As the calendar turns to February, thoughts of romance begin to warm the winter air. If you’re planning an evening with a special someone look no further than the Front Royal area! You’ll find that a small town Valentine’s Day is the perfect setting for your romance to blossom. Read on for five tips (plus a bonus!) on celebrating Valentine’s Day (or any romantic occasion) in the Front Royal area. With fine dining, fun activities for couples, and wineries aplenty, there’s enough ideas here to keep the romance going all year long.
 

1. Sample Front Royal’s Fine Dining

​Nothing says “I love you” quite like dinner at an elegant table for two. If you’re in search of a traditional dinner date Front Royal’s fine dining eateries are at your disposal. 
 
At The Element on Main Street, you’ll find gourmet food and the atmosphere to go with it. Valentine’s seating is limited. Go here to make your reservation for The Element’s February 13th Valentine’s Day celebration. 
 

Is it just us, or is there something especially romantic about Italy? If you’re in search of pasta, pizza, and all things Italian, check out Front Royal’s Osteria 510 for farm-to-table gourmet Italian food.
 
For another fine dining options, lovers of Asian cuisine, should visit Try Thai on Main Street.
 

No one to watch the kiddos? No worries! 

In these unique times, neighbors, friends, and businesses are stepping up and working together to support one another. 

Battlefield Fitness is working in tandem with some restaurants and offering chid care services while couples can enjoy a Valentine's dinner out! Such a fabulous idea!

If you’re not in the mood for formal dining, a fun, casual eatery can also be a setting for great date. Today, we’re featuring two old Front Royal favorites where locals have been making great memories for years!
 
If there’s one restaurant in Front Royal that pizza lovers shouldn’t miss, it’s The Melting Pot! This local favorite has been feeding pizza to Front Royal for over 50 years. Some locals have been making memories here for a lifetime! 
 
For a fun twist on the traditional dinner date, why not try a breakfast date instead? The Apple House is an old Front Royal area favorite that gets you out of town, but doesn’t involve a long drive. Don’t forget to end your meal with one of their famous apple butter donuts! Or come back in the evening for a drink, appetizers, and a sandwich at the Apple House’s newly opened Bushel Pub. With a drink menu full of Virginia wines and Virginia Craft Beers, it’s a great date-spot for lovers of local products.
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 3. Take a Dance Class

​What could be more romantic than enjoying a dance together? If you or your partner have two left feet, don’t worry! Jig ’N’ Jive Dance Studio offers private ballroom and swing dance classes for couples. Have fun together, learn a new skill, and listen to romantic music, all at the same time!

4. Paint Your Own Memories! 
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Speaking of learning new skills, The Studio on Front Royal’s Main Street hosts frequent paint parties, where you’ll get step-by-step instructions on creating your own masterpiece. All supplies are provided, so you can relax and enjoy getting creative together. Paint party participants are welcome to bring their own beverages and snacks. Make it extra romantic with some wine and chocolate to enjoy while you work. At the end of the day, you’ll have something beautiful to hang on your wall that will remind of this special time spent together.  

5. Enjoy a Glass of Virginia Wine
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There’s something about the experience of sharing a glass of wine that is both memorable and romantic. If you’re in search of a wine date, the Front Royal area has a wealth of options. Enjoy a glass of wine and gourmet tapas at ViNoVA, right in town. Or drive out of the town to one of Front Royal’s local wineries. Rappahannock Cellars, and Fox Meadow Winery are two nearby favorites that combine delectable wines with all the classy winery atmosphere you love.   
 

Bonus: Take your picture by the LOVE Sign
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While you’re out and about town on your date, don’t forget that Front Royal has a great spot for a fun photo shoot. Stop by Front Royal’s LOVE sign (located by the downtown gazebo). It’s the perfect background for taking a memorable picture together.

And ... while you're out, take a stroll down Main Street and around town to enjoy Warren County's First Annual Chocolate Crawl! Sound deliciously enticing doesn't it? Be sure to check out the details and list of participants here! 
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These are our top picks, but there really are almost unlimited options for romantic outings in the Front Royal area. Anything can be romantic when you’re with the love of your life on Valentine’s Day! To get more ideas for a fun activity that you’ll both enjoy, see our posts here and here. Take it from someone who got engaged, and married in the Front Royal area: it’s easy to fall in love in Front Royal!
 

