Bucolic summer picnics, Christmas under the mistletoe,
Valentine’s Day romance. Why should the fall season miss out on all the
romantic revelry?
Autumn doesn’t get all the love when it comes to being the
season for romantic getaways. And that’s a darn shame, as far as we’re
concerned. Now is the perfect time to duck away to French Lick Resort for a
little alone time – even if it’s not a whole couple’s weekend, plan a stop for
an afternoon or evening. There’s an array of activities and attractions resort-wide
that can help get the romance flickering, and we’ve narrowed the list to a few
favorites.
WINE EVENTS
November 10 is your next chance at the Wine Pairings event.
(Likewise, if you miss the first one, more are planned monthly from December to
March.) We’ll be serving up four to five hors d’oeuvres, each matched with a
European or domestic wine. Presentations will be given highlighting each wine
varietal.
Reservations are required for both wine events: (812)
936-5579. If you’ve got a couple days to invest, consider coming a day or two
early to bask in West Baden’s serenity before the weekend traffic arrives. Nothing
better than having a chaise lounge to yourself in the atrium with your special
someone and simply relaxing in peace.
CARRIAGE RIDES
Perhaps nothing else encapsulates romance quite like
horse-drawn carriage rides, which are available year-round at the resort.
Daylight or moonlight rides lasting 20-25 minutes are available from 5 to 10
p.m. departing both the West Baden Springs Hotel (Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
Saturday) and French Lick Springs Hotel (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
Sunday).
Carriage rides at West Baden add a little something special.
The riding route there starts and ends on the hotel’s brick road and elicits
the feeling of being transported into an old-time storybook.
Note that carriage rides are subject to weather conditions and availability. Reservations are also strongly recommended: (812) 936-9300, ext. 7246.
PATOKA LAKE WINERY
Less than a 20-minute drive from French Lick Resort is the
new Patoka Lake Winery, which is ramping up for the fall while hanging onto
some warm-weather offerings. You’ve still got time to try the wine cruise,
which launches every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 (until October 28).
The two-hour boat ride on Patoka Lake includes plenty: 5-7 wine tastings,
appetizers, plus two full glasses of your wine of choice.
A must-try is the Biker’s Black and Blue, an artisan
blackberry/blueberry wine. (Word is that even non-wine drinkers really like
it.) More off the beaten path but highly recommended is the Das Apfel Riesling,
a blend of apple and Riesling wines with note of cinnamon that makes for an apple
pie flavor.
For something different, try a wine slushie or the mulled
wine, an offering on days with cooler temps. Cigars are also sold for the
non-wine drinking crowd. Check them out at patokalakewinery.com.
SUNSET DINNERS
As the days become shorter and the fall foliage hues
intensify across the Valley, the picturesque union of the two happens at the
Sunset Dinners at the Pete Dye Mansion. The final Sunset Dinners are set for
the next three Sundays: October 15, 22 and 29.
The Dye Mansion sits near one of the highest points in
Indiana, and even if you’re usually not one to be wowed by a room with a view,
trust us: This view is spectacular, especially as fall hues start flickering.
TANDEM BIKES
If you’ve visited French Lick Resort before, you’ve probably
seen couples wheeling around on tandem bikes. Admit it – you’d love to try it
just once.
Make it happen by renting a 2-seater for just 8 bucks for
the first hour and $7 for each additional hour you’d like to extend your ride.
Rentals are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through November 30 and
picking up again March 1 of next year. You and your sweetheart can take a spin
and feel like a kid again, hearkening back to those puppy love days.
To get started on a French Lick Resort adventure, check out
the rundown of fall activities.