Romantic Getaway in Your Pod

With love in the air, why not take a camping getaway for Valentine’s Day? While it might be a different kind of romantic getaway than going off to a luxury resort with spa treatments, camping can be a time to make deep long-lasting connections.

Follow along as we walk through how to plan a romantic getaway in your pod!

First things first, to make camping in your pod extra special for your sweetheart, you have to ensure your base camp is set up right! If you don’t have your Escapod in tow just yet, you can book one of our rentals!

While there are many ways to make the mood a little more romantic, here is what we think will up your game:

1. Pick the perfect spot!

The most important thing is to pick the perfect spot. You’ll want somewhere that doesn’t have a ton of traffic so you and your partner can hideaway and enjoy some alone time to take in the natural beauty of your surroundings.

The nice thing about having your TOPO2 in tow is it’s basically your year-round Airbnb on wheels so it opens up all the options you’ll have to take your partner on this romantic getaway.

Be sure to pick a spot that gives a view that both you and your partner can enjoy, whether that be in a state park, on a campsite with a sand beach with ocean views, a mountain backdrop near small towns, or lakeside the options are endless. We absolutely recommend you utilize the sunrise or sunset to add a little something extra to the setting!

Other things to consider when picking the perfect spot are activities you and your sweetheart want to do with the rest of your time whether that be brunch in your TOPO2’s built-in bed and breakfast setup, finding some hiking trails, a day trip to hot springs, a visit to a few breweries, or even kayaking if you are camping in warmer weather!

2. Add some mood lighting!

A little extra decor can go a long way! Adding a soft glow can make any environment feel more special. An easy solution is to hang a set of twinkle lights from your awning. They add an extra sparkle to your setup and make it so you can see your partner even after the sun goes down!

3. Play some swanky tunes.

Mood music can really help transform your setting wherever you are. If you don’t have all your favorite romance songs already on loop, we’ve got a playlist to assist in setting a sweet, romantic feeling: Escapod Romantic Getaway Playlist

4. Stay Warm!

Depending on where you are it can be chilly at night in February! Use one of our favorite fire pits, a Solo Stove, to keep things steamy as you enjoy each other’s company. Nothing can ruin a moment more quickly than annoying campfire smoke, but with the Solo Stove’s airflow design for a smokeless fire, you can keep snuggling without fear of a shift in the wind.

5. Snuggle Up!

Lastly, make sure you can be up close and personal while staying cozy around the fire. A loveseat chair gives you both a spot to sit hand-in-hand and allows for you to be in cuddling range while you sit in front of your campfire.

Your romantic camping getaway should be focused more on your partner than slaving away over a stove! With that in mind, we recommend making a charcuterie board. It’s the perfect way to have a simple fine dining setup.

1. Prep in advance.

Keeping it simple is the name of the game for this romantic getaway. You should prep as much as you can before you head out on your adventure. This will require less work from you when you get out there and gives you more time to enjoy being in the moment!

2. Pack your favorite ingredients.

We recommend picking all the ingredients that you and your partner love the most, but if you need a little help getting started, here’s what we pack:

• Meats: salami, prosciutto, capricullo
• Cheeses: goat cheese, brie, gouda
• Baguettes/bread: French sourdough, Italian breadsticks
• Jams: fig, sour cherry, mixed berry
• Fresh fruits: red seedless grapes, sliced apples, cherries
• Dried fruits: apricots, figs, dates
• Nuts: roasted pistachios, candied pecans, Marcona almonds
• Crackers: Carr’s table water or wheat crackers, Stonewall Kitchen’s sea salt kitchen crackers, Grissini breadsticks, Raincoast Crisps
• Dips: olive oil and balsamic vinegar, hummus, whole grain mustard, lavender honey
• Pickled goodies: cornichons, pickled okra, kalamata olives, seasoned artichoke hearts

3. Lay out the charcuterie board.

You’ve got all your yummy foods picked, unwrap them, and lay them out all over your board. Rhyme or reason isn’t necessary, just whatever placements fit best!

One tip to make your board extra special is to turn your salami into a rose. You can do this by using a wine glass and laying your slices along the rim and then flipping it over! If you don’t have a charcuterie board and would like it to fit the evening’s theme, you can buy this heart-shaped board!

What’s a romantic evening without some wine? While you might not hit a winery to do some wine tasting on this trip, it doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect pairing for your couple's getaway. Lucky for you, charcuterie boards pair nicely with a variety of different wines, giving you the opportunity to pick the perfect one for your evening.

1. Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wines are an excellent pairing since they’re higher in acidity, which complements the salty nature of most charcuterie boards.

Recommended: Conde De Subirats Brut Cava

2. Red Wine

Red wines with a medium body and a firm structure are a solid choice to pair with your board. They’ve got the acidity we need, and with the help of some fresh berry flavors, will be able to cut through any rich offerings and creamy textures.

Recommended: Meiomi Pinot Noir or Chateau Recougne

3. White Wine

Because most boards will have layers of smoky and spicy flavors, a white wine’s vibrant acidity and strong fruit flavors can set you up for a refreshing foil to some of the more serious flavors on your charcuterie.

Recommended: De Westhof Chardonnay from South Africa

If your someone special has a particular favorite wine, go with that! Then you can build your board around what would complement it!

For proper storage of your wine, while you travel, we recommend buying a Corkcicle! A Corckicle can fit an entire bottle of wine inside it, which will keep it chilled and safe while you travel to your destination. This way you don’t have to worry about a broken bottle when loading up or trying to recork it if you don’t finish!

Once you’ve snacked away, it’s time to bust out dessert. Let’s turn a campsite classic into something a little extra for your getaway: Gourmet S’mores

1. Let’s start with your base.

We’ll stick with classic graham crackers and marshmallows for your base. Roast your marshmallows to a golden crisp over your fire pit. We love to bring a SOLO stove to all our romantic weekend getaways in the Escapod.

2. Upgrade your chocolate.

To take the s’more to the next level, change out your usual Hershey milk chocolate for something a little fancier: salted caramel chocolate, dark chocolate with almonds, or white chocolate.

3. Add something a little fruity.

To help make it special, it's nice to add another texture to the mix. We recommend including a variety of fruits: blackberries, bananas, & strawberries.

4. Finish it up.

The last addition to our special occasion s’more is an additional topping! We recommend spreads like Nutella, almond butter, and caramel.

Now that you’ve got all your fixings, take turns mixing and matching to see who can come up with the best combo of the night!

Once the fire has burned down to embers and you’re ready to hunker down for the night, it’s a fantastic time to take advantage of the laptop stand in your cabin! You can set up, cuddle close, and watch your favorite romantic movies.

Hopefully, you feel ready to pull off the best romantic getaway in your pod with these tips and tricks! Just remember, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day for you to make adventures have a romantic touch. After all, every day is a good day to celebrate love.

Happy Valentine’s from us to you!