Charlotte is a romantic city … seriously

Have you ever been Uptown on a Saturday night (and sober) and seen the horse and buggies? Moreover, have you ever taken a look at the couples snuggled together on in the buggy?

I’m sure that the guy who sprang for the carriage ride got a special ride of his own at the end of the night. Watching couples in horse-drawn carriages got me thinking about the romance level of the city. How romantic is this banking burg?

Well, if you know where to look, Charlotte has romance down to a science.

Here are some examples: For you forgetful lovers, there is A Lasting Romance.

A Lasting Romance is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of marriages and relationships. In this busy world it is sometimes easy to overlook a special date in your relationship, for example: birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, or the special day that you met or became engaged. Even when you do remember the occasion, the time that it takes to go out shopping and choose the right gift or plan an evening out may be time that you just don’t have.

For you cash-heavy lovers, there’s the Ballantyne Hotel’s romantic getaway packages.

Indulge in Luxury with the one who matters most. Experience our Luxury Romance package from $249 a night for two guests which includes:

Two or more nights in an elegant guest room

Champagne and a floral arrangement delivered on your arrival day at approximately 6pm

Complimentary valet parking

For the solo lovers, there’s always Pure Romance until the real thing comes along.

Pure Romance Parties are fun, true. But they’re also educational! Your Consultant is trained by sex health experts and arrives at your party with answers to the most intimate questions. She’ll also tell you about new techniques and tips for improving your relationship with your partner! Where else can women discuss sexuality in a safe, comfortable setting? Your guests will remember your party for the great time they had, but also for the way it changed their lives.

And if you simply want to read about romance, Charlotte and the surrounding area is home to a number of romance writers. They have to get their inspiration from somewhere:

Emilie Rose, her titles include, His High-Stakes Holiday Seduction, Bedding the Secret Heiress and Executive’s Pregnancy Ultimatum.

Sabrina Luna, her titles include, Crazy For You, They Call Me Trouble and Charade

AlTonya Washington, her titles include, As Good As The First Time, In The Midst of Passion and A Lover’s Regret.

And Creative Loafing‘s own Cheris Hodges, her titles include, Betting On Love, No Other Lover Will Do and Let’s Get It On.

So, Charlotte is a romantic place, once you look past the banks, unemployment, bad roads, messed up schools … you get what I’m saying.

This article appears in Oct 12-18, 2010.