The gift of a date...or Venice meets Coronado

Here is a Christmas gift-giving idea for you this year...give a date.

A few years ago the four couples that make up my side of the family drew another couple's name for Christmas, the mission being to give that couple a date. We had a budget, and the thinking was that instead of spending a little money on a lot of people we could give one couple a really nice night out. It also supported the desire to receive less "stuff."

The first year we did this version of gift-giving Chris and I were given an AWESOME date to a Cajun style cooking class at a cooking school in the Denver area. It was fun, yummy, educational, and inspired us to buy a really nice chopping knife (which makes us feel like better cooks).

We tried out the date idea last year with Chris' family and we were given another WONDERFUL date, which we finally redeemed this past weekend (thanks to grandparents willing to babysit).

Here is what we did...

A sunset gondola ride through the Coronado Cays! 

It was scenic, peaceful, romantic, different, private, included a complimentary appetizer plate and a bottle of wine (provided by us)...and our gondolier even sang (quite well, thankfully). It was lovely.

If you have a special couple in your life and don't know what to give them, put a date together for them. 

If you live in the San Diego area, consider The Gondola Company as a gift for someone else...or for yourself.  If you want to add dinner, there is a fabulous French restaurant at the nearby Loews Coronado Bay Resort called Mistral, which was one of the best dining experiences we have ever had and includes great views of the bridge and the city.

We are giving dates again this year between my sisters and I need to start doing my research on great dates in Nashville. Any suggestions?

'O Sole Mio