8 Romantic Date Ideas in Lake Country - Winter Edition • Lake Country Family Fun

Winter is here, New Year’s is over, and everyone’s turned into a hibernating bear. Sound about right? I do love to hunker down at home by the cozy fireplace, but there are so many fun opportunities to go out and enjoy the Wisconsin winter with your significant other. There’s even plenty to enjoy way before Valentine’s Day arrives. So if you are a Lake Country couple looking for ideas for romantic dates and even more specifically, date ideas for this cold weather season. …Lake Country Family Fun to the rescue! We’ve put together a categorized, winter-specific, date list for you and your loved one. So book that babysitter, make those plans and enjoy this month of love.

Note: Reach out to individual businesses for hours, availability and pricing. Lake Country Family Fun is not responsible for availability and pricing of these events.

1. Try Painting & Art

Creative License in Hartford (website)
Board & Brush Hartland – Wine and Painting Wood Sign Studio (website)
- Our Board and Brush Review
A Stroke of Genius Waukesha (website)
Soul Fire Art Studio Delafield (website)
Stain and Scoop Mukwonago (website)

2. Attend Movies/Shows

Marcus Cinemas/Movie Tavern – 5 Waukesha County Locations, Delafield, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin and Brookfield
Silverspot Cinema at the Corners of Brookfield
MKE Improv at the Corners of Brookfield

3. Enjoy Beer & Wine Experiences

Raised Grain Brewery (website)
Delafield Brewhaus (website)
Spring City Wine House in Waukesha (website)
Mr. Brew’s Taphouse in Menomonee Falls (website)
Vino Ectera in Oconomowoc (website)
Three Cellars in Menomonee Falls (website)
Craft Beer Cellar Pewaukee (website)
The Hive Taproom East Troy (website)

4. Indulge in Finer Dining

I.d.- Make your next date-night a shared-plate night! (website)
Belfre Kitchen Delafield (website)
Butler Inn Pewaukee (website)
Palmer’s Steakhouse Hartland (website)
Golden Mast Okauchee (website)
Zin in Delafield (website)
Kurt’s Steakhouse Delafield (website)
Artisan 179 Pewaukee (website)
Mr. B’s Bartalotta’s Brookfield (website)
The Union House Genesee Depot (website)
Asiana Pewaukee (website)
Ninja Habachi Sushi in Menomonee Falls (website)
Lagniappe Brasserie New Berlin (website)
Red Circle Inn Nashotah (website)
Zesti Hartland (website)
Melting Pot Brookfield (website)
Coopers Hawk in Brookfield (website)
David Alan’s SmokeHouse Mukwonago (website)
Bass Bay Brewhouse in Muskego (website)
Lago Su Bella in Oconomowoc (website)
Coco’s in Oconomowoc (website)
Twisted Fire in Oconomowoc (website)

5. Try Some Active Fun

Workout together at a local YMCA Oconomowoc, Waukesha , Menomonee Falls or Mukwonago
Try out Orangetheory Fitness in Delafield
Get a burn at Burn Boot Camp in Sussex or Waukesha
Guys can barre, too! Pure Barre in Delafield
Try the WAC: Wisconsin Athletic Club (website)
Skyzone (it’s for adults too)
Urban Air (it’s for adults too)
Ice Skating or Sledding (see our Outdoor Fun Guide)
Bowling – Sunset Bowl in Waukesha, Bluemound Bowl, Sussex Bowl, Alpine Lanes of Muskego or Jay’s Lanes in Mukwonago
Veloce Indoor Speedway is attached to Pointe Burger
Adventure Rock Climbing Pewaukee/Brookfield
Rent Snowshoes at Retzer
Cross Country Ski at Lapham Peak
Throw an axe together at Lumber Axe
Try out football bowling at 1st and Bowl

6. Get a Couples Massage/Spa Services

Woodhouse Day Spa in Mukwonago (website)
Spargo in Pewaukee (website)
Elegance Salon & Spa in New Berlin (website)
Absolute Necessities Day Spa in Menomonee Falls (website)

7. Stay-at-home Fun Ideas

Board Game Night or Card Games – Do you know how to play Cribbage? Ask me!
Buy a Make Your Own 6-pack from Total Wine and have an at-home beer tasting date
Make a fancy Dinner after kids go to bed (Try this one)
Take a ‘ how well do you know each other’ quiz.
Get bakin’! Try this recipe: Mascarpone Chocolate Truffles (source)

* Make it local to use Crave Brothers Mascarpone from Waterloo, WI

- About the Recipe
  
  What goes best with cheese? Chocolate, of course! Here is a recipe where the two heavenly tastes come together. A Door County Fair Champion!
  
  Ingredients
  - 8 ounces finest quality semisweet chocolate, chopped
  - 1/3 cup heavy cream
  - 1 tablespoons sugar
  - 2 ounces (1/4 cup) Crave Brothers Mascarpone, at room temperature
  - 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other favorite liqueur
  - 1 cup finely ground pecans or walnuts
  Preparation
  
  Place all ingredients except the nuts in a medium bowl. Set bowl on pan of simmering water; do not allow bowl to touch water. (Or place in top of double boiler.) Heat until melted, smooth and warm. Watch closely and stir often. Remove from heat, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  
  Working quickly, roll refrigerated mixture into smooth 1-inch balls. Place on parchment or waxed paper. Roll the truffle balls in the finely ground nuts. Refrigerate for up to one week. These truffles are very soft; they must be cold for shaping and rolling. Remove from refrigeration about 10 minutes before serving. Refrigerate any remaining truffles.
  
  Coating option: Melt 6 ounces best quality dark or semisweet chocolate in bowl over pan of simmering water. Roll the truffle balls in the chocolate to evenly coat. If desired, then roll in ground nuts.

8. Miscellaneous, but Amazing, Ideas:

Take a couples cooking class at the Petite Chef in Dousman.
Sleigh Ride in Oconomowoc Hoof Beats Express (when they get enough snow – call for reservation!)
The Ingleside Hotel Pewaukee has indoor/outdoor hot tub and water slides
Volunteer Together (Food Pantry Guide: a great place to start to find local places to help out.)
Visit Steven Paul Designs in Downtown Delafield for a one-of-kind, custom piece of jewelry from this beautiful, national award-winning studio.
Plan your new home adventure with Victory Homes
Visit one of Lake Country Family Fun’s local Coffee Shops for a date
Go out for some Mexican. Take advice from our reader favorites!
Attend a Friday Fish Fry.
Attend the Ice Castles. You can even rent a private igloo!
Dine in a Dome. Find 10 local dome options for dining here.