form the other partner’s, then a red flag should be raised.

An entertaining love quiz, on the other hand, is best reviewed by a bunch of friends chatting on AOL Instant Messenger or their cell phones.

Whether the love quiz is for real, or for enjoyment only, the quiz takers should be cautioned against putting too much value in the final results.

No one should make long term relationship decisions based upon someone else’s standards. In the end it is the magic and chemistry between two people that provides the answers to the only love quiz that really matters!

Brian Fong run the popular quiz site http://www.QuizFaq.com Quiz Faq – Your solutions for the quiz

Romance in in the air, February 14th, 2010 is coming up and now is the time to start looking at Romantic Valentines Day Gifts. What makes up a Romantic Valentine gift idea? First, lets answer that by figuring out what Romance is and what it has to do with Valentine’s Day and Love. “Romance is…the attempt to express love with words or deeds… romance usually…an expression of one’s love, or one’s deep emotional desires to connect with another person.” and “‘Valentines Day… is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery.”and “Valentines Day… is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each…” at least this is what Wikipedia says. So. the whole idea behind giving Valintines Day presents is to express our bond to our love by giving them a gift, not just any gift though, this needs to be unique valentines gifts that is are a symbol of our love and connection.

A personalized Valentine Day gift can come in many forms. No matter what form it comes in just be sure it is a true reflection of the recipient, Your Love. By form I mean is it chocolate, flowers, bath and body, a combination of these found in Valentine’s Day gift baskets or is it something totally different and not even something thought of as traditional Romantic Valentines Day Gifts.

Unique Valentines gifts don’t even need to have a physical form. A romantic valentine day gift idea could be just taking the time out from our busy world to have a romantic stroll through the park, after all romance and Valentines Day is an expression of our love and the bound we share. A Romantic stroll or getting up early to prepare a special breakfast is such a deeper expression of love than leaving a store bought card that was picked up in haste at the corner store.

Homemade Valentines Day gifts can be some of the best Romantic Valentines Day Gifts. These gifts don’t need to be something tacky quickly thrown together. Thanks to computers and the internet it can be easy to be creative even for those of use that are all thumbs. Set up a romantic valentines homepage which reflects the time you have spent together. Go ahead and create your own Valentines card using the publishing software out there. Put together a Flikr showcase made up of photos of you and your Love spending time together. There are so many resources today that you have many option to create unique valentines gifts with that homemade touch.

Not all Valintines Day gifts need to be of a serious, traditional nature. If your Love has a great sense of humor give a gift they will get a kick out of such as giant chocolate lips. If you use extra good judgment you may even pick gifts that are of a more practical nature. If your Love is a runner, pick out a heart rate monitor (notice the Valentines heart connection?). If your Love is a Gardener, pick out a bath and body set that is made up with special soap for cleaning the dirt off hands. There are many beautiful gifts set with the gardener in mind.

No matter what Romantic Valentines Day Gifts you come up with just be sure that they do meet the requirements to qualify as romantic. Is it an expression of your love, and your deep emotional desires to connect with your Love?

Scott Orcutt enjoyed running his own gift and country store where he had the pleasure of helping his customers find the perfect Romantic Valentines Day Gifts.

Planning a romantic dinner date is not always easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard either. You want your dinner date to be special and romantic for your partner, but you also want to be able to not have the stress of worrying about everything. Follow these five simple steps to learn more about planning a dinner date for your partner.

1. Pick the Place – The first step to planning any romantic dinner date is to pick the location. You can choose to go romantic outside, with a restaurant that has outside seating, or maybe you could even opt for a picnic under the stars. You could also choose to go super fancy with an elegant restaurant reservation made six months in advance. Whatever you choose, make sure that you put some thought into it.
2. Make Special Arrangements – If you are eating at a restaurant, try to get a special table reserved, or plan another special treat for the two of you. One of the steps to a successful romantic dinner date is planning some surprises into the mix. If you are having a candlelight dinner at home, why not make a CD that is filled with all of your favorite songs as a couple. These little touches are what will make your dinner truly romantic.
3. Dress to Impress – No matter what location you choose for your romantic dinner date, you should dress to impress. Doing this lends a romantic air to the night, and lets your date know that you cared enough to get dressed up for the special occasion.
4. Relax – You can’t have a romantic dinner date if you are uptight and worried about how things might go. Try to relax and just think about the fun that you will have on your date with your partner.
5. Communicate – The one way that you can make any romantic date better is by communicating with your partner. If you take advantage of this opportunity to really let your partner know how you feel about them and your relationship, then your date will be even more special.

There are only five easy steps to planning a successful romantic dinner date. There is no reason to get stressed out over the planning of such a date, and when you are relaxed and calm you and your partner will have a much better time.

