Planning a Valentine’s weekend getaway offers endless possibilities of love-filled days.
Choose sunshine and palm trees for a sun-tanned escape in Scottsdale, Arizona, or indulge in the charm of Midway, Utah, with its Swiss Alps-inspired landscape.
No matter what you are looking for, all offer both romance and picturesque memories.
Midway
Midway is a city in northwestern Wasatch County, Utah, located in the Heber Valley.
Known as “Little Switzerland,” the scenic city earned its nickname due to its dramatic mountain landscapes that reminded Swiss settlers of their homeland in the 1850s, according to Go Heber Valley.
Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Midway offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including snowmobiling through some of the world’s best snow, deep with powder and breathtaking backdrops.
The area’s stunning natural beauty provides a unique setting for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking a picturesque getaway. If snowmobiling is too fast paced for your liking, consider Nordic skiing instead, with many trails of all levels to pick from.
After a day in the crisp air, you may find yourself craving something slower and more restorative.
The Utah Crater, a geothermal hot spring tucked beneath a limestone dome at the Homestead Resort, offers the perfect refuge to thaw and recover from the chill of the snow.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, that has more than 330 sunny days a year, according to Experience Scottsdale.
Among the palms, visitors can escape the desert sun under the brim of a cowboy hat while exploring the Sonoran landscape. MacDonald’s Ranch invites you to tap into your inner cowboy, offering horseback rides, hay wagon tours and stagecoach rides to complete your desert getaway.
If desert dust isn’t your thing, Scottsdale offers a showcase of eclectic architecture. At Cosanti, a compound designed by the late Italian architect Paolo Soleri, you’ll find a blend of art and innovation.
After a day spent with horses, cacti and visionary design, unwind with Scottsdale’s vibrant nightlife in Old Town.
Scottsdale’s Old Town is “home to more than 100 of the city’s best restaurants, craft cocktail bars, swanky lounges and high-energy nightclubs,” according to Experience Scottsdale.
Solvang
Solvang, a charming city nestled in Santa Barbara, offers a taste of Europe without the long flight.
If you’re seeking a weekend escape with a touch of the foreign, Solvang might just pique your interest.
Stroll down its streets, where Danish-inspired shops and bakeries line the way, tempting you with freshly baked pastries and the feeling of being somewhere far from home.
Feel the wind in your hair as you glide through the countryside by bicycle and be sure to carve out time for the art galleries and museums sprinkled throughout the town.
What makes this quaint place truly special is the sense of hygge that permeates the experience, “a Danish word that embodies coziness, comfort and contentment,” according to Solvang USA.
Let hygge permeate the experience, inviting you to pack your bags with comfort and contentment in mind.