Take a trip through time this Valentine’s Day with a romantic visit to Toronto’s very own castle.

I’m a hopeless romantic, so it comes as no surprise that I enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day. Of course, the standard box of milk chocolates and a grocery-store bundle of red roses just won’t do. In my opinion Valentine’s Day should transcend the commercial (although I’m never one to pass on cocoa!). Instead, I’m a strong believer in making an experience out of spending time with the people I love.

This year, while browsing online for inspiration (have you checked out Lifestyle’s great list of Valentine’s Day ideas?), I came across what I knew I needed to place on my must-visit list, ASAP: Casa Loma, the beautiful castle set in the middle of downtown Toronto.

Casa Loma is the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man. Construction began in 1911, lasting three years and costing a whopping $3.5 million. A romantic after my own heart, he filled the castle with beautiful artwork from across Canada, and modeled it after castles of old with their hidden passageways and beautiful rooms.

Today, Casa Loma remains one of Toronto’s top 10 tourist attractions. Visitors can explore the castle on self-guided tours with the aid of audio cassettes and floor-plan brochures to help with those tricky secret corridors. This Valentine’s Day the castle is offering a feast fit for a king with their Valentine’s Day Brunch Buffet.

After dining on delicious cuisine and a complimentary glass of champagne enjoy a romantic adventure through the castle as lord and lady – what could be more appropriate than being treated, truly, like the princesses we are!

— Stephanie Maris