Missy Montana – EzineArticles.com Expert Author

There is a wide range of possibilities for romantic getaways. They can also serve a variety of purposes. It all depends on your personal tastes, style, and situation. When most of us think of romantic vacations, images of island beaches, exotic cocktails, and candlelight dinners usually come to mind. Although these things are fantastic, other activities can do more to improve your relationship and romantic experience. Depending on the type of getaway you choose, sometimes the improvements can be dramatic!

If you’re just looking for fun or spontaneous getaway ideas you’ll find them here as well. In fact, I feel that these trips have their own special benefits. For example, having a carefree anything goes attitude while you’re in an unfamiliar environment can have a stimulating affect on romance and relationship development.

What I am offering here are some traditional and unique getaway ideas and some alternatives for those who want to enhance, rejuvenate, or repair their relationship and/or themselves. Romantic vacations provide the opportunity to enrich your relationship and create a magnificent memory. The degree to which this happens is up to you.

A menu of romantic getaways is shown below. Just scroll down to the title to read it.

Romantic Getaways (RG) MENU

-RG Near Home
-RG For Adventure
-RG For Fitness Refinement
-RG For Relationship Renewal
-RG To Island Paradises

Romantic Getaways Near Home

Romantic getaways near home are an option that most people never consider. The first thing we think of when planning a vacation is going to a faraway place. The thought of going to a romantic resort thousand miles away from home can be enticing. But if you want a romantic getaway that’s near home there’s a great alternative that I discovered many years ago.

An old classmate and I were planning a trip to Hawaii to relive an adventure we had there during a summer break from college, but my friend had to cancel at the last minute. The trip would not have been the same without my friend so I started to look for an alternative.

I came up with what I later discovered was a great vacation idea. I decided to pick a location that was within an hour’s drive from where I lived. Once I zeroed into the actual location I couldn’t figure out why I never thought of it before. The location I selected was Laguna Beach, California, which was less then 45 minutes from my house! Laguna Beach is an art colony the runs along some of the most beautiful coastline in Southern California.

I stayed at hotel right on the beach in the center of town. It was magnificent! Here’s what I discovered about vacating in a location that was near home. It is much less stressful to get to than distant locations– no airports, airplanes, buses, or taxis. It is much less expensive– minimal travel expenses. And the best bonus of all was the ability to invite friends to join me for various activities throughout my vacation.

What made the trip even more spectator was the fact that I was there during the world famous Laguna Beach Arts Festival! It was perfect! I have continued to schedule short local vacations to this day.

Most of us have a couple of nice hotels not far from where we live. If you are interested in this idea, I would suggest that you visit the hotels that you’re considering for your romantic getaway. Most of us have never been in the hotels within our own city. I think you’ll be surprised by what you find. I certainly was. I had no idea that the three (3) hotels in my city were so elegant. Once I stepped inside, I felt like I was in another town thousands of miles away. In addition to looking at the hotel, I would also recommend that you check out the restaurants and nightclubs in and around the property.

For a romantic getaway near home, make reservations for 1 or 2 nights at a nice hotel within an hour’s drive from where you live. To make the trip even more memorable, you might schedule it during a special event that is taking place near the hotel. If you’re not familiar with what events might be scheduled, contact the hotel. They’ll be happy to provide you with this information.

I particularly like romantic getaways near home because I can afford to do them more often.

Romantic Getaways For Adventure

The list of possible romantic getaways for adventure is extensive. The uniqueness of these getaways is that the adventure itself produces a special kind of romance. The elements of danger and mystery that are a normal part these activities expand the dimensions of a relationship. In a tiny way, it is similar to what happens when people experience the dangers of being in combat together. The extreme circumstances propel them beyond typical relationship development parameters and they end up creating the closest friendships of their lives!

Popular romantic getaways for adventure include snow skiing, water skiing, jet skiing, scuba diving, riving rafting, and backpacking trips.

For more extreme romantic getaways for adventure, try skydiving, mountain climbing, or bungee jumping. If you want to truly bare your souls to one another while looking into the face of God, go for one these adventures. I’ve never tried any of them but I’ve been told, as I indicated above, that they take you to a place spiritually that can only be understood by those who have done it. One couple told me that they had instant clarity on whether they should remain together or separate after they went sky diving. They were married less than six months later!

Some less semi-extreme adventures include hot air ballooning, parasailing, and cavern repelling.

Hot air ballooning has become more and more popular over the years. People who’ve done it say that there is nothing like it. A friend of mine who attends ballooning events annually talks fondly about the stillness, the incredible views, and the beauty of the balloons, which are usually very colorful. There are many companies that offer packages for groups and couples complete with wine, cheese, and crackers.

