Romance on a Shoestring

By Anne Keisman

Anne Keisman, an editor at the Loudoun Times-Mirror, met her husband at the newspaper in 2003. A significant portion of their courtship took place throughout Loudoun and, being young and planning a wedding, their budget was limited.

When asked to suggest romantic places, Keisman wrote:

If you don't have the bucks for an elaborate Valentine's Day, you might be surprised at the number of romantic spots in Loudoun that cost nothing -- except some sturdy walking shoes:
  1. Take a walk on the W&OD Trail -- start in Leesburg and walk west. A beautiful tree canopy awaits.
  2. Have a picnic at Raflo Park -- the most underused, yet lovely park in Loudoun, in my opinion.
  3. Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship -- tons of hikes, and lots of places to be alone with your loved one.
  4. Ball's Bluff Battlefield – OK, it's a battlefield, but there's a killer view of the Potomac.