If you’ve got a weekend to spare and you’re in a romantic relationship with a rock climber, there’s no better way to say, “I love you” than with a quick climbing vacation. However, if that weekend happens to be during late fall or winter, picking a U.S. rock climbing destination with good weather is challenging. By choosing one of the climbing areas below, you can almost guarantee a successful trip, even if the weather’s bad.
Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada Weekend Getaway
On the outskirts of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area provides perhaps the country’s finest cold-season romantic vacation option for rock climbers. Red Rocks presents fantastically diverse rock climbing opportunities for climbers of all ability levels, including sport climbing, bouldering, and classic multi-pitch routes, plus plenty of local guide services if you want professional supervision.
Clean up from climbing at one of those cheap Vegas hotels, and then enjoy an evening of romantic entertainment at a Cirque du Soleil act, such as “O” or “Zumanity.” You can even search beforehand for Las Vegas vacations, taking all the guesswork out of your planning. In Las Vegas, poor weather presents no challenge, since you’ll find plenty of free entertainment in the hotels on the Strip. And if you really must rock climb, you can always spend the day climbing indoors at the Red Rock Climbing Center.
Red River Gorge, Kentucky Romantic Vacation
Fly into Lexington or take a drive to the Red River Gorge for some of the finest sandstone sport and traditional climbing on the planet. Depending on the weather, you’ll enjoy crisp, cool temps while climbing on incredible formations, including some of the steepest jugs you’ll ever fall off of. The Red offers challenges appropriate for climbers of all ability levels, along with local guide services for professional assistance.
You can book rustic or luxury accommodations right near the climbing, including those found at Lago Linda Hideaway, just down the road from the popular crag called the Mother Lode. For the ultimate in luxury, stay at Breezy Point, a spacious and peaceful lakeside property that shelters you from bad weather in comfort with its hot tub and dish television. Or, you can make the hour-long drive to Richmond for dinner and a movie, making the most of your Kentucky vacation.
Cedar Mountain, Cody, Wyoming Weekend Vacation
Wyoming many not come to mind as the best place for a late fall or winter climbing vacation, but if you have flexible travel plans, you can catch some great crisp bouldering temps if the weather forecast is good. Plus, you’re not likely to find any crowds on Cody’s Cedar Mountain bouldering area, making it a great place for a romantic climbing getaway for boulderers of all ability levels.
Stay in one of Cody’s intimate bed and breakfast accommodations, such as the Mayor’s Inn, which offers extra “Little Luxuries” that can add romance to your climbing vacation. This bed and breakfast is also home to the Mayor’s Inn Dinner House, featuring gourmet sit-down dinners every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. Banish bad weather woes with a tour of the fantastic Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Planning a Romantic Late Fall or Winter Climbing Weekend
With a little bit of foresight and flexibility, you can plan a romantic rock climbing weekend vacation with a great back-up plan in the event of inclement weather. Choosing a Las Vegas, Kentucky, or Cody, Wyoming climbing vacation virtually ensures that you can enjoy comfortable accommodations, great rock climbing, and romance-kindling options for rainy days.