Parasailing is an activity that you normally find at waterfront resort locations. Parasailing takes you flying through the air by being towed behind boat while attached to a special parachute, known as a parasail. Many operators can take two (2) people up at the same time.

Cavern repelling is similar to rock climbing, but instead of climbing up you repel down into a subterranean cave. You might find yourself not only wrestling with your courage because you’re hanging over 150 feet from the bottom, but also captivated at the same time by the amazing geological formations. Unlike rock or mountain climbing, there isn’t much skill or physical strength required for repelling.

I repelled down Moaning Cavern in Vallecito, California. A girlfriend, who had already repelled there once before, insisted that we do it together as a way to enrich our relationship. It worked! The experience of confronting fear together in such a majestic environment added a new dimension to our relationship.

Romantic getaways for adventure can inspire a relationship to grow in unique ways. The outcome can be greater fulfillment and romance!

Romantic Getaways For Fitness Refinement

Romantic getaways for fitness refinement are a choice that can only be fully appreciated by couples who are passionate about fitness. I am going to present two (2) options. The first one is created and guided by someone else. The second one is created and guided by you. If you want some ideas for the second choice, a suggested plan is included.

For a fitness refinement vacation that is organized and lead by someone else, there are resorts, companies, and individuals who specialize in these. They usually offer fitness training, healthy meals, spa services, and wide range of related classes and seminars. If you want a highly structured fitness vacation with like-minded people than this is the right choice for you.

If you prefer privacy, control of your schedule, and the ability to select the location that you want, I would recommend creating your own fitness refinement vacation. This may be the best choice for a romantic getaway for fitness refinement. In addition, it may be more economical. Here’s a suggested plan:

1. Pick a location that you’ve always wanted to visit and then find a hotel that has a nice fitness center, spa, pool, and maybe a tennis court.
2. Create a daily schedule for yourselves that includes aerobic and resistance exercise; sports activites such tennis, canoeing, or surfing; and spa activities such as saunas, massages, and skin treatments.
3. Create a daily nutritional plan that includes supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and other key substances; fresh juice preferably from a local juice bar or health food store; and predetermined breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that are in low fat, animal products, and sugar, but includes lots of fruits and vegetables.
4. Set some fitness refinement goals. These might include goals for body weight, exercise, and nutrition. Setting goals will make the vacation experience more interesting. It can also add an element of competition, which can be an aphrodisiac for many people.
5. Purchase at least three (3) books that focus on exercise, nutrition, supplements, and personal development. So that you can find the best ones, start looking for these books well in advance of your vacation. If you can afford it, purchase two (2) copies of each book so that you can read and discuss them at the same time.
6. Pick a reward to give yourselves each day for achieving your fitness goals. The rewards might include purchasing a special activity such as swimming with some dolphins or renting a land or water vehicle, buying a new item of clothing or accessory, or getting tickets to a concert or other entertainment.
7. Select a super reward to give yourselves at the end of your vacation for achieving your fitness goals. You could give yourselves this reward at the end of your vacation or at a convenient time when you return. Super rewards might include going to a special dinner at a fancy restaurant or going to a leading concert or play.

The objective of romantic getaways for fitness refinement is to discover the sexiness of fitness and to reap the benefits of looking and feeling great, having stimulating conversation, and experiencing unrivaled romance!

Romantic Getaways For Relationship Renewal

One of the best choices for romantic getaways for relationship renewal is to attend a couples’ retreat. A couples’ retreat can be a tremendous learning and growing experience for you as a couple and as individuals. It can help to increase your knowledge about each other, resolve longstanding conflicts, and create more intimacy in your relationship. They can also provide you with the opportunity to meet other couples. And they can be just plain fun!

I’ve attended a number of couples’ retreats and seminars. I’ve also produced one for my non-profit singles organization and was guest speaker at some others. I found them to be very enlightening and enjoyable. I was particularly surprised by what I learned about myself.

There are many different types of couples’ retreats. Many of them specialize in relationship renewal while others have a health or spiritual emphasis. The duration of the retreat can range from one (1) day to a week or more.

Many different types of organizations offer couples’ retreats. Some of them are lead by psychologists or clergy. Others are lead by individuals or couples who through their passion in this area have become experts.

The costs vary widely depending on the popularity of the leader, the location, and the length.

If you prefer a private relationship renewal activity, create your own by finding a good book on the subject that contains couple’s communication processes and exercises. Then integrate these activities into a vacation or weekend getaway. This effort might provide the information that you both need to renew your relationship.

