Quick trips down lovers' lane

Short on time this Valentine's Day?

There are plenty of romantic places to be found within a few hours' drive of Cape Girardeau, from charming bed and breakfast inns to candle-lit meals and other couple-friendly activities.

Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

Life with no alarm clocks, cell phones and no noise in a charming, laid-back town is the picture painted by the Ste. Genevieve Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The city of about 5,000 people is about an hour from Cape Girardeau and offers more than 10 bed and breakfast inns.

There are small specialty shops, wineries and antique malls, as well as a variety of restaurant. The 4,900-acre Hawn State Park is 16 miles from the city in Ste. Genevieve County, off Highway 32.

How to get there: (61 miles) Take Interstate 55 north 48 miles to exit 143 (toward Route M, Ozora). Turn right onto Route J then left onto Route M, traveling 7.2 miles, after which M becomes Rozier Street.

Eminence, Mo.

For a nature-inspired getaway, consider this small town of fewer than 600 people in Ozarks.

Bed and breakfast inns and wood-surrounded cabins serve as accommodations. For those willing to brave the cold, there are also plenty of camping opportunities.

The town is within driving distance of such natural wonders as Alley Springs, Blue Springs and Big Spring. There are also horseback riding opportunities and hiking trails. Eminence was named one of Sports Afield magazine's top 50 outdoor sports towns in America in 2005.

How to get there: (157 miles, 3 hours) Take Interstate 55 south to Sikeston, Mo., exiting onto U.S. 60 West (Exit 66B) toward Poplar Bluff. Stay on U.S. 60 west for 51 miles, then take U.S. 60/Highway 67 north toward Springfield, Mo., for 4.5 miles. Take the U.S. 60 exit to Van Buren/Springfield. Stay on that road for 57 miles (through Van Buren), then turn right onto Highway 19. Follow Highway 19 for 11 miles, then turn right onto Highway 106/Illinois Avenue at Eminence.

Stay in the city

There are plenty of romantic opportunities within Cape Girardeau itself.

The downtown area offers riverside strolls, antique shops, spas for couple massages and intimate dining.

"When you think of Valentine's Day, you think of a special dinner," said Old Town Cape executive director Tim Arbeiter.

Arbeiter said downtown restaurants have plans for the holiday, including special music. There's also window shopping in jewelry stores.

Consider spending the night at a bed and breakfast or watching a romantic comedy at one of the local movie theaters.

Rose Bed Inn is among six bed and breakfasts in the Cape Girardeau area. The inn now offers extended stay accommodations, a chapel and dining, in case a weekend away turns into something long-lasting.