It’s easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle during the winter. The cold weather makes the great outdoors less inviting, and you may feel that all you want to do is cuddle up on the couch after work. However, keeping active during the winter is important for your mental and physical health. If exercise has been sporadic so far this winter, now is a great time to reset! Figure out a form of exercise that you enjoy, and that will be achievable for you to keep up with through rest of the winter.
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Need some fresh ideas? The Front Royal area has some great options for indoor and winter-friendly activities that will get you up and moving. Read on for tips for staying active through the winter in Front Royal.

1. Join a Gym
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With unpredictable weather conditions making it difficult to maintain an outdoor exercise routine, winter is a good time to join a gym. Going to a fresh new place to work out can help with motivation. So can working with a trainer, or signing up for an exercise class. Paying a gym membership gives you an additional motivational boost. If you’re money’s going towards your membership every month, you’re more likely to get out the door and use it.
 
You’ll find several fitness gyms in Front Royal. If you’re interested in CrossFit, try Battlegrounds Fitness or Rugged Terrain CrossFit. Both are conveniently located right in Front Royal, and offer the camaraderie and exceptional training that have made CrossFit popular across America.
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Fitness Evolution and Anytime Fitness are traditional gyms with a range of standard gym equipment. Classes and individual training are available at both.
 
If you can’t fit in frequent trips to the gym, a membership could still be a good fit. Front Royal’s gyms offer virtual training. On the days you can’t make it to the gym, you can have the convenience of working out at home with the accountability and expertise of a professional coach. The best of both worlds!
 

2. Play an Indoor Sport
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​Some people find that working out is just . . . too boring! If playing a sport is more up your alley, winter can be a great time to explore indoor sports. Front Royal’s Dominion Health & Fitness Center is worth checking out. In addition to standard gym facilities, the center has an indoor pool, racquetball, and indoor tennis courts, as well as wallyball and basketball. Get involved in a sport you can play all year round!

3. Add Exercise into Your Normal Routine
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If you’re not interested in structured gym workouts or sports, it’s still important to make some exercise a part of your life. For winter exercise success, look for ways to weave exercise into your normal activities. For example, when shopping, you might park at the far end of the parking lot. This article has some great tips for incorporating more exercise – even if you don’t have much time and money to dedicate to it.
 
One advantage of a small town like Front Royal is that many stores and restaurants are within walking distance of each other, especially in the historic downtown area. Next time you’re planning to run errands, see if you can’t figure out a route that minimizes driving, and increases walking. Getting outside and moving, even for a short time, can improve your health and your mood! In inclement weather, even walking around an indoor location such as a grocery store can be helpful.

"Functional Yoga can improve your daily life" - Wildfire Yoga. You can become calm, centered, and rejuvenated with yoga. Don't worry if you've never tried it, it's good for all levels of fitness and ages. It can improve your balance, flexibility, and strength. This practice can also improve pain levels among seniors, menopausal symptoms and more! The increase in energy and relaxation might be just what you need after a stressful 2020.

Wildfire Yoga offers in studio classes, private lessons, and online classes. 

5. Reward yourself!
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For some of us, the enjoyment that we get from exercising combined with the health benefits, is enough of an incentive to keep us going through a long winter. For others, getting motivated in winter is just . . . hard. If you fall into this second category, why not give yourself some kind of a reward to help make it through those tough days.

Set your own standards to challenge yourself and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. For example, you could treat yourself to a coffee on Main Street on Fridays if you have completed three workouts during the week. Or promise yourself a fun movie night at home if you’ve met your exercise goals.

For home bakers, consider patting yourself on the back by trying out a recipe for a healthy treat. You can indulge a little bit without undoing all of your hard work! Front Royal’s own Rugged Terrain Crossfit has a page with recipe ideas that you can enjoy without bringing on a sugar crash!