The immediate benefit to a romantic getaway for relationship renewal is the spark of passion that it can create. When I attended a couples’ retreat during a relationship that had become stale, I was astounded by the intensity of our passion afterwards. I found that the elation of resolving a number of longstanding problems instantly renewed our passion.

Romantic Getaways To Island Paradises

Romantic getaways to island paradises is the first choice for many people. Considering the incredible beauty they can have, it’s easy to understand why. The key to making to most of these vacations is learning about the secrets to island romance. I will share these secrets with you along with some travel tips from the perspective of a former island resident- me.

I once asked a seasoned executive with a large travel company, who had been around the world many times, what the best resort locations were for value, beauty, and romance. Without hesitation he said, “Bermuda, Fiji, and Hawaii!” Since his job centered on large corporate clients, his choices were most likely based on hotel quality, accessibility, and safety. Many other people who I’ve asked the same question gave me the same locations.

Tropical islands have always had a reputation for being the perfect romantic getaway and I think I know why. I lived on two (2) different islands in Hawaii at different points in my life and have visited there more times than I can count. It didn’t take me long to discover the secrets to island romance.

I was 19 years old the first time I lived in Hawaii. I rented an apartment in Waikiki on the island of Oahu and drove a white Cadillac taxi. In Hawaii, many of the taxis are luxury vehicles and almost all of them look normal except for the magnetized taxi dome on the roof. I’ve never seen a better place to work as a taxi driver. This exciting job exposed me to all aspects of the city and culture. Many years later, I lived in Kihei on the island of Maui and worked as an area manager for a national company.

Here are the secrets to island romance.

Island Spirit: The majority of the people on the island are there for vacation/holiday or a honeymoon. This produces an atmosphere that is relaxed, happy, and festive.

Romantic Expectations: Many of people who come to resort islands have strong expectations for romance. Usually they have imagined the romance that they desire for months, or even years before they arrive. This was one of many questions that I would ask customers who were riding in my taxi.

Warm Balmy Weather: This kind of weather allows people to wear very little clothing, skimpy outfits, and bathing suits every day. It also invites people to get wet in pools, showers, and in the ocean. Do I need to explain further?

Fragrant Tropical Flowers: There is an abundance of highly fragrant flowers everywhere! With such a concentration of flowers, there is a wonderful aroma in the air. This is especially true late at night and early in the morning. These exotic fragrances inspire romance!

Clean Fresh Air: Its isolated location, frequent strong winds and rain, and limited industrial activites provide islands with some of the best air on earth! The quality of this air refreshes and invigorates your body. You can imagine what it does for your libido.

Incomparable Sunsets: The clean air, abundant clouds, and oceanfront landscapes unite together to create magnificent sunsets almost every day! No wonder it’s a Hawaiian tradition to celebrate the end of each day with a ceremony. Few things are more romantic than sharing a sunset, or a sunrise.

Visual Sensations: By having rich soil, ideal climate, clean air, and clear water the colors of the sky, ocean, and vegetation are extremely vivid! This extraordinary beauty has an energizing affect.

Island Music: Island music is typically festive, lively, and romantic. Hawaiian music is a little different from what you’d find in places like the Caribbean. It uses different instruments, its style is a more laid back, and it contains more story telling and romantic ballads. Getting into the traditional local music is a great way to appreciate the spirit and rhythm of whatever island you visit.

Ocean Wave Sounds: There is something magical about the rhythmic sounds of waves hitting the shore. Even when you’re not looking at them, their sounds remind you of their presence and their tempo has a relaxing affect on your mind.

Put all these things together and you have the perfect formula for a romantic getaway to island paradises!

Because of its vast infrastructure and location on main travel routes, Hawaii offers the best value for the money that I have found. In addition, there are hotel and travel packages to fit every budget.

When it comes to romantic getaways to island paradises, all you really need to pack is your bathing suit, sunglasses, and toothbrush and you’re ready to go!

Aloha!

Brad Paul
Solotopia.com

Romance is something that all people need to embrace. This is mainly because when you have it, statistics show that you will not just live longer but will have more value for your life. Romance is never easy to get but, we all have the capacity to look for romance and maintain it in our lives. The first thing will be to look for information or insight into romance. A romance forum is the venue you need to be at. This is because a lot of issues will be discussed and by the end of any session, you will get great tips on how to build romance after you look for it. Many times, romance seems to find us but, even if this is the case, you need to prepare your heart for romance. A good romance forum will start by discussing what the meaning of romance really is. When you think romance, you think subtle pleasure and sparks of love flying all over. Romance is what we make it and, when we choose to make it excellent, it will be just that. A good forum will help you and give you practical ways on how to rekindle the romance that is lost.

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