The Circle City may not be known as a romantic destination, but there are certainly places to celebrate the year’s most romantic holiday in just a few days. We asked FastPark & Relax manager Chad Wittwer to help us plan a fun weekend in Indianapolis.

Chad, what’s your favorite spot to take your wife for a romantic night out?
Our favorite place to go for a romantic night out is the Eagle’s Nest restaurant at the top of the Hyatt downtown. It’s a panoramic restaurant similar to the 560 in Dallas or the Sundial in Atlanta, which rotates 360 degrees and gives a great view of the Indy skyline. We met downtown where we used to work, so it always makes us reminisce as we look out at the city that brought us together.

What are a few good options for cozy restaurants with great food?
Indy is building its reputation more and more as a foodie city with great new restaurants. The most popular scene is downtown on Mass Ave. There are numerous artisan restaurants and bars. Some of our favorites are Mesh on Mass, R Bistro and a personal favorite of mine is Black Market. With its communal style seating, the restaurant has a cozy feel, and you can choose to be secluded or engaged in conversation with your neighboring diners.

As Broad Ripple residents, I love taking my wife to Ambrosia or Corner Wine Bar as they are in the neighborhood. On Geist Reservoir, there is a nice restaurant that we love called Bella Vita. It offers great views of the water and some of the most prestigious homes in the area.

How about if your sweetie is a sports fan? Anything fun we can do to share a passion for sports?
The great thing about Indy is that it’s a sports city, so there is always something going on, and the Hoosier state is known for its basketball. Around this time of year you can catch a Pacers game at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. It’s a great stadium and the atmosphere is awesome. The Butler Bulldogs also hold a strong local following, and have gained national exposure over the past few years as a great basketball team. If you are looking for something other than basketball, we’ve added a new hockey team called the Indy Fuel which plays at the newly renovated Indiana Farmer's Coliseum.

It’s a little cold out now; do you know of any favorite winter outdoor activities that are perfect for a couple?
The most popular activity that comes to mind is a horse drawn carriage ride downtown. There are several companies that provide this service, and you will see them going by all of the favorite local spots of the city, especially Monument Circle. Indy also has great trails, such as the Cultural Trails downtown and the Monon that extends throughout the majority of the city. If the weather is not too cold these trails will be filled with joggers, cyclists and dog-walkers trying to stay active during the winter.

How about when the weather warms up a little – where would you suggest we visit?
The Art District in Carmel is a quaint area that offers a little bit of something for everyone. There are numerous boutique shops and restaurants in this charming area of the northern Indy suburb.

Anything we missed?
For a couple looking for a great “local getaway,” a night away at the very contemporary & chic Alexander Hotel downtown offers a feel as though you were staying at a posh hotel in the Big Apple!

Ready to travel somewhere a little more exotic? Check out our suggestions that we shared earlier this month for the most romantic getaways around the world!