Falling Leaves and in Love in Ridgeland

Whether you are cheering on the home team or getting back into the rhythm of the school year, autumn brings full calendars and bustles with the falling leaves.

When it’s time to re-tune the tone of your days to focus on quality time with your better half, Ridgeland, Mississippi, quite simply has it all. From a secluded booth to enjoy a leisurely cocktail to lively festivals out on the town, now is the time to plan a romantic getaway to Ridgeland as the days get shorter and nights get longer.

Euro Fest at Renaissance at Colony Park

Put it on the Calendar

Carving out time for just the two of you on your family’s calendar is hard. The remedy: plan now to get out of dodge at one of our area’s fall events. On Friday, October 13th, head to Renaissance at Colony Park for the Euro Fest Kickoff Parade at 3 PM. Then, be sure to pop over on Saturday, October 14th to stroll amid the impressive event of European automobiles and motorcycles with BMW as the Featured Marque of the 2023 show from 10 AM to 5 PM. Weave in and out of more than 60 retailers at Colony Park, from Aerie to White House/Black Market as you ooh and ah at iconic cars from Rolls-Royce, Porsche, and many more. You’ll be sure to stay fueled for all the fun with top spots to grab a bite or a bevy nearby (think everything from classics like Five Guys to don’t-miss local favorites like CAET Seafood and Oysterette).

The Country Club of Jackson will host the Sanderson Farms Championship this fall, a pro golf tournament on the PGA Tour since 1968. Gates are open to the public from Wednesday, October 4th to Sunday, October 8th. Meander along perfectly manicured fairways together as you watch some of the greats of the game compete for a prize fund of over seven million dollars. It’s easy to gain access to all the excitement – just snag a mobile ticket from your smartphone.

Get a Table for Two

Really, Ridgeland has plenty of intimate places to fall in love with your boo all over again over an unhurried drink du jour and delectable meal, any time of the year. For an authentically French evening with a side of Southern heritage, check out Anjou at the Township. Anjou will envelop you in tranquil patio views at their newly remodeled venue with a wine list that is just as sweeping - from California reds to French rosés. Pair a glass of your choosing with a crème brulee or apple tart tatin for a match made in heaven – just like the two of you. Continue to be cocooned into the cozy elegance of a French chateau with a gourmet meal, like duck breast in a green peppercorn Bordeaux wine sauce. For a fun twist on your Saturday or Sunday morning, try the mimosa flight of four for a fizzy start to a day spent just the two of you.

Ely’s Restaurant and Bar is an upper-scale steakhouse that gives a nod to its Lebanese roots. Sip on the Suite 2E to match the color of the changing foliage, with Elijah Craig Small Batch, lemon juice, and Domaine de Canton ginger. Or try the delightfully bubbly French 75 with Tanqueray, lemon, simple syrup, and sparkling wine. Partaking in their classy Happy Hour from 4-5 PM Mondays to Saturdays is always a good choice. But, a relaxed dinner of tabouli salad, crabcakes, and a Ribeye with all the marbling you could dream of, aged a minimum of 28 days and served with delectably drippy garlic butter will also make it a night to remember.

Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail

Coast Around Town

Siri, play “On a Bicycle Built for Two” by Nat King Cole – a bike sharing program has arrived in Ridgeland as of August. Your idea of pedaling around town as you watch your partner’s hair blow breezily in the wind can now be a reality. Conveniently pick up a bike at The Bike Crossing near the entrance of the ultra-popular Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail. Pedal to the quaint galleries on Jackson Street or hang your helmet to have a movie date at Malco in the Renaissance at Colony Park. Or experience the thrill of using two wheels to get to anything from eateries to exercise programs at the mixed-use neighborhood of the Township at Colony Park. With the bike share program being serviced by Koloni Fleets, you’ll be on the cutting edge of technology as you zip through Ridgeland sans car keys.

Pelican Cove Grill at the Barnett Reservoir

Enjoy the View

Breathtaking views have a way of bringing out the same beauty in the soulmate by your side. The deck at Pelican Cove Grill will have you swooning from the combination of the view of the Rez and daily live music. For a BYO experience on the beloved Barnett Reservoir or “the Rez” as locals call it, pack a picnic and take it to the Overlook or Old Trace Park.

Check out the Renaissance Show Fountain at Renaissance Colony Park for a spectacle that is uniquely Ridgeland. From 6 PM to 9 PM on the hour, enjoy a theatrical light show with interactive fountains set to music as you gaze into the starry night as one. Did we mention the design of the fountains pay tribute to our great state with interlocking S’s of the Mississippi emblem?

Try Something New

Let’s face it, most couples have something akin to a date night rotation that could get a little dry with time. When you find yourself in that pattern, Ridgeland has lots of out-of-the-box experiences to bring some spice back to your dates.

Mixing cocktails with board games—what could be better? Take a walk down memory lane with a classic game or try a new one at Dogmud Tavern. As Mississippi’s premier board game tavern, the games at Dogmud Tavern will tickle your competitive side while the cocktails will make you take yourself not so seriously.

As the original escape room in the area and the only one with original themes from a Pizzeria to a Murder Motel, Enter/Locked Escape Room will present you with challenges that only the two of you can figure out – if you beat the clock, that is. All adventures are in private rooms, and online reservations are required.

Hangout Indoor Rock Climbing will literally show you your significant other from a different perspective. Climb to new heights while in the comfort of the indoors at one of Jackson’s top bouldering gyms. After all, the couple that sweats together stays together, right?

Ridgeland the Romantic

Perhaps at this point your head is spinning with all the options for two-centric fun in Ridgeland– and it’s practically begging you to get a room. For numerous accommodations to keep your romance going all weekend long, click here. If you need more inspo about how to fill your days in town, click here – you may just find yourself planning a repeat trip before you’ve even wrapped up the first round of romance in Ridgeland.

This story originally appeared on Fodor's Travel.