Married readers share best date ideas

| Sunday, February 11, 2007

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We asked readers to tell us about the best dates they have shared with their husband or wife. Here are their stories.

A passion for biking

My husband has been an avid “biker” (bicycle) rider for many years. Together, we had not been able to pursue his passion due to life (job, kids, parents, on and on). However, a couple of years ago, we made “us” a priority. We set the goal to ride in a charity ride: The Montana MS 150. We needed to train for several months to complete this, so we started making early morning rides (the kids are now old enough to be at home without supervision for a couple of hours) a priority. These turned into occasional daylong rides on the Mickelson Trail, with the ultimate “date” being the two days it took to complete the ride from Billings to Red Lodge and back. We are doing it again this year.

Last year, we were going to attempt the Black Hills W.R.A.T.H., but building a new home got in the way (that is a whole other date story). This is a fantastic “date.” John and I are 40ish and not the “buff” biker types, but it allowed us to spend time together, do something very worthwhile and teach our children you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it … and that Mom and Dad need time to spend alone. Happy parents make for happy children.

— Lori Schaefbauer, Rapid City

A Hawaiian treasure hunt

Several years ago, my wife, Nancy, and I took a vacation to Hawaii and the island of Kauai. I had found on the internet a romantic treasure hunt that was offered by the owners of a bed-and-breakfast in which we would be staying. It sounded interesting and romantic so I arranged in advance to have this done.

We were given a treasure hunt kit and then followed the clues to various locations and different “do’s” to perform. All of the “do’s” were either written or verbal — things that you had to recall about your relationship. On Kauai, it took us to different beaches.

The final clue was a map hidden in a treasure box that gave us directions to a location for a romantic beachside dinner. A gourmet dinner was served under a canopy on a secluded beach location. It was a total surprise for my wife and was wonderful — she talks about it often.

— Wes Nelson, Sturgis

Scenic city bridges

We lived in the New York City area during the time the five bridges to New York City had no tolls to pay. One of our dates before and after we were married was driving along each of the bridges at night. The beauty of the lights, the intricate symmetry of the bridge cables against the moon waxed poetic for us. A scene like this is created in the movie “Moonstruck” and in the rolls of “Law and Order.”

When we drove along each bridge, a whirring sound was created like the sound of a sailboard whirring in the wind. The sound created between the car’s wheels and the cables “singing” in the wind. It was almost hypnotic.

Today, there aren’t many bridges without tolls in New York City. There are few bridges in Rapid City or South Dakota, but driving a vehicle under an overpass has a similar sensation as long as it isn’t raining or snowing. It is not an expensive date.

— Anne Fauvell, Rapid City

The gift of time

My husband and I had a great date several years ago. My uncle had given us some money for Christmas and told us to buy ourselves something special. We waited until February, put the kids in day care, drove south of Lead to Dampiers and rented a snowmobile for the afternoon. There weren’t many people on the trail that Tuesday afternoon. We had the hills to ourselves. With youngsters, one gets caught up with constantly caring for them. That afternoon, we remembered how much we enjoyed each other’s company and what brought us together in the first place. We did buy something special with that money — time together.

— Jeanne and George Whalen, Aladdin, Wyo.

‘Anytime’ dates

I am grateful that a romantic date need not occur only on Valentine’s Day. The past few years, I have spent Valentine’s Day either sitting in the House Gallery in the South Dakota Legislature attempting to catch my husband’s eye and mouth “Happy Valentine’s Day” or waiting at home for a card or a delivery from the florist. The latter would be rare but happens occasionally. A plant, though. Almost never a bouquet. Cut flowers on his extravagance meter rank about even with red sports cars or two drinks in a bar.

He’s more romantic than I am making him sound. Sometimes when he hasn’t found an appropriate card, he writes a love letter. That’s pretty romantic.

But, to the point: If Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, to avoid the crowds, we often have a “dinner date at home.” As a prelude to a favorite meal, we light the candles, sit by the fire and enjoy a drink. (If I didn’t like to cook, this would not be a good idea, but I do like to cook, so it works.) We opt often for “dinner dates at home.”

Sometimes, we make a date to drive out into the Black Hills — and we are all so lucky — the hills are minutes away. Finding a secluded hilltop and flat rock, we just sit and breathe in the scented air.

On a quiet day, we listen to the sounds of silence; on a breezy day, the whisper of the spruce and pine trees.

Or, we make an “antique/ junk shop” date. While he engages in nostalgic puttering around old farm machinery and pre-electricity equipment, I may find that candlestick holder matching the one at home, or another Norman Rockwell iced tea glass for my collection. We love museums, and these places are really museums — except the stuff that is for sale. Before heading home, we find a cozy spot for dinner.

Actually, anytime we are together, it is a “date.” Our morning coffee and the newspaper, a trip to the dump, Sunday morning church with brunch afterwards, an afternoon walk, everyday conversation — the togetherness makes all of it special.

I’m looking forward to our next “date” if this Legislative session ever ends.

— Doris Marie Strom and Ed McLaughlin, Rapid City