Nature nurtures romance

All the months of sitting are finally over.

Sitting in a theater.

Sitting in a restaurant.

Sitting in a bar.

With spring finally here (and warm weather increasingly gracing the suburbs), couples can get off their behinds and head outside for more creative activities like paddle boating, nature walks or biking.

During spring, local forest preserves and park districts start offering both organized and spur-of-the-moment nature outings that have a tendency to spark romance.

Maybe that's why more than 100 couples scheduled their weddings or receptions at Morton Arboretum in Lisle last year.

Gina Tedesco, the arborteum's spokeswoman, says a forest offers the perfect setting for a date.

"I run into a lot of people on the arboretum grounds who tell me they met each other there, had their first date there or got married there," she said. "There's something about trees and the important events in our lives that people seem to link the two together."

To find a springtime date that's up your alley, check out these outdoor ideas.

And the bonus to all of these dates, of course, is the exercise -- even if it's just a low-key stroll.

After all, a toned body never hurt romance, right?

Heartwarming hustle:

Keep things casual -- and mix things up a bit with a morning date -- during the 10 a.m. nature hikes at the Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington.

The next event is April 26 and the group meets in the nature center parking lot on Palatine Road, one mile west of Barrington Road.

For details, call (847) 381-6592 or visit www.fpdcc.com.

Meet at the marina:

Test out how well you work as a team and pick a sport at Independence Grove marina in Libertyville. The marina offers rentals on canoes, kayaking, paddle boats and four-wheeled surrey bikes.

The marina, 16400 W. Buckley Road, is open from 6:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset weekends through May 26, when it opens daily.

(And, by the way, this is also a hot spot for weddings.)

Rental prices vary. Call (847) 968-3499 or visit independencegrove.org.

In bloom:

With a three-story atrium and 30 landscaped acres, the Friendship Park Conservatory in Des Plaines has a lot to explore. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics.

Of course, engaged couples love planning their nuptials here, too.

The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends at 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Admission is free.

For details, call (847) 298-3500 or visit mppd.org.

Set sail:

Lake Arlington doesn't open until May 10, but it offers bike and walking paths, picnic areas, paddle boat rentals and -- coolest of all -- sailboat lessons.

Both private and group lessons are offered starting in June, with group rates at $80 for a two-day lesson at the lake, 2201 N. Windsor Drive, Arlington Heights.

So whether you want to learn to impress your date beforehand or navigate the waters together, call (847) 577-3059 or visit ahpd.org.

Forest fling:

OK, so the Morton Arboretum in Lisle is ideal for a date on any nice day, whether or not there are official activities planned. But since the arboretum is so large, a staff-led walk might be a good idea to learn your way around. Free walks are from 1 to 2 p.m. every weekend and special events happen every month.

On April 25, the arboretum will launch its Big Bugs art exhibit that runs through July and features giant wood carvings of -- what else? -- bugs. While insects don't exactly equal romance, this unusual art is sure to spark conversation.

Admission to the arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, is $9. Call (630) 968-0074 or visit mortonarb.org.