Roses and chocolates are so last season. From roasting intoxicating marshmallows high above the city to rock climbing à deux, we present 15 creative ways to woo your sweetheart this month – and year-round

Adult marshmallows at Different Pointe of View
Best for: Fire-worshipping foodies and cost-cutting city campers
With its multi-tiered patio perched 1,800 feet above the glittering city lights, this restaurant and bar at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort is a popular place to pop the question. But even if you’re already hitched, it’s a ravishing spot to rekindle the flame. Cozy up to the cliffside fire pit – so capacious it could accommodate a bed – and roast homemade “adult” marshmallows spiked with Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico, Amaretto and Kahlua, then dunk them in caramel, chocolate and vanilla cream sauces. Bonus: It’s budget seduction; the aphrodisiac confections are complimentary with purchase of an alcoholic drink.
11111 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-866-6350, differentpointeofview.com

Photo by Diana Elizabeth Dinner at Petite Maison in Old Town Scottsdale

Tour de Old Town Scottsdale
Best for: Stylish, art-loving, peripatetic Francophiles
With its illuminated galleries and al fresco art, Old Town is ideal for walkable wooing. Begin with dinner at the charming, French-inspired Petite Maison and request the table by the outdoor fireplace – but call well in advance to ensure you snag it. Then rendezvous at the chic Casablanca Lounge for a nightcap. You won’t have trouble reading the drinks menu in the dark because the battery-powered menu is backlit. End the evening with a hand-in-hand stroll to Civic Center Mall, where you can steal a kiss in front of Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture.
Petite Maison: 7216 E. Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale, 480-991-6887, petitemaisonaz.com; The Casablanca Lounge: 7134 E. Stetson Dr., Third Floor, Scottsdale, 480-970-7888, thecasablancalounge.com

Celestial Picnic at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Best for: Luxury-minded amateur astronomers
There’s something universally romantic about gazing up at the infinite cosmos, and when you add a basket of goodies from Executive Chef Mel Mecinas, a chart of constellations and a blanket for cuddling on the lawn of the Four Seasons, this stellar pursuit becomes downright swoon-worthy. If you don’t mind a third wheel, a professional astronomer with a telescope will point out heavenly bodies, or you can request a personal butler, a musician or a photographer. You don’t have to be a resort guest to enjoy the picnic, but “getting a room” is not a bad idea – especially if you opt for a post-prandial moonlight massage at your casita. Picnic price starts at $80; book a week out.
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., Scottsdale, 480-513-5090, fourseasons.com/scottsdale

Couples massage at Joya Spa, Montelucia Resort & Spa
Best for: Spa-loving sybarites and Scottsdale sultans
With its sumptuous Moroccan decor, elaborate drapery, infinity-edge bathtub, and pillar candles surrounding dual massage tables, the 800-square-foot Grand Palace room at Joya Spa feels like a harem for two. After a mint-and-argan-oil massage, retreat to your private terrace (with priority service) for moonlit views of Camelback Mountain, snuggle by the fireplace or test drive the king-sized bed. Non-sultans can opt for one of four more (less expensive) spa suites, including two with private outdoor bathing options for sexy soaking under the stars. Rates begin at $149 per person for a 50-minute massage; half-day rental is $495; full day is $895.
4949 E. Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale, 480-627-3020, montelucia.com

Photo by Shannon Biancamano

Gondola rides at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort
Best for: Moonstruck Pavarotti fans with limited vacation time
There’s no need to jet off to Italy when you and your amore can enjoy a leisurely float on the waterways that girdle the lushly landscaped Hyatt resort, serenaded by an operatic tenor in a custom-made Venetian gondola. Before or after your quaint water cruise, cozy up to the indoor/outdoor Center Stage Bar, surrounded by cascading waterfalls, fireplaces and nightly live music (upgraded last fall to a lineup of sultry, edgy performers). You don’t have to be a resort guest to ride the gondola: Cost is $10 per person, or free if you have dinner at the resort’s Alto ristorante e bar. Rides run 6-10:30 p.m. during the winter season.
7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., Scottsdale, 480-444-1234, scottsdale.hyatt.com

Photo by Madison Kirkman Place your photo caption here

Paramour Activity

Looking for something far cooler and less cliché than dinner and a movie? Impress your partner with these five offbeat, interactive date ideas.

Love on the Rocks: ClimbMax Climbing Gym
You’re guaranteed to get belayed at ClimbMax rock climbing gym’s “date night” every Wednesday, when couples get half off admission and gear ($9; regularly $18) from 5-10 p.m. It’s an excellent way to break the ice on a first date or increase teamwork and communication in a long-term relationship. There’s even a climb-through cave for adults only. The facility has extra-thick padding on the floors, so you don’t need to worry about breaking anything other than your heart. 1330 W. Auto Drive, Tempe, 480-626-7755, climbmaxclimbinggym.com

Grape Expectations: Make Wine at Su Vino
Wine is a time-honored intimacy advancer, especially when you’re choosing one that pairs with your mutual palates (“You like vanilla undertones, too? I thought I was the only one.”). At Su Vino, Scottsdale’s award-winning commercial winery, wannabe winemakers begin with a tasting, choosing from among 15 to 20 grape varietals and identifying characteristics you prefer (more or less oak; sweeter or drier). Then return in two to five months for the bottling, bringing a photo for personalized labels – it’s ideal for weddings or anniversaries. Cost is $185-$275 for 15 bottles; $310-$460 for 30. 7035 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 480-994-8466, suvinowineryaz.com

Rub Me Tender: Loving Touch couples massage workshop
Give a man a massage, and you relax him for a day. Teach a man to massage, and you have your own personal masseur for a lifetime. Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers a private lesson with an expert massage therapist on how to give the ultimate rub-down. Guided by an instructor, you and your partner take turns learning and receiving the time-honored ministrations of Swedish massage. You’ll take home a bottle of massage oil, a brochure on muscle anatomy and massage movements, and a tantalizing new skill set. Cost is $249 per couple, plus 18 percent tip for 75 minutes, and includes access to the 44,000-square-foot facility’s amenities. 7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale, 480-585-2732, scottsdaleprincess.com

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