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Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature: Nordik Group Leo Mol Sculpture Garden: Assiniboine Park Conservancy 45 www.tourismwinnipeg.com Winnipeg Itineraries Romance Awaits You in Winnipeg You looking to get a little romantic on your trip to Winnipeg? Well, I'm here to help. I know all the ins and outs of turning up the heat here during our sultry summers (oh so hot) when love is always in the air. First off, let's get you two a room, shall we? If you are into a little bit of that old-world grandeur, then the always classy Fort Garry Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre would be perfect. When you approach this stunning façade you'll see how its polished brass rails invite you in through the lobby for drinks in the elegant Palm Lounge, where evenings almost always feature someone tickling the ivories on the grand piano. If the two of you are into nouveau chic boutique hotels, then book yourself in at the Mere Hotel, located right on Waterfront Drive, Winnipeg's newest, trendiest part of the Exchange District. Grab a quick breakfast at the adjacent Cibo Waterfront Café (they make a luscious, flaky croissant) and start your day exploring Winnipeg looking sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two. That's right! What could be more romantic than seeing the city riding on a tandem bike from Bee2Gether Bike Rentals. It's conveniently located at The Forks, just a five-minute walk from the Mere. The Forks flaunts tree-lined trails that expose all the bends in the shoreline, or you can hop on a riverboat that will ride the currents of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, all while you embrace and observe our sexy new skyline. Afterwards, you should hit the streets of Winnipeg where romance permeates like music from the Exchange District's outdoor Cube stage. A nice little spot to do some handholding in the summer is on the patio at Peasant Cookery, where you can savour French-inspired fare while listening to any number of local or international acts that play on the Cubes' futuristic stage. Or, grab a coffee from Parlour Coffee because nothing says lovin' like frothy milk perched atop a strong shot of espresso. Then take your special someone and explore the Exchange District's many cool shops and galleries. If you want to buy their love, how about some one-of-a-kind house-made jewellery from Hilary Druxman? Then saddle up on that cycle and feel the rush of wind in your hair as the cupids fly overhead slinging you two love birds with arrows of youthful exuberance. Leaving downtown, set your sights on Wellington Crescent where your path will take you past Winnipeg's most stately homes and into Assiniboine Park, where a stroll through the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden awaits. This tranquil garden contains more than 300 awe- inspiring works from Mol, the renowned Ukrainian Canadian sculptor, including depictions from Greek mythology like Europa and the Bull, which if you know your classics is pretty much foreplay. From there, have a picnic amongst Assiniboine Park's expansive green spaces. You could pick up lunch from The Park Café at the Qualico Family Centre, then take a seat in one of Assiniboine Park's six other gardens where floral fragrances hang in the air like your wanton desires. Once you've sufficiently taken your fill in nature, do as the locals do and get yourself over to Bridge Drive-In (BDI). No spot in the city can claim to have kindled more relationships as BDI is the spot where high school couples get soft serve cones before yearning to hold each other's sticky, ice cream-laden hands as they stroll over the Elm Park Bridge. This amour often continues later in life, as elderly and middle-aged couples have made BDI their Sunday night tradition, honouring the site where their love first caught flame.