Sometimes parents need a little time away from it all; just a break from work, kids, the home. It’s not always easy, however, to take a vacation – even for a couple of days. But if you want to have time for just the two of you for one night, or one day, make a plan, call a baby-sitter and do something for yourselves.

Here are some suggestions:

What better way to relax than a massage? Most spas offer couples massages, or massages catered to an individual’s specific needs. Wind down from a tough week at work and with the busyness of being parents, or begin the week right and have a massage on a Monday. There are many spas in Calgary, and www.wayspa.ca is an excellent website to help you find the right one. Check out the Men’s Purr Package and the Yummy Mummy Ritual at the Spa Ritual, 106 Crowfoot Terrace NW, 403-547-9558, www.thesparitual.com; the Riverside Couple’s Retreat at Riverside Spa, 110 Point McKay Crescent NW, 403-270-7500, www.riversidespa.ca – which includes a couples massage and lunch for two. For less expensive options at a spa, choose individual treatments in lieu of packages.

Get creative together with an evening of pottery painting. While it’s not your typical date activity, it is a great chance for you to have fun as a couple and use your imaginations. There are several studios in Calgary that are open quite late, especially on Fridays, so it is a convenient option, and relatively inexpensive. Most studio fees are around $10, and that includes use of paintbrushes, paint and other tools, as well as firing of the pieces you paint. The pottery itself is a separate cost, and usually depends on the size of the piece. After you’re done painting, the studio glazes and kiln fires the piece to finish it; after about a week, you can pick it up from the studio and have a memorable keepsake of your date. A few studio suggestions: Fire Escape, 1509 8 Street SW, 403-245-4064, www.fireescape.com; The Clayground, #226, 12100 Macleod Trail SE, 403-225-2056, www.theclayground.ca; Color Me Mine, 334 14 Street NW, 403-249-4386, or 9737 Macleod Trail South, 403-249-6656, www.colormemine.ca.

Do dinner and a movie, just the two of you – stay at home and cook together. Find a recipe you’ve never tried before, and go to the farmers’ market or a specialty food store to get fresh ingredients. Grab a couple of movies, maybe even stick with a theme (like Italian food and an Italian movie, or comfort food and a comedy), and enjoy a relaxed night in.

Feel like doing dinner and a movie, but want to get out of the house? Go to the place where you had your first date (if it’s not too far), or switch it up by trying something entirely new. Ever had Ethiopian food, or Brazilian barbeque? After dinner, head to The Uptown (www.theuptown.com for show times), the Globe Cinema (www.globecinema.com), or The Plaza (www.theplaza.ca) to check out an old, independent or foreign film.

Trade in relaxation for a little adventure and go rock climbing. It takes strength, confidence and trust in your partner – and is both exhilarating and exciting. The Calgary Climbing Centre is a great option with two locations (its Stronghold location near 16 Avenue NW and 1 Street NW, and its Chinook location off of MacLeod Trail and 71 Avenue SE – visit www.calgaryclimbing.com for more information), or try the climbing wall at the Outdoor Centre at the U of C (see www.calgaryoutdoorcentre.ca for information).

So even though it’s tough to get away from it all for very long, just a few hours can really help to rejuvenate a relationship. There are so many little ways to get out, to have fun as a couple, and to only think about yourselves for a while.

Stephanie is a freelance writer specializing in travel and food writing. For more information, visit her website at www.stephaniearsenault.ca.